Humility

I suppose that humility is not listed in the fruit of the Spirit in Gal. 5 because it is part of our freewill; we can choose to be humble. 

James explains that humility is key to intimacy with God, and we see this modeled throughout the Scriptures (e.g., Moses, David, Jesus), as well as repeated in Proverbs.

James 4:6, 10‭ NIV

But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble." 

...

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

John the Baptizer considered himself unworthy to perform even the basic service of a slave, washing Jesus's feet.

John 1:27 NIV

He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie."

James reminds us that our knowledge is so limited compared to the Father's omniscience, and our time in this life is so brief compared to eternity.

James 4:14 NIV

Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

Father, I want to be humble.  Holy Spirit, please help me choose to be humble.  I want my heart to be fertile 100-fold soil.  Please grow your life deeper in me.  Lord Jesus, I want to honor your reign.  I love you.

Childlike faith

I started reading Loving Our Kids on Purpose by Danny Silk (finished the first chapter).  I am impressed by the thesis that it is more important for us to teach our kids to know how to handle freedom than for them to be made to be compliant.  

I was also struck by his points about how children innately trust their parents.  They don't have an inherent skepticism that many of us develop as adults.  First, it is a sobering responsibility to steward that childlike trust of my children.  I want to be a blessing to my children.  I want to be a better father.

Second, I want to unlearn skepticism with my Heavenly Father and return to childlike faith.  When He says something, I want to immediately accept it as truth.  His word is seed, and I want my heart to be fertile soil for Him to plant everything He wants in my life.

Father, I know that your word is true, and I want to live in simple harmony with your word. Please plant more of your word in my heart, and help me clear out the thistles and rocks and till the compacted soil.  I trust you, and I believe you.  I love you, and I want to be with you.  I want to be like you. You are the best.  I am sorry for listening to lies of the enemy that you are holding out on me.  I believe that you want the best for me, you have the best for me, and you are the best for me.  Thank you for being such an amazing daddy!

We now have direct access to God as our good Father

We cannot overstate the significance of the tearing of the Temple's curtain to the Most Holy Place when Jesus was crucified.

The old covenant is now obsolete and has been superceded with a new covenant that is incomparably better:  we now have direct access to God as our good Father.  

Luke 23:45b NIV

And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.

We don't have to go to a certain place to find God.  He is everywhere.

Hebrews 4:14‭, ‬16 NIV

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. ... Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

God is not angry with us.  His wrath for sin was satisfied by Jesus' sacrifice.  So, we can approach the Father any time. 

And if He is good, why wouldn't we want to spend every moment with Him?

Father, I want to learn to approach you confidently.  I want to know you and be like you.  Jesus, thank you for restoring connection and fellowship with the Father.