Pruning.
I have been thinking a lot about this in recent weeks. With the arrival of spring and new growth, I began to walk around our house to inspect the bushes and plants which I had āprunedāĀ in the fall. I was curious if, in the pruning process, I had killed anything permanently.
Pruningā¦..
is a horticultural practice involving the selective removal of parts of a plant. Reasons to prune plants include deadwood removal, shaping (by controlling or directing growth), improving or maintaining health. The practice entails targeted removal of diseased, damaged, dead, non-productive, structurally unsound, or otherwise unwanted tissue from crop and landscape plants. (taken from Wikipedia)
I knew, while I was pruning, I only wanted what was best for my plants. I wanted to remove the dead, unattractive, and unshapely. My desire? As life would begin again in the spring, they would be beautiful, perfectly shaped, colorful, and healthy.
While I was in the process of pruning though, I had no idea, NONE, what the outcome would be. None. All winter, while all was dormant, the true health of the plants and bushes was hidden.
Jesus spoke about the process of pruning in the lives of His peopleā¦
I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. (John 15: 1, 2 NIV).
In this passage, Jesus tells us the Father prunes āso that we will be even more fruitfulāĀ. Could it be even when I have been pruned by the Father, I have so focused on the process (ie āā the pain), I missed that He truly knew what He was doing all along? How did I miss that He was only removing what was dead? That He was even doing what was best for me? He was in the process of removing all which was no longer purposeful in my life. He was clipping the unhealthy. While I lay in the dormant stage for a time, a new branch of my life was waiting to burst forth and bear fruit. He was always at work in my life to make me more beautiful, more productive, more healthy. And it would all be for His glory.
He has been unfolding these truths this week.
I found myself appreciating the pruning process. Notice I did not say, āI liked itāĀ but that I appreciated it. I realized, while pruning happens in the now of life, its purpose is fully revealed in what is yet to come. As we allow the Lord to prune from our lives the unattractive, the strongholds, the unproductive; it is so that the future generations of our families will also be productive for Him, walk in integrity, and be healthy spiritually.
Pruning.
Not wanted yet so needed.
To bear fruit.
For as we are pruned, our roots will go deep in Him so that we will grow in such a way to bear fruit. May it be for His joy and for His glory.
Today I am joining with … Three Word. Wed. and Wordless Wed. and Wed. Prayer Girls and Wedded Wed. and A Little R & R and Works For Me and Wholehearted Wed. and Winsome Wed. and Whimsical Wed. and Imperfect Prose and Coffee For Your Heart .
When I became a Christian the first Bible study I did was on John 15. I learned so much about this topic and the way God disciplines His children to help us grow and be more useful to Him. It was comforting to read this today.
So grateful the post brought you comfort today, Laura. Pruning is a difficult process but worth it later on. Have a great day!
Glad to connect. Thanks for commenting. You are sweet. God bless
There are posts which touch me deeply & yours was one. I am so glad we connected too. Thanks for the friend request š
Can I ditto a previous comment of how much I enjoy the way you dive into scripture? I really appreciated this today. I really want Him to prune from my life the unattractive, the strongholds, the unproductive. I’m grateful for how He is always at work in us and that He never gives up on us. Beautiful post. Love you.
Beth, thank you so much for your words have encouraged me! I am excited to see the new life He brings forth in our lives!
Such good words here today. I’m glad I linked up next to you at Holley’s blog. Pruning is such a long, drawn-out process sometimes, but it is always worth it. God promises us that. š
You are absolutely right. God does give us promises regarding pruning. I think I tend to forget that so thank you for the reminder!
I am so thankful that He knows exactly what He’s doing. When we prune, we are uncertain of the outcome, not so for our Master Gardener!
How very true! He prunes with much more care & knowledge than we ever could!
Yes – He was only removing what was dead. Good words.
Thank you for stopping here today!
Oh yes, pruning. Every year I worry that I have hacked my hydrangea but it comes back every year looking beautiful. I have prayed for the pruning process but have resisted it when face with it. I am thankful for God’s grace. i pray that I am note open to his refining.
I’m right there with the hydrangea. As a matter of fact, I am waiting to see what happens this year after the trim I gave it in the fall š Grateful that every cut He makes is with precision as He knows the outcome He is working towards. So glad you shared!
This is thought provoking. I like how your thoughts on pruning were brought to what the bible says about it.
Thank you, Joanne. Pruning is something I so look to avoid & yet afterwards, am so grateful for. Have a great week!