Tag Archives: and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit

He Prunes

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 303 - John 15:1-2 - He Prunes - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 303 – John 15:1-2 – He Prunes – Growing As Disciples

“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. John 15:1-2 (NIV)

Pruning

I have not had the best of attitudes regarding your pruning in my life. Why is that? Pruning is not comfortable. Pruning is not easy. Pruning is not pain free. On top of that, your pruning is not always easily recognizable. No, it is not. I can’t tell you how many times I have resisted painful circumstances that I have gone through only to realize much later that you were pruning something out of my life. I certainly wasn’t welcoming your pruning in my life. In fact, I would have to say, that I have often done everything in my power, many times unknowingly, to avoid your pruning in my life. That’s not good. No, it is not. Would you rather I did not prune your life? No, I would not. I would rather wish that I did not need any pruning. That is not going to happen. You have needed and will continue to need my pruning in your life. Don’t ever come to think that you are beyond any need of my pruning. My pruning will continue in your life until the day you come to live forever in heaven with me. I understand. Yes, I know that you do understand. It pleases me that you are now understanding and welcoming my pruning in your life. That does not mean that I am not still a little uneasy about my being pruned. Yes, I know.

I want you to do something. What’s that? I want you to think back over your past and try to identify times when I was pruning your life. I will do that. I have several questions I would like you to consider. Like what? Did you know that I was pruning your life at the time? Did you try to hold on to what I wanted to prune out of your life? Did your life become more fruitful as a result of my pruning your life? Do you have any regrets about the ways in which I have pruned your life? I will do what you are asking of me. What do you think will be the value of doing what I am asking of you? I will better understand your pruning activity in my life. I will be more comfortable with and welcoming of your pruning activity in my life. I’m sure that I will also more easily recognize your pruning activity in my life. Yes, you will. I have one final question. I’m listening. Why do I prune your life? You prune my life because you love and care for me. Yes, I do. Thank you, Heavenly Father.

Heavenly Father, I have not always welcomed your pruning activity in my life. Oftentimes, I have not even been able to recognize when you were pruning me. But I now welcome all your pruning activity in my life. I want to bear an abundance of fruit for you. Amen

Key Question…  What has your Heavenly Father pruned out of your life so you can bear more fruit for Him?

Living It Out…  Welcome your Heavenly Father’s pruning in your life so you can be made more fruitful for Him.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that your Heavenly Father will prune your life so you can be made more fruitful for Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how your Heavenly Father has pruned your life.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you welcome the Heavenly Father’s pruning in your life.

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Becoming Like Christ – Day 303 – John 15-1-2 – He Prunes – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Remain In Me And I Will Remain In You

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The Sacramental Life - Day 323 - John 15:1-4 - Remain In Me And I Will Remain In You - Growing As Disciples

The Sacramental Life – Day 323 – John 15:1-4 – Remain In Me And I Will Remain In You – Growing As Disciples

“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, and I will 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. John 15:1-4 (NIV)

Fruitful

Do you want to live a life that is fruitful? Do you want to bear fruit for my kingdom? Do you want to bring glory to my name? Do you want to shine brightly for me in the darkness of this world? Would you like to live a life that I can use? Do you want to others to be drawn to me through the witness and testimony of your life? Would you one day like to hear me say, “Well done, good and faithful servant?” Yes, I want all of this. How can I live this kind of life? What will be required of me for this to be true of me? You must do one thing if you want to live this kind of life. You must do one thing if you want these things to be true of you. You have my full attention. I am listening very carefully to you. What one thing must I do? You must live in an intimate relationship with me. You must make living in an intimate relationship with me the priority of your life. Does that sound simple? Does that easy? Before you answer, I will answer for you. No, it will not be simple. No, it will not be easy. Living in an intimate relationship with me will require everything from you. Does my answer surprise you? No, not really. Why is that? I know that the world, my flesh, and the devil will make every effort to prevent me from living in an intimate relationship with you. I know that the hurry and noise and busyness of life will make every attempt to distract me from living in an intimate relationship with you. I know that the thoughts and opinions and values of the world will try to conform to its pattern and mood me into its shape. But I will have none of this. I have had enough of this fruitless and barren life. I will have no more of living at a distance from you. Now, there is no place I would rather be than in your presence. Now, there is nothing I would rather do than bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Living in an intimate relationship with you may not be easy or simple but neither is it hard. Why is that? I love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I want to live a life of pleasing you. Nothing will bring me greater joy or pleasure than living in an intimate relationship with you. Giving myself to you completely is the desire of my heart. Here I am, I am all yours. I will live in an intimate relationship with you. That is very good. Yes, it is.

