Day 14 - Pruning Hurts, But It’s Worth It

1“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. (John 15:1-6 ESV)

Have you ever trained for something in your life? Perhaps running a 5k, or preparing for some type of test at school? Well, when you are training or preparing you're actually pruning yourself in an attempt to get the best results. What Jesus is talking about here is pruning that God does so that you can get the best spiritual results as you live your life. Jesus says the only way we can get the best spiritual results is when we are pruned and connected to him.

Here's the problem pruning hurts. But the results of that pruning are undeniable. Because pruning hurts some of us are tempted to sit back and not ask God to prune our lives. But that's the wrong mentality to hold. In fact it will keep you from living the life God intended you to live. And you know this is true because as you hold back from being pruned by God you often feel less connected to him, less connected to Jesus. Living in faith becomes less real, and less meaningful until your faith withers away and becomes nothing, only to have a life good for nothing except to be thrown away.

So as you look on your day today, do you see areas where God needs to prune you so you can stay connected to Jesus? If so pray that you would be confident enough to ask God to prune you in those areas so that you can live abiding in Jesus and bearing the best fruit possible.