Pruning

I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away ; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. "I am the vine, you are the branches ; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing . "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. "My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. "Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love ; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. "These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. John 15:1-
During BSF this semester, we have been studying John and just recently studied John 15. We talked and learned about how God prunes us. I’ve heard and studied this passage before, but the Bible really is “new every morning” and this time I really got it. This was a huge eye opener to me and my prayer has been that God would help me to see the moments that He is using to prune me. We learned that the pruning that Jesus is talking about sometimes refers to areas that seem good in us. Even though these “parts” may be good qualities and not necessarily unhealthy ones (such as bad language, anger, etc.) they still get pruned away so that we can look just like our Lord. One character trait of mine that seems good to be is my independence but I can see how He has pruned this away over time. I’ve also tried to be aware of how Eleri not sleeping or taking her naps well has helped in this pruning process (not that she is screaming at the top of her lungs in her crib right now refusing to take her nap on my birthday or anything;)). At this moment or season of life, I can’t exactly see the fruit of the pruning, but I know its happening, or that I at least have the choice of allowing God’s pruning away to shape me to look more like Him. I’m trying to be aware of it, and sort of embrace the daily difficulties of babies not sleeping, dishes not being put up, fits, tantrums, disrespect from my big girl…all as ways that I can choose to react in ways that please God and bring Him honor and take on His characteristics. Certainly not always easy, but knowing that all these minor trials have purpose certainly makes the endurance part easier! Thank you Jesus for pruning me in this past decade.