Thankful Tuesday- Thankful for the Pruning

We spent last week at the lake with Adam’s family. We always have a great time there! However, unfortunately, this trip sweet Adelyn got a splinter in her finger. We saw it while we were there and it looked like it was pretty deep into the skin and so we didn’t bother it; we figured it would work itself out a bit. Adam left straight from the lake to go lead worship in Alabama for a church this past weekend and so while he was gone, I kept thinking to myself, “When Adam gets home he can work on that splinter in Adelyn’s finger.” I put medicine on it and a band aid and just pretended like it wasn’t there and so did Adelyn. 

Adam came home and I reminded him that he had to work on that splinter. (These things are just not my specialty!) Last night, Adam pulled off the band aid and the spot around the splinter was red and a little puffy. Adelyn instantly started screaming when she realized he was about to touch her “boo boo.” We tried our best to explain to her that she had to get the splinter out of her finger so her finger didn’t get infected and affect the rest of her hand and even her body. No matter what we said to her she didn’t care (she’s 3). She kept screaming. “I want it to stay in” tears streaming down her face. 

The whole scenario instantly brought my mind to John 15 and the idea that when Jesus loves us and when we are abiding in Him, He will not allow us live with sin in our lives. He “prunes” us, the original definition meaning He cleanses us of filth and impurity. I dare say He cannot “prune” us without it hurting, sometimes (maybe a lot of times) so bad to the point that we want Him to stop. We want to keep our impurity inside us so we don’t have to hurt while He works to take it out of us, but just like we love Adelyn and would never let her keep a splinter in her finger if we thought it would hurt her, God cannot let us keep sin in our lives. Our sin is hurtful to us and to others around us and He wants to use us to make His name great and our sin gets in the way. 

This morning Adelyn woke up and said her finger was better and that she wanted to take her band aid off. It is amazing how fast her “boo boo” is healing once her splinter came out. Not only does God want us to heal from our hurt from our sin, He also wants to cause us to “bear much fruit.” 

This week has been one of those weeks for me. He is stripping me of my fear and entitlement and giving me glimpses of the fruit He wants to bear in my life if I will continue to let Him do His work. It is scary and it feels like I am hurting and giving up a lot but I know if let Him “prune” these things from my life is ultimately what I want. 

Thank you God that you never give up on me. Thank you that your word says that “you who began this good work in me will carry it out until completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Phil 1:6) Thank you that I know and can trust that you always have my good in mind because I love you. (Romans 8:28) Thank you for pruning me; May my life be used for your glory alone. 

I am the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser.

Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit [that stops bearing] He cuts away (trims off, takes away); and He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit

Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you. [Live in Me, and I will live in you.] Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me...I am the Vine; you are the branches. 

Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.When you bear (produce) much fruit, My Father is honored and glorified, and you show and prove yourselves to be true followers of Mine.

I have loved you, [just] as the Father has loved Me; abide in My love [continue in His love with Me].

I have told you these things, that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy and gladness may be of full measure and complete and overflowing.

John 15:1,2,4,5,8,9,11