Staying Groomed

John 15:2 “Every branch in me that does not produce fruit He removes, and He prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit.” ~CSB

Yolanda and I moved into our home in 2006.  It was a brand-new home and with it came new vegetation to enhance the beauty of the home.  Now in this beginning stage, the bushes and the tree planted in the front yard, were new and the fullness of their appearance had not yet fully developed.  Each season I would trim the hedges of the branches that were growing faster than the other branches. This pruning made room for other branches to grow and fill in the spaces.  Eventually, the bushes and the tree became full and rich in appearance.  Our home benefited from this beauty.  

Blessings that are our inherited gifts from God work in that same way.  In order to receive the blessings God has for us, there are traits within ourselves that need to be ‘pruned’.  This is why we have trials and challenges in our lives.  These challenges, if we see them through and endure, will allow us to become stronger and wiser.  God will take what has troubled you and transform it into the blueprint of what is needed to receive, maintain and distribute your ‘custom made’ blessing. 

Unlike those times when you were not in the word of God and you wondered why your blessings come and go; now you will have the wisdom to hold on to these blessings because what kept you from holding on to those blessings has now been ‘pruned’ through those sufferings you’ve endured. In addition to maintaining these blessings, you now have the strength and wisdom  to receive more blessings as God wants you to live abundantly. 2 Corinthians 9:8, “And God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work.” ~CSB

​Every good work!  Live your life in the direction God created you to go and the blessings will continue to come.  Consider the trials of this world an opportunity to ‘prune’ your spiritual ‘hedge’ so that you will be complete and lacking nothing when you receive the blessings God has just for you. May God keep you in His strength and wisdom as you journey on your path in the name of His one and only Son Jesus Christ.  

Amen

---