Greetings,
I am stepping away from my usual devotional style of writing today. I’ve been so busy with many other aspects of life the last month or so that I haven’t had much time for writing. Today I’d just like to take a moment to send some thoughts your way. This is unedited, so please forgive any mistakes. I hope and pray this will bless and encourage you.
Many years ago I was privileged to attend a Christian business women’s luncheon where I found myself both mesmerized and tearful while listening to the guest speaker. She was speaking about how God prunes us so we will bear more beautiful fruit in the future.
I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. John 15:5 NASB
It was the first time I’d heard John 15:5 explained. The speaker told of how God needs to prune us just like we need to prune our rose bushes in order for them to meet their full potential and bloom the way they are meant to.
God was doing some serious pruning in my life at the time that needed to be done. The thing about the pruning process is that it can be painful and uncertain.
I’ve seen God prune my life and the lives of others many, many times since that luncheon. Though the discomfort of the pruning process is not diminished, the knowledge of what He’s doing helps in going through it and looking forward to the finished product.
When I prune my rose bushes this Fall, I’ll know when Spring arrives, the fruit of that pruning will be magnificent. The branches will spring forth, rose buds will bloom into amazingly beautiful roses for all to enjoy. The beauty and aroma will be worth the time taken to prune the deadness away.
Are you going through a pruning process? I want to encourage you not to fight it. God is making you into something even more beautiful than you already are. He can see your future blossoms and knows how amazing your next season will be if you will only allow Him to cut away the dead areas of your life. Pray and ask for peace as He does what He needs to do in your life.
He doesn’t do this to hurt us. On the contrary, it is out of immense love for us because He knows our potential.
Look at it this way. If we do not prune the deadness away from the shrubbery, the following season it has trouble blooming to its full potential. And so it is with us. God cannot use us to our full potential until we get rid of the deadness holding us back.
If you are going through a dead season, feeling like you’ve been left to fend for yourself, take heart. God loves you so very much! He wants nothing but the best for you! Sometimes that means a little more discomfort, but in the end it will be worth it.
I promise, very soon when you look back on this day, you will see the hand of God snipping here and snipping there. And while He’s snipping, He’s looking ahead at the beauty springing forth in just a short time. He’s smiling, knowing His creation is magnificent! You, His creation, are magnificent!
Father God, I lift up those going through the pruning process this day. I pray for peace and comfort during this time. Please be with them and bring Sisters and Brothers alongside to encourage and comfort. You are the Master Gardener. We love and adore You. In the matchless name of our Lord, Savior and Friend. Amen.
In His embrace,
Toni
Thank you Toni for all of your heart stirring devotionals, encouraging all who read them. You have touched many people and I know God is pruning you for what lies ahead. Take the time you need and we will all wait and pray patiently for you. You are a blessing to me. I love you my friend and sister in Christ. Be blessed.
Thank you so much for the encouragement Trease!! Love you too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Toni, the unedited blogs are great! I went thrum some pruning when our ministry vehicle kept breaking down last year. I hate dealing with car repairs. I think I took the SUV in at least 3 times for repairs amounting to over $15,000 of, which, we did not have the finances. I would cry out to God and He would tell me that He would provide the money. SUV would get fixed and no money. I would talk to God again. “God, you said…” I would be reminded about faith just by God ‘s silence. So I would call the shop and tell them, “I ‘m still waiting on the check that my Dad is sending me. It ‘s in the mail.” (Of course I was talking about my Heavenly Father unbeknownst to them) The money came in EVERY time!! So I got pruned of unbelief. I noticed my faith was stronger this year when we had yet another car repair ($300) and I didn’t freak. We prayed ; God put a plan in my head and He provided a different way. God is good to us even when we are a bit faithless. He shows us how to be faithful with situational repeats. (Ask Israel about that one! 40 years of stubbornness. Yikes!)
Mike,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and heart. We have such a patient God! He loves us enough to wait while we struggle, then comes to the rescue when we finally remember to trust Him in each circumstance.
May God bless your day as you trust Him completely for the outcome. 🙂
Amen right on time and GOD is so faithful. You are such an awesome blessing in the family of GOD Toni, keep up the good work!!!!
God bless you Monica!! Praying for His light to shine in and through you!
I was recently given a poem called ‘Be a Woman of Strength”. It talks of how a “strong woman” and a “Woman of Strength” differ in life. Your devotional reminds me of its closing: “A strong woman has faith that she is strong enough for the journey, but a Woman of Strength has faith that IT IS IN THE JOURNEY that she will become strong”…. You my sister, are a Woman of Strength. Thank you so much for reminding us that woman, such as myself, aren’t doing this alone! Love you.
…..forgot to hit spell-check…sorry! 🙂
PS. Would love to read the poem if you have time to send it.
Back at ya Pat! Oh yes, there is strength in the journey. A journey we will look back on and be ever so thankful for. It is He and He alone we have to be in awe of for how He takes our puny little lives and uses them to glorify His magnificence! I am humbled beyond words at what He allows me to witness and experience.
Blessings for a beautiful day filled with His glory.