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A Gentle Spirit
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Pastor
Jeanne Stewart, Oklahoma
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Pruning of Prayer
The small garden sprinkler moves across the thriving
foliage with a refreshing whir as the morning sun makes glistening rainbows
from the mist. In the natural a lot of hard work goes into weeding and pruning to
produce such color and beauty but it is the first fruits that make it all
worthwhile for the eating.
“For as the rain comes
down … from heaven … to water the earth and make it bring forth … that it may
give seed to the sower and bread to the eater.” Isaiah 55:10
By the message of His Word through the Holy Spirit’s
revealing truth, God washes and purifies us, His children. As we remain within
His grace, we allow the trimming away of our old character of sinfulness in
order to take on the new life of Christ Jesus our Redeemer. Pruning away the
strongholds of overgrowth, the Spirit imparts to us the nature of His very own
beauty to shine forth in our lives. He causes God’s glory to glisten in the
midst of our life’s work, as good fruit.
“I am the true vine, and
My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He
takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more
fruit.”
John 15:1, 2
Prayer Has A Way of
Pruning Us ~
At the beginning of spring’s growing period, the gardener
must trim away the excess foliage to give more nutrients to the growing fruit.
To be effective in ministry we must also allow the removal of religious
heaviness that attaches like overgrowth
within, from the serving and working for God’s kingdom. We become worn-out in trying to stay ahead and
take on the worry of the demands of
our calling. Concealed in this
heaviness is a spirit of slumber; one of the most slyly dangerous evils that
comes from not spending adequate quiet time in prayer. We must realize satan
does not care how much we do to
weary ourselves, just as long as the Holy Spirit’s anointing is weakened or
even absent; because it is only the anointing that affects the kingdom of
darkness. Religious work will keep us asleep to the delightfulness of our
Father’s love. The spirit of slumber keeps us from our true inheritance. We
must rise up to God’s presence of peace and delight in Him once more.
“But (our) delight is in
the law of the Lord, and in His law (we) meditate day and night. (We) shall be
like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its
season. Whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever (we) do shall prosper.”
Psalm 1:2, 3
Satan Misrepresents
God’s Promises ~
As we sit in our quiet time of prayer, meditating upon
God’s word, we must allow the Holy Spirit to bring to mind satan’s
misrepresentations of God’s promises that have brought doubt and unbelief.
Throughout the pruning process, unbelief is being cut away from us by the
Lord’s pruning. It is during these times satan tries to bring our focus upon
our failures and weariness, instead of us taking authority over our vain
imaginations. The Lord is devoted to correcting us with His unconditional love
and strength as His beloved sons and daughters. Before new growth comes forth
in balance and beauty, we must be pruned and trimmed back from the overgrowth
of ministry demands that weary us. Before the new season comes forth, many
times we must simply take a break to enjoy the fragrance in His garden in
prayer.
The experience of pruning is never joyful. Pruning cuts;
pruning wounds as if a strange thing is happening to us. But afterwards it
produces new growth in us that brings a peaceable balance of righteousness
within our spirit. This happens only for those who allow themselves to be
changed by God’s correction through the suffering.
The progress of new growth from pruning may involve
physical suffering, unfaithful friends, mental distress, our family decisions
or our children. As we endure day after day, our faith may waver as the
whispers of the devil’s lies, “ ‘the
righteous do not suffer’, ‘if God
hears your prayers and His promises are true, you should have been healed and
helped immediately’, or his favorite lie, ‘where is your God now?’ ”
Without being rude, allow me to shout this as loud as I
can so we will hear it. SATAN IS A LIAR!
“No temptation (or
failure) has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow
you to be tempted beyond what you are able to bear, but with the temptation
will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”
1 Corinthians 10:13
Dormant for a Season of
Rest ~
The time for pruning trees and shrubs comes at the end of
summer’s growth, before the dormant state of winter and next season’s increase.
To have more productivity in future growth, the gardener must trim and cut
back. As we grow in grace as children of God we too must continue to increase
in our balance and productivity of spiritual truth to be effective in
ministering to others His truth of eternal life. So areas in our lives that
have expanded into wasteful excess must be trimmed back.
“Therefore do not cast
away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance,
so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.”
Hebrews 10:35, 36
This promise describes the capacity to continue to bear
up under difficult circumstances, not with a passive, slumbering complacency, but with a hopeful fortitude that actively
resists weariness and defeat.
Things Hoped for …
Amazing fruit!!!
Our Father God desires we delight in Him even if we
suffer the loss of all things. We must literally be willing to die to
everything that entangles us.
“Do not despise the
chastening of the Lord, nor detest His correction; for whom the Lord loves He
corrects, just as a father the child in whom he delights.” Proverbs 3:11, 12
“Blessed is the one who
fears the Lord, who delights greatly in His Word.” Psalm 112:1
“Weeping endures for a
night, but joy comes in the morning.” Psalm 30:5
“Heal me, O Lord, and I
shall be healed; Save me, and I shall be saved, for You are my praise.”
Jeremiah 17:14
We pray ~
Lord break us out of our
slumber … move us from sitting in our weariness … guide us with the light of Your Glory … help us to
always call upon You in our day of trouble. May we remain faithful through the
times of our pruning so we may learn to rest while the loving wound heals, that
we may always trust Your devoted ways. May we be hungry for Your lasting fruit
of righteousness. Come Lord Jesus … show us the Father and teach us to pray for
Your burden is light and You give us rest. You put nothing upon us that we
cannot accomplish as we remain in YOU and YOUR ways of uprightness… Amen ~
“Come and let us return to the Lord; for He has torn, but
He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up.” Hosea 6:1
Hosea 6
Meditate: To quietly repeat in a soft sound while abandoning
outside distractions.
Psalm 25:8
The penitent writer enters into worship in the middle of
prayer.
Psalm 27:7-14
After the praise comes prayer of victory! Victorious
living comes with waiting on the Lord!
Isaiah 30:15
In returning and rest I will be saved. For it is within
quietness and confidence my strength comes in my God. Our Father is gracious to
me for He is eager to bless His people. As I listen and hear with the heart of
my spirit I walk in divine guidance. I then embrace true worship from the
pruning that comes from the guidance of enlightened prayer.
Isaiah 55:12, 13
For you shall go out with joy and be led with peace.
Jude 24
Keep from stumbling …
My Child ~
I am making your rough places smooth … the crooked areas straight
… for I am removing the stumbling block. The progression of My purpose for you
depends upon your obedience to My word and not to rebellious ways against Me
and My precepts. I will make very clear to you My desires for your life for the
now and for your future so you may choose whether or not to cooperate with My
work in your life. Choose to move forward and you will be delighted with the
liberty that comes as a result. Delight yourself IN ME ~ Father God
