Praise God for Pruning!

[Read:  John 15-16]


 I've seen how trees are PRUNED...sharp tree trimmers cut off dead (or living) limbs (branches).   I know the REASON why--pruning is "a necessary act"  required for more growth.  But, oh--when the Lord decides to "trim" ME....I know He's about to move me into a new SEASON...things are about to CHANGE (and this could be painful for a while, as "growing pains" hurt)!    

As we enter a new season of growth, we are challenged to change.  It could be a physical change, a location change, a lifestyle change, etc.  We often don't understand why, so change frightens us; therefore we resist it.  Example:  When the mother eagle knows it's time for the baby eaglettes to leave the nest, she starts to remove the cushy lining of the nest (the soft rabbit fur, feathers, etc.).  Then she gently pushes them out of the nest.

Sometimes we RESIST what God is doing rather than SUBMIT to His nudging!  We can't understand why He's doing this to us.  But every time I willingly yield to His nudgings, or accept His chastening (pruning), I am transformed into more of the person He designed me to be.

SEASONS bring change, and change can be painful.  A job loss (downsizing) may lead me to a better job; graduation from high school to college is necessary for me to be trained for a specific career; unhealthy relationships may have to be removed and replaced, etc.  We didn't CHOOSE for any of these prunings to take place.  However, God knows what is best for us.  

John 15:2  says that "...every branch that bears fruit He PRUNES that it may bear more fruit."

He prunes away the past--that season of growth has ended and a new budding has to come forth in its place.  Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 tells us that there is "a season and a time for every purpose under heaven" such as "a time to plant, and a time to pluck what was planted," etc.

Let go of the past and move forward in faith to what awaits you.  Don't die "in the valley"--move on with Him to greener pastures.  Keep growing in your relationship with Christ.  Get to KNOW Him more intimately, so you can GROW and mature in your faith...then you can GO to places you never knew you could reach.  THE SKY'S THE LIMIT!  (We're heaven bound!)