What season are you in?
What season are you in?
Pruned or Fruitful
Comfort, peace, easy, blessing, safe, fruitful – these are all words that each of us strives to remain in, for as long as we can remain in. But… this is not possible.
Why? Because change is inevitable. Change is important for growth.
In the pictures attached, this is the same tree from one season to the next. Our trees were so completely full of fruit this season that the limbs hung so low due to the excess amount of fruit. The rule is, you must prune your trees in order to bear more fruit. In my prayer time for Hitching Post and for our families influence, ie. Where we work, go to school, etc. I realized that I prefer the fruitful season vs the pruning season. I prefer everything to be easy. As I was praying the Lord reminded me that HE is always at work and always has a purpose no matter if what I see is beautiful, yummy and fruitful. Or hard, ugly and a lot of work.
Hebrews 12:5-6
And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”
Verse 10b-11
God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in His holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
His purpose is for our good. His purpose is that we may share in his holiness. He is purifying us. He is pruning us.
Us…. You & Me…
He needs a willing participant. He chose to allow us free will, we get to decide our perspective in the pruning. Are we rebellious, angry, bitter, hard-hearted, or are we willing?
He sees you. He sees the end from the beginning. He’s making us into His image.
He knows what it takes to bear fruit
(John 15) Much fruit
Fruit that will last.
We don’t need spiritual inspiration, we need to be changed.