While much of the country is still deep in the grip of old man winter, the southern areas are just beginning to see the first promises of spring’s arrival as buds appear on trees and bushes, the grass begins to lose some of its brownness as the first blush of green appears, and early flowers begin to show their eye-popping colors of yellows and deep pinks as they spread wide their petals to bathe in the warmth of the sunshine.
Though many of us have several weeks of the winter whites and grays ahead of us, the first vestiges of spring fever are starting to stir deep within us. Gardeners everywhere – who have probably been forming this year’s planting strategy since late last fall – are eagerly watching the calendar for the perfect date to begin their seeds indoors and to also schedule the transplantation of the anticipated seedlings outdoors a few weeks later.
Full of enthusiasm and visions of lushness for the upcoming growing season, the
hopeful gardener looks over their outdoor space only to realize that prior to
planting anything – seed or otherwise – the cleanup that should have been
performed in the fall and wasn’t done because of time or weather constraints now
needs to have some serious time spent on it to remove the damages caused by the
wear and tear of the winter weather on shrubs and trees.
Pruning isn’t a bad word, though by the time many hours are spent lopping off wayward branches or dead limbs and expending much energy in carting off the amputated appendages, you may think that it is. I assure you that it is not. Quite the opposit in fact. By making the effort and taking the time to invest in the spring clean-up process, you make conditions more favorable for your tree, bush or shrub to not
only be more esthetically pleasing, but also to reap the benefits for a healthier, more productive life.
What are some of the benefits of pruning? Irregular growing habits can be corrected; it can bring about an earlier bloom period; it can encourage larger flowers and fruits to be produced; it can cause a tighter root structure to form thus increasing the chance for greater survival if the plant should be transplanted elsewhere; it can aid in controlling disease and pests; and it is also vital to keep the plant’s energy from being drained by trying to keep the dying or dead portion(s) alive.
When each person makes the choice to accept Christ into their heart as their Lord and Savior, immediately he/she stands spiritually perfect before the Father at that
moment of acceptance. What remains oftentimes, however, are the previous habits, responses, attitudes and behaviors of our physical existence that have been learned over a lifetime of living in everyday life that need to be broken as well as new ones formed that are more pleasing to God and that better reflect our new status as His child.
What is needed is pruning. It is just as vital of a process in a person’s life as it is for the survival and flourishing of the vegetation as listed above. And the very same benefits mentioned earlier for the plants are equally beneficial to us. Spiritually speaking, acceptance of the pruning process ensures better health, greater strength and more vitality that will be evidenced by the size of the fruit (i.e. love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (see Galatians 5:22-23)) that we bear.
Philippians 3:12 “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”
As long as we let Him, pruning remains a life-long process as He consistently molds
us more and more into what He’s designed us to be.
Isaiah 64:8 “Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.”
For people, pruning can be a painful process as we strive to hold onto what is familiar; it (whatever ‘it’ may signify for you) is what we have always known and have gotten used to living with. But greater life – healthier, stronger and more fruitful – lies within the process of letting go of what is at best mediocre (or else completely
life-draining unto death at worst) and grasping hold of the better living which is ours through the trusting acceptance of Him and His reshaping of us.
John 15:1-4 “I [Jesus] 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.”
This spring, as you spruce up your outdoor environment in preparation of the planting
and growing of your chosen vegetation, I would encourage you to also spend time
allowing Him to tend to the garden of your heart. You won’t be disappointed in the lushness of your harvest.
John 10:10b “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
The choice is yours. He’s waiting for you.
(For more information about forming a relationship with the Lord, see How You Can Find Him located at the top of this page.)
Though many of us have several weeks of the winter whites and grays ahead of us, the first vestiges of spring fever are starting to stir deep within us. Gardeners everywhere – who have probably been forming this year’s planting strategy since late last fall – are eagerly watching the calendar for the perfect date to begin their seeds indoors and to also schedule the transplantation of the anticipated seedlings outdoors a few weeks later.
Full of enthusiasm and visions of lushness for the upcoming growing season, the
hopeful gardener looks over their outdoor space only to realize that prior to
planting anything – seed or otherwise – the cleanup that should have been
performed in the fall and wasn’t done because of time or weather constraints now
needs to have some serious time spent on it to remove the damages caused by the
wear and tear of the winter weather on shrubs and trees.
Pruning isn’t a bad word, though by the time many hours are spent lopping off wayward branches or dead limbs and expending much energy in carting off the amputated appendages, you may think that it is. I assure you that it is not. Quite the opposit in fact. By making the effort and taking the time to invest in the spring clean-up process, you make conditions more favorable for your tree, bush or shrub to not
only be more esthetically pleasing, but also to reap the benefits for a healthier, more productive life.
What are some of the benefits of pruning? Irregular growing habits can be corrected; it can bring about an earlier bloom period; it can encourage larger flowers and fruits to be produced; it can cause a tighter root structure to form thus increasing the chance for greater survival if the plant should be transplanted elsewhere; it can aid in controlling disease and pests; and it is also vital to keep the plant’s energy from being drained by trying to keep the dying or dead portion(s) alive.
When each person makes the choice to accept Christ into their heart as their Lord and Savior, immediately he/she stands spiritually perfect before the Father at that
moment of acceptance. What remains oftentimes, however, are the previous habits, responses, attitudes and behaviors of our physical existence that have been learned over a lifetime of living in everyday life that need to be broken as well as new ones formed that are more pleasing to God and that better reflect our new status as His child.
What is needed is pruning. It is just as vital of a process in a person’s life as it is for the survival and flourishing of the vegetation as listed above. And the very same benefits mentioned earlier for the plants are equally beneficial to us. Spiritually speaking, acceptance of the pruning process ensures better health, greater strength and more vitality that will be evidenced by the size of the fruit (i.e. love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (see Galatians 5:22-23)) that we bear.
Philippians 3:12 “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”
As long as we let Him, pruning remains a life-long process as He consistently molds
us more and more into what He’s designed us to be.
Isaiah 64:8 “Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.”
For people, pruning can be a painful process as we strive to hold onto what is familiar; it (whatever ‘it’ may signify for you) is what we have always known and have gotten used to living with. But greater life – healthier, stronger and more fruitful – lies within the process of letting go of what is at best mediocre (or else completely
life-draining unto death at worst) and grasping hold of the better living which is ours through the trusting acceptance of Him and His reshaping of us.
John 15:1-4 “I [Jesus] 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.”
This spring, as you spruce up your outdoor environment in preparation of the planting
and growing of your chosen vegetation, I would encourage you to also spend time
allowing Him to tend to the garden of your heart. You won’t be disappointed in the lushness of your harvest.
John 10:10b “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
The choice is yours. He’s waiting for you.
(For more information about forming a relationship with the Lord, see How You Can Find Him located at the top of this page.)
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