SCRIPTURE:
“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
OBSERVATION:
Jesus is the true vine. God is the gardener. Every branch that is not fruitful will be cut off, while the fruitful will be pruned to be even more fruitful.
APPLICATION:
There was a season in my life where the Lord began this cutting off and pruning process around me. It was a season where I started growing closer to the Lord in my walk with Him.
I knew that there were areas of my life He was calling me to let go of and surrender over to Him. Things like activities, relationships and habits that were not fruitful and honestly did more harm than good. While it was a process, these things were slowly cut out of my life.
Then there were areas that bore fruit, yet He was calling me to prune. In the literal gardening sense, pruning has much to do with maximizing quality and growth. This was one of the toughest things for me to do.
Some friendships and habits that I had needed to be pruned. Not that they were bad, in fact there was some evident fruit. Yet, I knew that I needed to prune them back in order to walk out God’s best in my life.
I didn’t completely cut out these relationships and activities, but instead limited the amount of time I spent and limited the influence they had on me. An amazing thing happened. While it wasn’t immediate, I began growing in so many areas of my life.
The cutting out and pruning process is not an easy thing to do, yet it is necessary for growth. When the Lord speaks, and calls to cut out and prune, I need to listen and more importantly obey.
PRAYER:
Father Almighty. Forgive me Lord when I have tried to do the gardening, instead of letting You do it. Thank You Lord for areas You have highlighted in my life that need to be cut out or pruned. May I listen and obey when You speak, this I pray, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
