– Scripture:

I am the Real Vine and my Father is the Farmer. He cuts off every branch of me that doesn’t bear grapes. And every branch that is grape-bearing he prunes back so it will bear even more. You are already pruned back by the message I have spoken. “Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can’t bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can’t bear fruit unless you are joined with me.

                               John 15:1,4 MSG

– Reflection:

                Pruning Your Life

Sometimes, God will remove things from our lives that we don’t understand. It could be a friendship that’s pulling us down and causing us to compromise. We may not like the change because we were comfortable, but now, we’re going to have to stretch and grow. We shouldn’t fight the pruning of the branch. God knows what He’s doing and He’s not going to leave something in our lives that will keep us from our purpose. If He’s asking us to walk away from an unhealthy relationship, we know a season is ending for our good. If we resist it, we’re going to miss out on the greater things God has in store for us. Let Him remove what He knows is keeping us from being the true person He created us to be. He’s not trying to take something from us; He’s trying to bring something better to us. He wants to bring out the true us, which is more fruitful, blessed, and successful than we can imagine.

Where do we go from here?

There will always be things that you believe could have been done better at the end of most things. If necessary, it’s important to take the time to grieve, but then we have to refocus on moving forward. Jesus didn’t dwell on what Judas did or Peter denying him; he had to focus on his next task. Similarly, we also have to focus on our next tasks and keep pushing forward.

Our Prayer for Today

“Father, thank you for opening our eyes to see what you see. We are blessed to witness the things you show us each day. Please help us to let go of what you have taken away from us and leave it where you left it. Amen.”