Pruning Season?
God loves me. God delivers me. God sustains me. God listens to me. God prunes me?
The pruner has four tools:
• He uses his fingers to pinch off dead blooms.
• He uses clippers for selective pruning and removing a spike or rogue shoot.
• He uses shears to shape plants for a well-rounded appearance.
• He uses a saw to cut heavy wood to restructure the plant.
A weeping, flowering cherry tree is one of the most beautiful of all of the ornamental trees. One year it bloomed, and even better the next year. However, after about four or five years, the tree barely bloomed at all.
Effective pruning is different than just "shearing" the tree to look like a lollipop. There are two basic types of branches that need to be removed. The first is a branch that is growing the wrong direction. These branches rub the other branches and can cause disease. They also block out the sunlight that is needed for flower buds to form.
The other type of branch to prune is a "sucker" branch that shoots out beneath the graft. These branches are incredibly dangerous to the life of the tree. They will draw all of the strength and energy from the tree into themselves, and the tree will often die.
John 15:1-8
I am the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away. And every one that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bring forth more fruit. Now you are clean through the Word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the Vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered. And they gather and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My Words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done to you. In this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, so you shall be My disciples.
Just as a tree needs pruning, God can prune you.
He prunes the "branches" of our lives that are growing the wrong way. He prunes the branches that are sprouting out of our flesh. This pruning is not done to hurt us or punish us. Try to understand that this is a sure sign that your Father loves you.
Perhaps some of your branches have begun to grow in the wrong direction. Or maybe your flesh has "sprouted" a branch that, if left un-pruned, would drain the strength out of your spirit and your spiritual life. It's an unholy branch that would eventually destroy your effectiveness, causing you to have no beautiful blooms and no fruit. Blooms display a healthy, vibrant, intimate walk.
You don't have to be doing something wrong to be pruned. It's actually when you are doing things right that pruning takes place. So look, you are pruned if you do and pruned if you don't. You might as well deal with it and let God produce His fruit in you. But there is one sure thing: It's better to be cut back than to be cut off.
So how does God prune us? Well, He does it in two ways. First we know that His Word prunes us.
Hebrews 4:12 says that the Word of God is "alive, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intents of the heart."
Through His Word, God shows us where we have missed it so that we can begin to live in a way that truly pleases Him. His Word gives us the power to live a life that produces fruit. In conversion, He removes from us our guilt and condemnation (Romans 8:1). In time, He cuts away the habits that bind us (1 Peter 2:11). God prunes away the old to invigorate, freshen, revive, and renew our lives (Psalm 51:10; Isaiah 40:31). God also cuts away from us some things that hurt at times.
By beholding His Word, we are pruned, groomed, corrected and encouraged to be like Him.
Our relationships with others are also used to prune us. God puts all those "fruit testers" around us to make sure we are producing the right fruit. God creates all these different types of people and throws them all together. It's one big fruit salad! But it's really as these people interact with each other that true fruit is produced or the lack of it is exposed.
You know, there are two spiritual beings trying to kill you. "What?" you may ask. "Kill me?" Yes, kill you. God and Satan. Satan comes as a thief to steal, kill, and destroy for your harm. Satan comes to try to destroy God's plan and purpose for your life. God comes to kill our carnal and fleshly ways so we can experience His resurrection power! That kind of death is for our good.
When we are by ourselves, we are all little angels. There we are in prayer enjoying the presence of God. We are floating on a cloud. Everything is peaceful and perfect! Then the spouse or the kids come home. Shoes are left everywhere, clothes are thrown on the floor, or dishes are left in the sink. Suddenly the halo disappears, and the horns come out. Where did the little angel go? Buttons of the flesh start to get pushed, and the internal fruit starts to be seen on the outside. This kind of reveal can only happen through our interactions with people. It's those closest to us who will really see what kind of fruit we have.
Picture this scenario with me: There you are at home having a "discussion" with your husband or wife or kids. It's a bit heated. Voices are raised; emotions are flared. Then the phone rings. "Hello," you say with a perfectly calm, relaxed voice. It's the pastor. "Well, hello, Pastor, so good to hear from you. Oh, yes, I am so excited about the bake sale on Saturday. For sure, I will be there with my cookies. God bless. Once the phone hangs up, the yelling picks up right where it left off.
It seems that we can have full control over what fruit we display and produce depending on who is around. Our family tends to see the worst in us. Why? We feel the most comfortable with them, and also because family is family. They can't leave you. Your parents are your parents, your kids are your kids, and your mate is your mate. Once you get married, it's until death do you part. God will use your closest relationships to produce your greatest fruit.
So rather than trying to constantly change them, you may be better off just accepting them for who they are. You will probably enjoy your journey a lot more if you pray for God to change you rather than the people around you. You might as well as die and get it over with.
- To tired people Christ says, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
- To those burdened by sin and life’s hardships, Jesus promises: “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:29-30).
- To those who are troubled, God has a good word: “And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels . . . When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day” (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10).
- To those who feel lost, Jesus says He is “the way” (John 14:6).
- To those who feel guilty, He insists, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Romans 8:1; John 5:24).
- To those who fear death, Jesus assures: “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality . . . then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:52-57).
- To those who fear that God has abandoned them, He says, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5). David added, “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. He is ever merciful For the Lord loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved forever” (Psalm 37:25-28).
- To those who feel that God is angry with them, He has a comforting word: “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).
- Those who feel God is inaccessible are told, “By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:2).
First, if there is an area in which you are bearing fruit, God is more likely to prune in that area so that you can be even more fruitful. This means you will certainly encounter difficulty and disappointment (symptoms of pruning) in your passion areas – like your Christian business! Expect it. Embrace it. Endure it.
Second, when you DO experience this pruning, take it as a sign that God is indeed caring for you and “taking an active role in your growth.” That should be extremely encouraging! Do not let the enemy whisper lies in your ear about failure. Thank God that He is pruning you!
Let us pray…
