The greatest judgment God can bring to a believer is to let him have his own way. But, because God loves us, He “prunes” us and encourages us to bear fruit for His glory.
John 15:2-4 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
Your Heavenly Father is never nearer to you than when He is pruning you. Sometimes He cuts away the dead wood that might cause trouble, but often cuts off the living tissue that’s robbing you of spiritual vigor.
Pruning may involve conviction and cleansing by the Word or even chastisement. It may hurt, but we can rejoice in the fact that pruning produces more quality fruit.
Abiding in the Vine (submission) is the best place on earth to be. We are nothing without the Vine.
