John 15:1-2 – 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, that it may bear more fruit.

This Scripture passage is encouraging to me and reminds me again that no matter what the circumstances in my life at any given moment, as long as I’m in Jesus I will abide.

The pruning that He does in our hearts may be rather hard to take at times; some pruning may take longer than others times.  However, if we look at the pruning as the way He “cleans up our heart”, instead of looking at it as a rejection, the process will be quicker and less harsh.  This pruning is His way of changing us into His Image; changing us from glory to glory (2 Corn 3:18).   If we don’t fight it, the pruning is similar to “snips” and is over quickly.  But if we moan and groan and complain and are fearful, we delay the process and then the pruning is rather a series of “cutting away” rather than “easy snips”.  That ‘s why it’s important to be still in His Presence, spiritually and emotionally, so this refining work of our Lord can quickly be done in our hearts.  This is true for everyone, so let’s be patient, and walk in love towards one another.  We may not always know when a person is going through a deep pruning in their life.  We may not know until we get to heaven how soothing and helpful our love-walk has been to someone.

I encourage you to stay close to God in all you do and to remember that the more willing we are to allow God to change us and mold us, the quicker we grow in Him.

Next week we will continue this lesson in John 15.