Time for Pruning!
by Wendy Whitten
When did you last get pruned?
Having spent time recently in the garden, harvesting apples, I couldn’t help noticing the trees. One tree was very productive this year, bearing many large and beautiful apples. Last year it was a poor crop in comparison, but it underwent a healthy pruning and as a result has been very fruitful this season.
The second tree looks as if it has a good crop but on closer inspection all the apples are small and of poor quality. Why? Well, at the all–important time this spring there was no opportunity to ‘thin out’ the fruit. If some had been taken out when tiny then the resulting crop would have been of better quality - larger, tastier apples in good condition instead of the many small and damaged ones we have this year.
We have also been cutting back the shrubs, bushes and climbers, getting rid of the dead wood that is crowding out or choking the good branches, identifying those ‘out–of-control’ stems that are just ‘in the way’. We have selected the best and healthiest of branches to remain. Pruning!
So, when were you last pruned?
Let’s ask the Master Gardener, our Creator, if there’s anything in our lives that may need cutting back. Are there sin issues we need to deal with? Are our attitudes healthy or have we allowed bitterness or negativity to creep in? What about our priorities? Are they God’s or ours? Are we really fruitful for His Kingdom? Is there any area where we need to be ‘thinned out’?
When did we last lay down our lives before God and surrender everything to Him and say ‘Have your way’? Are we fruitful or are we just busy? Are we fully grafted into the true vine or are we a wayward off-shoot?
Let’s get close to God today, feed on Him, spend time in His presence, ‘let our roots go down deep into the soil of His marvellous love’ and allow Him to prune us.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I desire to lay my life down afresh before You this day - have Your way in my life . Show me what isn’t pleasing to You, and draw me close to You today. I give You permission to prune me so that I may be more fruitful for Your kingdom, I choose to dwell in Your presence and receive Your love. In Jesus’ precious name. Amen
Wendy Whitten joined Ellel Ministries in 1993 and has served the Lord in the UK Centres, as well as spending many years in Eastern Europe and more recently in India and The Netherlands. She is now based at Ellel Grange. Previously an engineer, now better known as a musician and artist, she delights to impart to others something of the abundant life that Jesus has brought to her.
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