WEEDING OUT & CUTTING OFF

I was just sitting here thinking about what to blog about, and God reminded me of something. A few weeks ago, a dozen beautiful roses were delivered to me at my place of employment. I normally take them home, but decided they would hold their beauty a lot longer in my work environment instead of my home. I was right. Each morning I would go into work, check the water level and break off the dead leaves and wilted petals where needed. One morning, as I pulled away the dead lead leaves, I was reminded of the pruning process. I know those roses were not going to continue to grow, but the act of removing the dead things made me think of the process anyway. After the removal of the brown leaves and wilted petals from the rose bouquet, I was left with beautiful healthy-looking colorful roses.

Pruning: 1. means to cut or lop off; 2. to cut or lop superfluous or undesired twigs, branches, or roots from; trim; 3. to rid or clear of (anything superfluous or undesirable); 4. to remove (anything superfluous or undesirable) (taken from Webster’s Dictionary)

God prunes us to weed out, cut off, or to get rid of the ungodliness. He prunes us to shape or mold us, to make us better. We are pruned by the trials, pressures, and problems we endure or face. God also uses people to prune us. Well, He can use anything to prune us. We do not go through the spiritual pruning as some sort of punishment from God, but it is a process that will make us healthy in order to bear more fruit. We are pruned because He loves us. I am not saying it is fun or easy, but it is necessary.

God wants us to bring forth fruit in abundance and in order for this to happen, spiritual pruning is necessary. God has a unique and higher calling and purpose for our lives. He knows what is best for us.

¹ “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. ² Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. ³You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. ⁴ Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
⁵ “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. ⁶ If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. ⁷ If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will^[ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. ⁸By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. John 15:1-8 NKJV

Be blessed.