HEAVENSREEF

Here in AZ it is funny how you can prune a desert bush down to nothing and it will grow back lush and full.  The first time our landscaper did this to all of our tall bushes in our back yard I had a heart attack thinking now they will never grow back.  How could they with hardly any water?  But they did come back……..they grew back huge actually.

Obviously their roots were getting deeper with time.  Pruning can run deep or it can be superficial, but whenever and however it happens to us it’s not because we have done anything wrong. 

GOD PRUNES US FOR OUR BENEFIT.

Some people think that when hard things happen to them, it’s GOD punishing them.  I never see it that way.   HE prunes and HE waters and HE creates deserts and vistas.  And HE prunes us so our roots in HIM will go deep.  When you abide with the LORD, be prepared for some pruning.

JOHN 15: 2   “EVERY BRANCH IN ME THAT DOES NOT BEAR FRUIT HE TAKES AWAY, AND EVERY BRANCH THAT DOES BEAR FRUIT HE PRUNES, THAT IT MAY BEAR MORE FRUIT.”

There may be past issues we have never dealt with or maybe we have but in our own strength and not GOD’S way.  HIS pruning is a way of redirecting our focus and attitudes and to keep our thoughts and minds vertical rather than horizontal.  

It is interesting that when GOD does the pruning, there is more growth and more bearing of fruit.  We can be thankful for this………this bearing of fruit for the Kingdom.  It takes some courage to be ok with GOD’S pruning because you never know where it will lead you!   But GOD knows what HE is doing with HIS favor upon us…….we just need to trust HIM.

LUKE 6:43   “FOR A GOOD TREE DOES NOT BEAR BAD FRUIT, NOR DOES A BAD TREE BEAR GOOD FRUIT.”

Try  to think of yourself as a fruit bearer or as a vine or branch.  We must get our sustenance  from somewhere……..our beautiful Creator!  And HE chose us, in HIS infinite wisdom to go…….go and bear fruit.  HE is the true vine and we are the branches.

JOHN 15: 16  “YOU DID NOT CHOOSE ME, BUT I CHOSE YOU AND APPOINTED YOU THAT YOU SHOULD GO AND BEAR FRUIT AND THAT YOUR FRUIT SHOULD ABIDE, SO THAT WHATEVER YOU ASK THE FATHER IN MY NAME, HE MAY GIVE IT TO YOU.”

If you feel today that you are being pruned, do not despair because there will be something good and wonderful that will come from it.  All you need to do is to be open and willing and then watch and notice what GOD does through you.  HE never leaves us the way HE finds us.  And pruning is HIS way.  Draw near to HIM today and let the VINEDRESSER take care of you with HIS incredible mercy and grace.  Then go bear fruit for HIS Kingdom!

SONG OF SOLOMON 2: 12   “THE BLOSSOMS HAVE ALREADY APPEARED IN THE LAND; THE TIME HAS ARRIVED FOR PRUNING THE VINES, AND THE VOICE OF THE TURTLEDOVE HAS BEEN HEARD IN OUR LAND.”