Fruits of the Spirit

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. -Galatians 5:22-23 

I wonder what would happen if I prayed more earnestly for the aforementioned fruits of the Spirit? My love is wanting; my joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control  are all minimal at best. 

What if I stopped praying for and asking the Lord for temporary pleasures and asked for greater treasures like deeper love, greater joy and peace, self-control in areas where I overindulge?

I would be a different person than the one I am today. Man, I can just see it in my mind's eye: a Grace that is so drawn to the Lord and is filled over and over with His love and loves people radically. A Grace that is filled with a joy that is not simply emotional or contextual, but rooted in the Gospel. A Grace that enjoys gifts from the Lord, but knows when to set boundaries and turn to the Lord for ultimate satisfaction. Even as I write this, I know that to some degree, these things are all true. But wow, I want more. I need more. And I know it is out of God's faithfulness to pour out these gifts upon me. All I need to do is ask.