Keep Sweet
Fruit ripens in light, not by effort — just as Christ’s gentleness ripens in the yielded soul.
Devotional Credit: Days of Heaven on Earth by A.B. Simpson
Photo Credit: Unsplash
A.B. Simpson, with his characteristic spiritual insight, gently invites us to live in what he calls the “heaven of peace” — a heart at rest in Christ, even amid irritation, fiery darts, or emotional bruising. Drawing from 2 Corinthians 2:14, he reminds us that God is always leading us in triumph through Christ, and that in this triumph, our lives spread the sweet fragrance of Christ’s knowledge.
But Simpson is refreshingly honest: our natural, self-willed spirit doesn’t always want to let go of offenses. Sometimes, it secretly delights in rehearsing its grievances or nursing its wounds. Yet he presses this truth: you can choose to hold onto your grievance, or you can walk in peace — but not both.
The Holy Spirit’s whisper, “Keep sweet,” isn’t a demand to ignore pain or injustice. It’s an invitation to resist being mastered by them. And when our inner man truly wants to yield, God will supply what we lack. He will keep us sweet — not because we tried harder, but because we chose to yield instead of fret.
Therein lies the balm for a thousand heartaches: not striving for sweetness, but resting in the One who is sweet — and whose fragrance flows through us when we stop holding on to our rights and let Christ reign.
Personalized Journal Entry – Voice of the Holy Spirit Through Scripture
I always lead you in triumph through Christ, not occasionally, not once in a while — always. When others wound, when thoughts churn, when flesh rises in defense, I remain your stillness. Let Me be the fragrance within you, diffusing peace where bitterness longs to linger.
If you cling to offense, you cannot receive My peace. But if you yield it — even trembling — I pour out a balm that heals what you cannot touch. My Spirit guards your heart when you turn away from murmuring and toward thanksgiving. I keep in perfect peace the one whose mind is stayed on Me.
Do not grumble, as some did and were overcome by the destroyer. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouth, but only what gives grace. Let My gentleness be evident in you — it is not yours to produce, but Mine to express.
Let Me carry the wound. Let Me pour out the fragrance. You are Mine — and I will be the sweetness in your soul.
(Scripture references: 2 Corinthians 2:14; Philippians 4:6–7; Isaiah 26:3; 1 Corinthians 10:10; Ephesians 4:26, 29; Philippians 4:5)
Real-Life Analogy
Have you ever bitten into a piece of fruit that looked perfect on the outside, only to find a sour, unpleasant taste inside? It catches you off guard — you expected sweetness, but got bitterness. In the same way, people often look to us as Christians expecting the sweetness of Christ. But when we cling to offense or silently stew in irritation, what comes out is like that sour fruit — unexpected, jarring, and unpleasant. Letting Christ live through us means choosing to release the bitterness so the sweetness of His Spirit can come through instead. The fruit doesn’t sweeten itself — it ripens because it's been resting in the light.
Prayer of Confidence
Father, I thank You that I am not a slave to my emotions or to the reactions of others. I am led in Your triumph, and in every moment, Your fragrance can flow through me. I trust You to keep me sweet—not by self-control or suppression, but by the life of Christ in me. I choose peace over irritation, grace over grievance, and rest over retaliation. You are my keeper, and You alone preserve my spirit in peace.