Spiritual Pruning




Spiritual Pruning 
By Pastor Mary Ann Wray





"He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful." John 15: 2


After a long dreary winter we are finally entering into the wonderful season of spring! Many of us will begin the process of lawn care and gardening. Some of us will have to prune trees and shrubbery along with other ground maintenance to get our yards in tip top shape.

Pruning is the practice of cutting and removing selected parts of shrubbery and trees. It often means sawing back branches or removing smaller limbs altogether. Pruning can also be the removal of young shoots, buds, and leaves. The process of pruning controls growth, removes dead or diseased wood, and stimulates the formation of flowers and fruit buds.

It is widely understood that careful attention to pruning and training young fruit trees in particular, improves later productivity and longevity. Good pruning and training also helps prevent injury later on from weak forks (where a tree trunk splits into two) or more branches break from the weight of its own fruit, snow, or ice.
Jesus' parable of spiritual pruning is the uncomfortable process where the Holy Spirit begins to cut back spiritual branches that tend to grow out of control or aren't maturing properly. He will use correction, teaching and sometimes rebuke to cut these limbs back for the purpose of greater growth. He will use people, places and things to point out what needs trimmed in our lives but we must be paying attention or else we may miss the lesson and grow weary or frustrated in the process!

These wild or slow growing spiritual branches produce little to no Kingdom fruit. They can look healthy, lush and green but in reality they can stunt our growth. Things like hyper spirituality, a works based mentality, not getting involved with ministry at all, seeking affirmation, false humility and intense soulish reactions to the presence of God can be mistaken for mature spiritual fruit. In actuality, these things can be kind of nutty!

I heard a preacher say may years ago, “God is looking for spiritual fruit; not nuts or flakes." Ouch! My pastor often says, "If it's not practical, it's not spiritual." There is maturity and a balance needed in order to successfully navigate through this life and minister to others in the name of the Lord.

Sometimes God will take His sword and bend it into a pruning hook. He wants to grow us up and get us ready for the Harvest! There's a higher purpose in all the wonderful spiritual experiences we have in the Father's presence. Ultimately, He shows us His glory and imparts His Life into us to prepare us for the greater works He's commissioned us to do in His name! Get ready for the pruning hook. It's good for the soul and necessary for reaping the Harvest!

See Micah 4: 3; Isaiah 2: 4

Why don’t we Pray Together about this?

“Jesus, you are the Lord of the Harvest. You said to pray for laborers because it is plentiful. Help me become a better laborer in your field and not become so enamored with my own fruit that I forget it is for others' picking and eating. You prune me so I can become more fruitful. My spiritual fruit is produced so that others can taste and see you are good. Help me to cooperate with the pruning process so that I can bear more Kingdom Fruit for you glory. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen!”

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