“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.
“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. ~ John 15:1-6 (NLT)
My word for 2014 is grow. When God laid this word on my heart for the upcoming year, I was apprehensive. I haven’t a clue what to expect of the coming months. The only thing I can say with certainty is that God is giving me the opportunity to do something I’ve never done before.
Yet, in order to grow, I have to prune. Prune away the branches of my life that do not and can not bear fruit. Or perhaps some branches have already produced an incredible bounty, but their fruit-bearing days are done. It’s okay to cut these branches away to make room for new, healthy growth. So why is it so tough to let them go?
My branches reflect elements like my time, my focus, my passion. I don’t know about you, friends, but sometimes I find it difficult to let go of a branch that has produced much fruit. This fruit was brought forth in the form of accomplishments and important milestones–fruit which I invested my time, tears and passion! It’s a little easier to digest letting go of commitments or habits that you know aren’t fruitful and have no purpose other than to zap precious emotional energy and keep you from growing into the person God has called you to be. It’s those past fruit-bearing limbs that are the toughest to prune and cut away.
Pruning is good. Pruning is healthy. We find freedom when we cut back or cut away elements in our lives that require us to expend vast amounts of energy and time without an outcome of blessings! And God wants to bless us, friends. He wants us to thrive and grow.
It dawned on me as I was praying through this passage that I’ve tried to be my own Master Gardener. Sure, I chase God with wild abandon–that is, until some of my life branches get in the way. An important project, sick kids, volunteer commitments, client work, laundry. Has this happened to you? The result of my pruning efforts typically leave me feeling fragmented and empty and with a sinking suspicion that I’m not doing anything well.
God is the vine! Not me. NOT me. I long to cling to God and trust Him to lovingly cut away branches of my life that do not and can not bear fruit. Grow. It’s not as scary as I initially thought, dear ones. As I allow God to prune my life so that I might know and love him more, I feel peace and comfort. Not apprehension. Not fear. Just relief and freedom.
Please pray with me. My prayer is that we may all know and feel and the blessing of God’s tender pruning. I pray that we may remember to ask God to prune us with regularity as to keep our life branches from overtaking us and our desire to cling to the Vine where we may prosper and grow and be blessed beyond our wildest dreams.
What do your branches say about you? Are you allowing God to prune away fruitless bark so that He may bless you in ways you never imagined?
