The Pruning

Hi guys,

I am sorry this week’s #OnlineBibleStudy is coming in a day late, I wasn’t feeling too good yesterday. Woke up with headache, weakness and was just drifting in and out of sleep.

I feel better today but still drifting in and out of sleep… the only thing I feel like eating is a good ol’ plate of Delta kinda Ukodo soup, so if you are close by and can make it, holla 🙂

Thank God for strength, lets get into today’s study…

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So it has dawned on me that the basis of everything God has been doing in my life this year can be called “THE PRUNING”.

The keeping me in a silent season, turning my focus unto Him alone, mellowing me down to be humble and keeping me in small beginnings? All part of “the pruning”.

On Sunday, before Church, I opened up John 15 which we have already studied HERE before but this time only the word “the pruning” stuck to my head.

Please pull out your bibles and study along and even get your own rhema moment…

 

“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.’

-John 15:1-2

 

And so I started rolling around the word “Prune” in my mind.

Shall we ask the dictionary for help please?

Meaning of “prune” in the English Dictionary

So because our Father loves us, He lovingly plucks off everything in us that is not of Him just so we can drop the unnecessary baggage and be true children of our Father.

Remember that prayer we all pray?

Lord anything that is not of you, take it away from my life?

Yes, the means by which God does this is called “the pruning”.

Another reason why we must be pruned is so we can be conformed to the image of Jesus.

“For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters”

-Romans 8:25

The plan is that we would be so much like Jesus, conformed to His image, in character, attitude and behavior, there will be literally no difference between us and Jesus.

Then it would be a no-brainer for us to act like Jesus and do what Jesus would do in every circumstance we find ourselves.

So we have seen that pruning is a necessity for every child of God.

We do not automatically become like Jesus when we become born again, for the rest of our journey, God will continue to prune us to make us more like Himself.

So by what means is this pruning done?

By situations and circumstances… and wait for this….

BY PEOPLE.

BY MEN.

By your colleague.

By your friends.

By your church members.

By your wife.

By your husband.

By even that pick pocket who stole your last money for the week.

There is a way that God uses people to take away the things that shouldn’t be in us while replacing the things that Christ wants to be in us.

So much so, that we now bear the same fruit that Christ bore.

Pruning will work out character, attitude, humility, etc in us while shaving away the things that do not glorify God in our lives….. and pruning will work out obedience to God’s will in us.

Frances, you think that God isn’t seeing that you are selling your books in the thousands yet?

Oh, now you will be pruned to know that it is not of you that willeth, neither is it by your prowess with marketing and writing, but it is by the Lord that showeth mercy.

You think that God doesn’t see your desire to be married?

Oh, as you wait, now you will realize that beauty and yanga won’t get you a husband, marriage is a gift from God.

You think that God doesn’t remember His promises to you?

Oh, now you will realize that patience is a must as you wait for God’s promises to come to pass.

You think that God doesn’t see your arguments and quarrels with your mom and colleagues? Or the hurtful words your brother says to you.

Oh, now you will learn to still respond with meekness, forgiveness and love in the face of all the brouhaha.

God prunes us daily with situations, circumstances and difficulties.

He might not bring on these circumstances, but somehow He always uses them to work out His plans and purposes and HIMSELF into our lives.

Characteristics of Pruning…

Bleeding and pain…

Is your heart bleeding?

Are you torn?

Are you in pain?

Do you feel like you are loosing a part of you and God is filling it up with Himself?

Do you feel like you are being operated on?

Congratulations, you are being pruned.

 The process of pruning isn’t always a beautiful sight, its messy, with leaves and twigs flying around everywhere. And if the leaves could cry, they would cry, but they can’t.

But we can cry and cry I have cried a lot this year.

But would I have it any other way?

NO.

In fact, I have laid on the floor before, crying my eyes out after listening to Gbile Akanni’s message on “God’s concentration on lives He intends to use’… and after hearing that God will expose me to lack, the word, prayers and Himself, still, from my heart, I told God, don’t let me into any kind of limelight till I am well pruned and made ready  by you.

Aint nobody wanna go into the world unprepared.

So do you feel like you are being pruned also?

Has 2016 being a year of God just stretching you and performing a surgery on your heart and mind?

Embrace it.

Revel in it.

Something’s happening inside of you thats all meant for a greater glory.

And hopefully, when we gather here at the end of the year, we will be glad to say that indeed, we let God work on us and we are better for it.

Prayer:

Lord thank you because you never let me walk alone, you hold me in your hands and have me in your heart.

I surrender to your workings in my life.

Take away my ugly and give me your beauty.

Take away my ugly and give me your beauty.

Strengthen me even as you continually conform me to the image of your son… thank You Lord, for in Jesus name I have prayed, amen.

If you are in a stage of pruning, I would love to hear from you…

Anything you wanna share that you got as you studied the passage, please, share in the comment section below.

I’m here, reading and learning..

Till our next #OnlineBibleStudy,

Love,

Frances

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