Pruning has purpose
My husband is currently reading a book by Dr. Henry Cloud entitled, “Necessary Endings”. He pointed out a chapter in the book to me about pruning. Even though the book is referring to the necessity of pruning in business at times, the same concept is just as imperative in our spiritual being. The book defines pruning as…
“removing whatever it is in our business or life whose reach is unwanted or superfluous.”
When I think about pruning, I think about a bonsai tree. As the tree grows, the pruner must be careful and intricate about cutting the branches to develop the correct size and shape. What is interesting about the bonsai tree is that even if the branches are healthy, if they are going in the wrong direction, one other than what was planned, the branch would have to be cut. Pruning such a tree takes much patience. Sometimes it may take decades for the plant to become exactly what the pruner wants. Even when it becomes exactly how it should be, it still will need some maintenance pruning from time to time, as long as the plant is still alive.
Spiritually speaking, we can all be compared to a Bonsai tree. Except, God is the perfect pruner, ever so patiently clipping, cutting and forming as He desires. He started the pruning process with each of us as small seeds. He has steadily watched us grow and along the way He has had to cut off unhealthy branches from time to time. Sometimes, He has even had to cut away what seems to me to be healthy branches. Such branches that were healthy but just not growing in the direction that He had planned.
With each pruning stage, whether it is with a Bonsai tree or with our spirit man, it all has a purpose. The purpose of pruning a Bonsai tree is to show off the patience and care of the pruner, the same could be said about the pruning that God does for us. His purpose in pruning us is not to bring hardship or heartache, in fact, without His pruning we could not become the masterpiece that He has planned for us to be.
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 15:2).
Have you felt some pruning in your life in 2011? I have and it hasn’t always been easy, but as I reflect back over the past year I can see areas that needed to be clipped, tweaked and cut away. When I allow God to be the master pruner of my life, it is then that I can see purpose in it. I pray that in the new year 2012, that each of us will allow purposeful pruning to take place in our lives and in our hearts.
Happy Pruning! I mean…Happy New Year!
Ah to be pruned! It isn’t always a pleasant experience. But, I have learned that when God is our pruner, the results are beautiful! This year I’ve had some minor trims…but in recent years I’ve had major clipping done! And of all of those, I am so thankful! I am looking forward to the results of how God is shaping me.
Happy New Year to you, too! Blessings, Joan
Such a good post.
May God shape us into what He wants us to be so we can honor & glorify Him. What a great post to ponder upon. Thanks & hope you & yours have a very blessed New Year.
That is so true, Laurie. We do all need the pruning by the Master. It is not easy to accept it at all times, but it is necessary for us to grow.
Thank you for the reminder that God’s pruning has purpose.
Happy New Year!
It is good to look back over the year and see where pruning has taken place – and realise that the the discomfort has resulted in growth 🙂 Wonder what may need to be cut back a bit this year in my life?
Jo