Pruning is good!

Listen: 'He cuts off every branch that doesn't bear fruit and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more' (John 15:2 NLT). There's a time for planting and a time for pruning. Maybe God is pruning us at the moment.

What kind of things does God take away? Things that have served their purpose. Things that refuse to change. Things that will give us trouble later on. Things that are standing in the way of greater fruitfulness. Things that are holding us back. Things he hasn't chosen for us.

A freshly pruned tree sometimes doesn't look too good? And when God starts to cut back certain things in our life in order to re-direct our energies, we may not look too good either. Sometimes this means: (a) having less nice stuff for a while; (b) letting go of things we depend on; (c) being unable to explain to our friends why we are going through the pruning process. God knows what needs to be cut back in our life, and what needs to be cut off. Let's trust him.

So what now? Even though you may not understand why God is pruning you, pray, 'Lord, if I really needed this person/role/opportunity you would let me keep it, so I open my hand to you. Send whatever you will and take away whatever you will. I'll praise you when things come and I'll praise you when they go, because your approval is my reward and your purpose is my reason to live.'

— SCRIPTURE —

'He prunes those branches that bear fruit for even larger crops.' John 15.2 TLB
— SOULFOOD —

Isa 45-48, John 8:1-11, Ps 30, Pro 28:21-22