Originally published Monday, 28 September 2015.
www.insideoutwithcourtnaye.org
For starters, do you know what pruning means? Let me do the honors! It means to cut away or remove unnecessary parts; to remove dead or living parts from (a plant) so as to increase fruit or flower production or improve the form. Ouch! So in other words, in these last days, God wants us to be more productive, more fruitful, and He wants us to improve so that we can be more effective for His kingdom. Amen! So…long story short, it would mean that He would need to prune you.
No doubt, pruning does NOT feel good. Reason being is because it often times brings discomfort and pain. Not only that, but it takes you totally out of your comfort zone. Most of the time, we don’t want to come out of the comfort zone, because we tend to like the smooth road. But in reality, we need the bumps in the road to help us stay alert to reach our intended destination.
And what’s the intended destination? It’s purpose, destiny, your calling, promises fulfilled, and making it to heaven, while also helping others to make it as well. Yet, in order to reach any of these, we have to be pruned. Now…when God prunes us, He bring us through some changes by cutting away things that are unnecessary and not like Him to make us better. Jesus tells us in John 15:1-2, “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.” (NLT)
In this passage of Scripture, the Lord is talking about having the fruit of the Spirit; which is love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control as Galatians 5:22-23 states. Now…be honest. Could you use some growth in any of these areas? Think about it. Are you loving well, joyful, peaceable, patient, gentle or kind to others, showing the goodness of God, trusting Him, humble, or controlling yourself? If not, then pruning is necessary for not only your spiritual growth, but your effectiveness in advancing the kingdom or anything that you do.
People need to see Christ living inside of you. They need to experience the delicious fruit of the Spirit in your life. As a true disciple (follower) of Christ, this is how God is glorified. It’s true! Jesus said through John 15:8, “When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings glory to my Father.” I don’t know about you, but I want to bring glory to our Father. Do you?
If so, then let God prune you. Let Him make you a better person in this world. And the way you allow Him to do this is to go through your tests, trials, opposition, obstacles, tough circumstances, and people issues to improve you. It’s all to help you to become a better Christian. Sometimes the only Jesus people may see, is lived out through you. But that is how it’s supposed to be. Remember, Jesus lived the word.
Personally, I remember telling God, “Lord, I’m loving people. I’m being joyful. I’m trying to be humble. I’m doing what you’re asking me to do.” But then the Lord whispered to me, “I want more.” And I understood. Why? Because remember His word says, “…he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.”
So if you are producing fruit already, be encouraged and hang in there. Go the distance! Let Him do what needs to be done to make you more effective. People in the world and even in the church around you need Jesus. They need to see how you show love in action, joy in spite of your circumstances, peace to the unpeaceable, patient under trial or a waiting season, gentle when you could be harsh, exemplifying the goodness of God, trusting God when you can’t see Him moving yet, being humble when you’re humiliated, and practice self-control.
As I close this post, know that you cannot produce fruit without Jesus. You cannot have true godly character in your own strength, power, or ability. You cannot have fruit if you are not connected or spending time in close fellowship with Him. He tells us in John 15:5, “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.” Don’t ever forget that. Rely on Jesus and the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit to bear fruit. BE who you want others to be and let God prune you sis! It’s time.
Remember, Jesus is coming back soon! And those who endure unto the end shall be saved. So let’s be ready from the Inside Out!
~Courtnaye
*A book that I recommend this week is called, “Secrets to Exceptional Living: Transforming Your Life through the Fruit of the Spirit” by Joyce Meyer. Just tap on the title and grab it here today!
Thanks for reading this post! I hope and pray that you’ve been enlightened. If you have any comments or questions feel free to leave it here or email me @ insideoutwithcourtnaye@gmail.com and I’ll get back with you promptly. Don’t forget to visit my website @ www.insideoutwithcourtnaye.org for additional growth in your faith and leave a donation if Inside Out with Courtnaye has been a blessing to you. Also, “LIKE” my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/InsideOutWCourtnaye, and follow me on Twitter at https://twitter.com/InOutwCourtnaye. Thanks and God bless you my sister!
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