> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://hiddenvoices.ghost.io/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # A Conversation with Randy DeVaul on: The Story Behind the Story - URL: https://hiddenvoices.ghost.io/a-conversation-with-randy-devaul-on-the-story-behind-the-story/ - Published: 2026-10-05T12:58:16.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-05T12:58:16.000Z - Description: “These aren’t pieces of a pie. These are ingredients in which all are required to produce a life that reflects the image of Jesus.” - Author: Roberta Maretti - Tags: Author Conversations, Follow Hidden Voices Some books begin with inspiration. Others begin with necessity. For Randy DeVaul, ***Super Fruit: Your Guide to Spiritual Fitness*** was born out of a gap, one he encountered not as a reader, but as a teacher. Preparing to guide others through an important biblical concept, he found himself searching for a resource that simply didn’t exist. So he wrote it. A pastor, teacher, and author, Randy DeVaul has dedicated his work to helping Christians deepen their walk with Jesus. With years of ministry, teaching, and writing behind him, his approach is grounded in scripture, clarity, and accessibility. In this conversation, he shares how the book came to life, and what he hopes readers truly understand beyond the surface. --- ***The Conversation*** **What first sparked the idea for this book? Was it a moment, a feeling, or something that stayed with you over time?** > I was preparing to teach a 14-week semester on the Fruit of the Spirit for our church Bible institute and wanted to identify a book that could be used by my students that would supplement the course material. My search led to numerous resources, none of which met my criteria. I needed something that followed Biblical truth, properly defined the topic as a single fruit instead of the fallacy of nine separate fruits – totally against what scripture teaches – and was appropriate for a general church member and not a PhD academic. > I found quite the variety but at no time did I identify any book that met the three criteria. I found books that identified plural “fruits,” books that skewed from biblical truth, and academic books of 500+ pages that no one in my class – me included – would waste time reading. > Since I had to develop my content for the course that was fully scriptural and sourced the Bible as the primary text, I simply decided the only reasonable thing to do was to write my own supplemental book for use in the course. > I began with the basics of using “Fruit of the Spirit” as the primary title of the book. It just sounded so bland. The thought of tying the supernatural fruit of the Spirit with the current craze of eating and/or drinking “super fruit” for health purposes led me to the title, “Super Fruit: Your Guide to Spiritual Fitness.” From there, it all fell into place. > This book is the only one I am aware of that sets up the single fruit with its nine characteristics by first introducing the reader to what, how, and why “fruit” is used throughout scripture and how it illuminates the Fruit of the Spirit. And, of course, allowing the Holy Spirit to grow the planted seed that each believer receives at the point of salvation – one that develops characteristics of Jesus – it truly works as a super fruit by improving our spiritual fitness, making us more into the image of Jesus, as we allow it to grow. --- **Is there something about the story that readers might not immediately see, but that matters deeply to you?** > Yes – while writing this book I realized the Fruit of the Spirit does NOT grow into a full, healthy fruit simply by claiming to be a “Christian.” God plants the seed, the Holy Spirit grows it and develops the roots for it. But the believer must “be filled with the Holy Spirit” and not grieve or quench the Spirit. It’s a partnership. People will grow stunted, deformed, partial, or no fruit at all if they don’t allow the Spirit to mold them into the image of Jesus, putting their own wills and desires under and letting the Spirit have control. Just as God calls people to Him yet requires believers to be the messengers to the people He calls, we must recognize that the Holy Spirit can grow the fruit but only if we give up control of our own wills by being obedient. > Briefly, one other point as the book developed as that “longsuffering” and “patience.” Some Bible translations use the word “patience” while others use “longsuffering” as if they are interchangeable. They are not. Patience addresses waiting on a person (such as waiting patiently on God) for his/her timing, action, response, or for a circumstance that we are praying for God to change as we wait on His timing. Longsuffering is about enduring patiently around the behaviors and actions of people, just as God is longsuffering towards us. We all need to exercise patience and be longsuffering toward those who wish us harm or who do not agree with God’s Word. --- **Did the story change as you were writing it? If so, how?** > Yes, a bit. As I developed the scriptural concept of fruit and how each characteristic should develop and grow in our lives, it became clear that these nine things are not separate from each other. They grow at different rates, but they grow so that the inward/internal developing characteristics that the Holy Spirit is using to change us also become outwardly visible to others through our changing character and behavior. We begin taking on the image of Jesus as more of the fruit grows to maturity. We can sense it, others can see it. So as each of the nine were addressed, I needed to go back and revise chapters to do a better job at connecting the dots between each of the characteristics. These aren’t pieces of a pie. These are ingredients in which all are required in the recipe to produce the desired fruit or life – that being growing “Jesus fruit” to look more like Him. --- **Was there a part of the book that felt especially difficult or personal to write?** > Yes and no. My biggest challenge was to not be repetitive when identifying how the characteristics work together and grow at different rates. My second biggest challenge was discerning how much detail and information to include in each chapter. The Bible is full of examples but it needed to remain an “easy read” and user-friendly rather than becoming another overblown book that people wouldn’t pick up. --- **Looking back now, what does this story represent for you?** > Writing this book showed me how and where throughout all of scripture that these same characteristics are taught, mentioned, displayed, encouraged, and even commanded by different Bible writers, weaving a consistent, continuous thread of how these characteristics are not just relevant, but necessary to develop and actively display in the Christian life. When addressing other messages and passages in the Old and New Testaments where a partial or full listing of these characteristics are mentioned, I’m able to connect those dots back to how these all fit together for the purpose of making us into Jesus. --- ***Closing Note*** What stands out in Randy DeVaul’s work is not just the message, but the intention behind it. This is not a book written to add to the noise, but to clarify, simplify, and guide. At its core, ***Super Fruit*** is about growth, not instant, not automatic, but intentional. A reminder that transformation is not passive, but something we participate in. And perhaps that is the deeper story here: Not just what we believe, but how we live it. --- ***Stay Connected*** Hidden Voices is a space for thoughtful conversations that explore the deeper layers behind books and the people who write them. Follow along for more stories that inform, challenge, and inspire.