Reveal What Should Be Pruned

“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. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

John 15:1–5

The art of growing wildly productive tomato plants requires attentive daily care. Once the main branches are healthy and producing fruit, the wise gardener will pinch off any of the sucker shoots growing up from the bottom of the plant. Left alone, these shoots will grow tall and spindly, with plenty of leaves but no blossoms or fruit to show for it. These suckers will siphon off the life-giving sap on its way from the vine to the branches. The result? Fewer and smaller tomatoes.

In today’s Scripture, Jesus speaks of His Father as the vinedresser who prunes His vines so that they will produce even more fruit. But we can participate by pruning ourselves! Ask the Holy Spirit to show you what needs to be pared back in your life—the activities, habits, or preoccupations that are draining away your life energies from the Lord’s good plan for your life. Pinch them off!

Holy Spirit, search my heart and life today. Show me where I am distracted from Your desire for me. Reveal to me what needs to be pruned. I don’t want to miss Your best! I will prune my life as best as I know how, but I need Your insight and wisdom.