Pruned

He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you. --John 15:2-3

Merriam Webster dictionary defines "to prune" as follows: 1. to reduce especially by eliminating superfluous matter. 2. to cut off or cut back parts of for better shape or more fruitful growth. 3. to cut away what is unwanted or superfluous

I love meditating on the definition of pruning. Growing up in a city, and not knowing a thing about trees and farming, it's difficult for me to picture the pruning process. However, after looking up the definition and reflecting on "cutting away what is unwanted and superfluous" I've come to realize that there are things the Father wants to cut away from my life. There are things in my life that must be cut off for "better shape and more fruitful growth."

The Father wants us to bear fruit, and not just any fruit, but fruit that will last. However, this won't ever happen unless those unwanted and superfluous parts of my life are cut away. Now, what might those be?

For starters I'll start by naming, Netflix. I'm really feeling the call to discern what I watch and how much TV I watch. Mind you, I barely watch 2 hours of television per week, but I still feel that maybe the Lord wants to cut away the hour or two I spend watching something that isn't really going to help me bear fruit.

The only show I've been watching on a weekly basis is "New Girl." And although there are worse shows out there, this show is not morally sound by any stretch of the imagination. Yes, I think sometimes a good laugh of silly humor is necessary, but when it comes to choosing between learning more about our faith or spending an hour in front of my phone watching "New Girl" which one is the Lord

calling me to?

Then there's my phone. Sure, I try to only check Facebook once a day, but the temptation to check it throughout my day is there. So is the temptation to check for text messages or other notifications. Why this addiction? Why this constant checking? And more importantly does checking my phone help me produce fruit that will last?

If we're bearing fruit we are going to be pruned in order to bear more. He is not satisfied with the minimum. He has called us to greatness, yet in order to achieve this greatness we have to be pruned. Pruned from sin, pruned from selfishness, pruned from laziness, pruned from judgments, pruned from addictions, pruned from evil.

Holy Spirit, help us be reflective and discern how the Father wants to prune us. Give us the docility which allows the Father to cut away whatever is unnecessary in our lives.