It’s the time of year when we start pruning our landscape plants. Trees, shrubs, vines, fruit plants, and roses all benefit from this care. We usually start by cutting away anything dead, diseased, damaged, or disruptive.

But pruning isn’t just about removing what’s unhealthy. Sometimes, even healthy growth can be unproductive, so we prune away what hinders successful plant growth. This helps the plant become as fruitful and productive as possible. When pruning, meditate on the verses in John 15:1-6. Just as pruning helps plants, Jesus spoke about why pruning must occur in our lives.

But how is pruning performed in our lives? Through the Word of God. He gave us His Word for doctrine (right believing), for reproof (conviction), for correction (amending behavior), for instruction in righteousness (conforming to God’s ways), so that we may be perfect (mature in character) and thoroughly equipped for all that He wants us to do. God uses His Word to remove those things that keep us from being everything He created us to be and to help us progress froward in the Spiritual Journey.

Reading God’s Word is one way He shapes our lives. Just as we enjoy beautiful roses in the summer after careful pruning, be thankful that God loves us enough to prune us for maturity and optimum fruitfulness.