There is no zoom prayer room in July, we resume in August.
15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also 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.
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
John 15:1-8
PRAYER GUIDE
Thus far we’ve explored our dependence on God and how we “remain/abide” in Jesus through ongoing back and forth communication. Now let’s turn our attention to another aspect of the relationship between vine and branches: pruning.
Jesus says this, “My father is the gardener. Every branch that remains in me he prunes so that it will be more fruitful.”
Pruning is unpleasant. It involves the removal of living tissue. It involves the cutting off of something we have become attached to and gotten used to. And according to Jesus, God will prune us, even if we remain IN him. God will cut away things from us. Things we have grown accustomed to and gotten used to. This is a promise. He will do it. There is no question about this.
Why? Why does the Father prune us?
As those familiar with gardening and especially with the care of vineyards know, pruning is essential for a healthy plant. Without pruning, plants can grow top heavy. Or plants can accumulate deadwood that sucks energy and/or adds strain to the plant. These can be dead or diseased limbs that get pruned, but not always. Sometimes, even our past growth, if not pruned, can hinder future fruitfulness. In the case of a grapevine, every year, the vinedresser prunes back the growth of the past year all the way to the vine itself, cutting off nearly all of the branch, so that it can grow in a new season. A branch that does not remain will wither and die. A branch that remains but will not allow itself to be pruned will produce minimal fruit. But a branch that both remains and is pruned will produce maximum fruit.
How does God want to prune you? What needs to be removed? From your life, your calendar, your habits, your thoughts, your focus? Growth and fruitfulness are often not a function of adding more stuff to our already packed lives, but taking things away. It is this pruning combined with our dependence and abiding in Christ that makes our lives fruitful.
PRAYER PROMPTS:
- Pray this for the church? What needs to be cut away or pruned?
- Give God permission to prune you. Ask, “Holy Spirit,” what does the Father need to prune so that I can produce maximum fruit in this next season?
- Pray this for your family and/or friend group.
In Our Time 