Friday, December 29, 2023
Friday, December 29, 2023:
Pause. Pray. Read. Be still. Write. Pray. Go about your day or turn in for the night.
Read: John 15:1-8
I watched a gardener in Israel climb his ladder to prune the olive tree. Over the next 30 minutes, he painstakingly examined its branches and cut away dead ones. What surprised me was how many matured branches with some life still in them also fell to the ground. Our guide explained that the pruning was necessary to let in the sunshine so that remaining branches produced even more olives.
The gardener reminded me of today’s passage … and the painful reality that God might prune not just the dead and no longer productive branches, but even some good ones that still have life in them. Why? To help those that remain to produce even more good fruit.
Be still and Reflect: As you approach the end of 2023, where do you sense God pruning you can produce even more good fruit? Where is He calling you to let go of any “dead or matured branches” — any habits, attitudes, behaviors, or activities – so that you might produce even more fruit in what remains? Where do you need to make room for more of the “Son-shine” and abide in Christ?
Pray: Father God, thank You for the pruning You did with me this past year. And thank You for Your Son Jesus in whom I remain grounded, and Your Holy Spirit, the life-giving force that enables me to remain productive and fruitful for You. As I travel into the new year, I recommit my life to You:
I am no longer my own, but yours.
Put me to what you will, place me with whom you will.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be put to work for you or set aside for you,
Praised for you or criticized for you.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and fully surrender all things to your glory and service.
And now, O wonderful and holy God,
Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer,
you are mine, and I am yours.
So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
Let it also be made in heaven.
Amen.