*Share your testimony or leave your comment by clicking on “Leave Comment” below*

“Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”  ~John 15:2

I  remember as a little girl going to my uncle’s house to pick grapes from his  “plentiful” grapevine.  His grapevine was stationed high above the ground; and you could walk underneath it to pick your grapes.  In season, it would be  filled with lots of large, juicy grapes which were  always so wonderfully sweet and plump!

As I studied John 15, I began to ponder:  “What was it that made those grapes taste so good?”  I thought about how diligent my uncle was to care for that vine.  Every year, when the time was right, he would prune the branches.  Every year, he watered it, “fed it”, and watched it carefully to ensure it’s success.  Every year, he spent hours and hours making sure that each branch was properly cared for and tied up so bugs and little creatures  wouldn’t destroy the fruit.

Likewise, John 15: 1-8, says that our Father watches over us and cares for us to ensure that we have every opportunity to bear much fruit.  In order for us to bear “sweet, juicy grapes”, however, we must be pruned on a regular basis.  If the branches aren’t properly cared for on a grape vine, they will either be barren and bear no fruit or the fruit will be sour and of no use….and so it is with us.

I must be honest and admit:  pruning is not fun!  Pruning involves pain!  Pruning involves submission!  Pruning involves dying to self in order to totally surrender to the Will of God in our lives. 

Mature pruning is harsh and is usually about our values and personal identity.  It causes us to take an honest look down deep inside of us and see the areas that need work.  It causes us to release our relationships, our possessions, our finances, and our will to allow God to do with them whatever He desires. 

Mature pruning cuts away those things in our lives that hold us back or block the Call of God from going forward.  

Mature pruning causes us to remember that we must keep God first in everything we do.

Mature pruning prepares us for the abundant blessings that God has for us!

I want to be like “sweet, juicy grapes” in this walk of life.  I want to be an encourager to those who need encouragement and share the love of Christ with those who are placed in my path.  I know you do, too.

If you’ve been going through “mature pruning”, RELAX!  It’s painful for a little while, but when the pruning is over and everything that is not godly has been cut away, you’ll be sweeter than honey and as beautiful as a new rose.