Radical Pruning
September 2, 2015//
Topics to Dig Into
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. -Jesus
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. -Jesus
John 15:1-2 (NLT)
I love pruning – cutting out dead or
unproductive branches, thinning to allow more sunlight inside, and reshaping
the overall appearance. As a child, I learned that pruning promotes new growth.
My father would butcher trees in our yard, but they’d rejuvenate beautifully –
better and stronger than before. The politically correct term is ‘radical
pruning’.
unproductive branches, thinning to allow more sunlight inside, and reshaping
the overall appearance. As a child, I learned that pruning promotes new growth.
My father would butcher trees in our yard, but they’d rejuvenate beautifully –
better and stronger than before. The politically correct term is ‘radical
pruning’.
We all need to prune – activities,
friendships, biases, and habits. Sometimes even radically.
friendships, biases, and habits. Sometimes even radically.
September is a great time to
evaluate our schedules, commitments, relationships, routines, and decide which
should be cut out or trimmed back.
evaluate our schedules, commitments, relationships, routines, and decide which
should be cut out or trimmed back.
Step back to have a look at the
overall shape of your life.
overall shape of your life.
Is there anything weak, unhealthy,
or flat out dead?
or flat out dead?
Are some of your old activities
preventing something fresh and exciting from forming?
preventing something fresh and exciting from forming?
Would allowing more space at the
center encourage growth from within?
center encourage growth from within?
Be thoughtful and proactive in shaping your schedule for a
better, stronger you.
better, stronger you.
#seedsofscripture #TheBestYes
#pruning
#pruning
4 Comments
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Spend a few minutes to plant a quick Seed. Or stay longer and plant a whole garden.
Love this Cathy! Thank you. This is the time I get busier. I'll be praying about pruning. 🙂
Amen Cathy, This post confirms what God is telling me. Radically Prune the dead stuff in your life. Thank you for this.
So needed here, Cathy! Thanks for your wise words. Please pray as I prune.
I think we just get so busy, and we encouraged to stay busy, to always be on, we don't always think of the time that is needed to let in the light, and let it illuminate what needs to be pruned, where we can cut back, what we need to evaluate and what areas we need to improve. I think that some of us, (maybe most) don't give enough weight to time spent doing that, it's at the end of the priority lest, "if we have time".
We don't necessarily recognize that we need to flip it, make that the priority, clear out and let in time for connection to God, so that as John notes, we can be more productive…