Scripture: John 15:2 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.
Relevant definitions: pruning: the act or practice of getting rid of undesirable elements or excess
Devotion: Spring is one of my favorite seasons of the year. The earth is shifting from dormancy to budding life. It is during the spring that pruning begins. Like a pear tree or a tomato plant growing on a vine, all old and new growth must be managed.
Only waiting for the warm weather, most gardeners already have their seeds planted in pods and ready to be placed into the ground. They ensure there is plenty of fertilizer, water, and sunlight given. Day by day the plant buds and grows and produces fruit. That is unless they have a bad seed. We’ll save that discussion for another day.
Any true gardener knows in order to yield the best harvest there is pruning that must take place. The shears are in hand and off to the garden they go. If you know anything about tomato plants they grow on a vine and are famous for growing what are called “suckers”. These suckers are tricky and can be found growing between the vines. They seem to bud overnight simultaneously when the plant is producing fruit. The problem is, they stay true to their name. Although they are buds, they are growing in the wrong place and will drink from the stronger, more healthy parts of the plant. If the suckers are not dealt with you can kiss your harvest goodbye.
Just like the tomato plant we too must be pruned. There are areas of growth that are not conducive for our future and are hindering the best fruit from producing. Abba carefully grabs the shears and begins the pruning. Branch by branch he carefully removes the excess. The thing about pruning is it takes shears and you will feel it. Sometimes it feels like a scratch on your knee, or maybe a paper cut, but other times it’s a complete removal of a larger entity. He knows exactly what hinders and needs to go for optimal growth. Beloved, trust God in the pruning.
Reflection: As we enter the Spring season, are you prepared for God to remove the areas that have no place in your future? Will you surrender to the pruning?
Prayer: Lord, we trust your process in our lives and surrender to the much needed act of pruning. We ask that you prepare us for the removal of the unnecessary and we rejoice in the expanded production of fruit it will bear.
Written by Petrina Milan
Eyes of an Overcomer 