Pruned to Bear More

John 15:2
…and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

Thought:
Pruning is never pleasant, but it is always purposeful. The Father, the wise Husbandman, cuts away what hinders fruitfulness. In a vineyard, “suckers” and extra shoots may look like growth, but they only produce leaves, not grapes. They block light, steal nutrients, and weaken the harvest.

In our lives, “suckers” can be distractions, misplaced priorities, unhealthy relationships, or even good things God never called us to do. They make us look busy and “leafy,” but not necessarily fruitful. Sometimes God allows circumstances, conviction, or discipline to cut those things away. At first, we may feel more bare than blessed, but in time, that pruning leads to more fruit, not less.

Ask God honestly: What in my life is leafy but not fruitful? What needs to be surrendered so that more of Christ’s life can flow through me?

Prayer:
Father, I submit to Your pruning hand. There are things in my life that may look like growth but do not lead to fruit. I reveal and confess them to you, and ask you for the courage to let them go. Even when it hurts, remind me that Your pruning is an act of love, not rejection. Make me less leafy and more fruitful, for Your glory. In Jesus' name. Amen.