Time to cut the shrubs

New believers class reminded me of this so I needed to Blog it today-
(isn't is crazy how God has a word for everyone-I was teaching on the very basics of Christ and he gives "me" this to ponder about myself.)


"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful." John 15:1-2

I don't like being cut-back or pruned. It's a process that doesn't feel so good. It requires relinquishing myself to God and allowing him to do in my life what he see's as best in order for me to produce a more abundant amount of fruit. I fight against the process. I grieve my "losses." Simply put, I like getting my own way and I have an agenda in mind that I want to keep!Yet, I know that if I submit myself to God's pruning, I will look back one day and recognize where he has taken me and that it was good.
It's just so hard in the moment!Surrender is so difficult, but when I look at it logically, I'm not in control of anything anyway. I simply think I am.
God's ways will happen regardless of if I surrender to him or not. Surrendering is really about me aligning myself with his will and saying, "Yes, God, I desire your ways too. I trust you and know that you know what's best. I will be obedient to you and walk in the path you put before me."So, logically, I know the truth above, but I still struggle against it.
I almost need to return to the truth every hour, or even every minute in order to remind myself. It is a process. A life-long one. One that I can't even do on my own. Even in this I need to give over to God and allow him to do his work in me. And God, I'm willing. I want you to come in me and change my mind in order to align it with your will.
Place the desire in me to give up my own agenda and give me the desire to be obedient to yours. Prune me back like the shrub bush, so that in my season, I will give off a beautiful fragrance from abundant flowers.

Maybe God is pruning something in you right now. He may be doing it through circumstances you find yourself in, through an inner prompting during prayer or time spent reading your Bible, or in the counsel of another Christians.
Hang on to him, even when you don't understand. Ask him for his direction — and obey him when you receive it. Believe that he knows what is best for you and is leading you according to his will. Submit to the pruning: one day you will be healthier and bear more fruit because of it.

Floyd-