J
While doing yard work today, I noticed several bushes newly planted this year were really in need of some pruning because their purpose is to form a hedge. Left alone, their limbs become long and leggy and kind of messy. So, I began pruning them back, removing the weaker limbs and completely removing the ones close to the ground, which revealed some unwanted weeds. As I cut away the weight of the limbs, they rebounded to their upright and strong position. When I was finished, I stood back and looked at them and said to myself, "Yep, that looks pretty good for now".
I then began to think of the reference in the bible about pruning and I realized every reason I had for cutting the selected limbs were reasons God "prunes" us. Such as: "Planted" for a specific purpose. Removing the weak. Establishing strength. Shaping into the purpose of its use. Exposing hidden things growing by the "foundation" that were useless and unsightly and needed to be removed so as not to mingle with the root of the plant. And then I found myself smiling and asking Him, "So, is this what You say as you "prune" me? .... Yep,that looks pretty good for now"! "For now," indicating there WILL BE MORE pruning. And during those times when I feel those things being "cut out", "uprooted", "shaped"... and I begin to complain to Him about how "uncomfortable" I am... I think I will just go outside and take a look at the various trees and bushes I've planted for specific purposes, seeing they are developing into exactly what I intended...BECAUSE of the care of pruning.
I then began to think of the reference in the bible about pruning and I realized every reason I had for cutting the selected limbs were reasons God "prunes" us. Such as: "Planted" for a specific purpose. Removing the weak. Establishing strength. Shaping into the purpose of its use. Exposing hidden things growing by the "foundation" that were useless and unsightly and needed to be removed so as not to mingle with the root of the plant. And then I found myself smiling and asking Him, "So, is this what You say as you "prune" me? .... Yep,that looks pretty good for now"! "For now," indicating there WILL BE MORE pruning. And during those times when I feel those things being "cut out", "uprooted", "shaped"... and I begin to complain to Him about how "uncomfortable" I am... I think I will just go outside and take a look at the various trees and bushes I've planted for specific purposes, seeing they are developing into exactly what I intended...BECAUSE of the care of pruning.