Lord, I know I have gotten caught up in the hurry, noise, and busyness of life. This is not a life of abiding. This is no way to remain in you. This is the opposite of living in an intimate relationship with you. Help me to live an abundant, fruitful life of abiding in you. Amen

Key Question…  What commitment will be required of you if you want to live in an intimate relationship with the Lord?

Living It Out…  Make it your daily priority to meet in prayer with the Lord so you can remain in Him and bear fruit for His kingdom.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that you will bear an abundance of fruit for the kingdom of God as you abide in Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group what spiritual disciplines have most helped you to abide in Christ.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you remain in Christ so you can bear an abundance of fruit for Him.

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Devotional Study Guide click here:

The Sacramental Life – Day 323 – John 15-1-4 – Remain In Me And I Will Remain In You – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                                                        Copying not permitted                                                                                    www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Be Even More Fruitful

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - So That - John 15:1-2 - Be Even More Fruitful - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – So That – John 15:1-2 – Be Even More Fruitful – Growing As Disciples

“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. John 15:1-2 (NIV) 

Pruning

Pruning, now that’s a word that doesn’t sound too inviting. I’m not sure that I like the sound of that at all. Couldn’t you do some rearranging? How about some minor modifications or maybe even some tweaks or adjustments? You still do have a sense of humor. Well, pruning sounds painful. I’m not a big fan of enduring pain. I thought you liked pain. Now, you’re the one with the sense of humor. For the record I don’t like pain. I don’t even like mild discomfort. Please don’t tell me your pruning is going to cause me mild discomfort. I would never do that. Great, I’m glad to hear that. No, pruning might cause you some serious real attention getting pain. Ouch, I did not want to hear that. It’s the truth. Maybe, I can’t handle the truth. Why do I have to go through the pain of pruning? That is a very good question.

You have told me that you want to bear an abundance of fruit for my kingdom. You have said that you want to bring glory to my name. Am I right about this? Yes, I want to bear an abundance of fruit for your kingdom. Yes, I want to bring glory to your name. You have also said that you want to be a bright and shining light for me in this world. Yes, I want to shine brightly for you in this dark world. I have said all these things. You have asked me to help you to bear an abundance of fruit for me. You have asked me to help you to bring glory to my name. You have asked me to help you to shine brightly as my witness in the world. Have I not heard these prayers from you? Yes, you have heard these prayers from me. You have repeatedly prayed these prayers with quite a bit of passion, isn’t that correct? Yes, that is correct. Do you expect that I will hear and answer all of these prayers of yours? Yes, I believe that you will hear and answer these prayers of mine. These prayers are the desire of my heart. I believe it is you that has both given and will grant these desires of my heart. Yes, you are absolutely right. I have given and will grant the answers to these heart felt prayers of yours.

I can see where this is headed. Tell me, what do you see? Do I have too? There is that sense of humor of yours again. Yes, tell me. Pruning is your answer to my prayers. You want me to bear an abundance of fruit, bring glory to your name, and shine like a bright light for you in world. Yes, I do. Your pruning is your way to help me to bear an abundance of fruit, bring glory to your name and shine brightly in the world for you. Yes, it is. Will you allow me to prune your life? Yes, I will.

Heavenly Father, I give you permission to prune my life so that I can bear even more fruit for you. Don’t hesitate to do whatever is necessary to make me more fruitful for you. I love you and want to bear an abundance of fruit for your kingdom and your glory. Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

So That – John 15-1-2 – Be Even More Fruitful – 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com