Ouch!! Pruning really hurts.

It means the arborist cuts off not only the dead branches, but also cuts back those producing fruit. Why? So the tree can produce even more fruit! So it can reach its potential.

Similarly, Jesus calls us to die daily to ourselves, so He can live larger within us!

“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. When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.” John 15:2, 8 NLT

When I read this verse, I can bow my head and sullenly pray, “Okay Lord, prune me.” But I don’t look forward to the pruning. Dying to myself sounds so morbid. It’s not appealing to my flesh. I want fun now. I want immediate success, and not a process of growth. That sounds boring, and tough.

But wait. What if I actually looked forward to the next pruning? What if I remembered my greater fruitfulness after every past pruning? What if I saw a glimpse of all the pending fruit just waiting for my next pruning? If so, then I would eagerly pray, …

“Lord, prune me again…now!”

This prayer would multiply my spiritual fruitfulness and accelerate God’s purposes in me!

Do we dare pray like this? Do we want to change our culture? Since you are reading this blog, I think you are also a part of the daring breed. So let’s grow together!