“God prunes us of some of our diseased and dying attitudes through the conviction of the Holy Spirit. . . . It’s the jolt from a spiritual defibrillator that awakens your comatose soul when you’ve settled into rhythms of sinfulness.”- Kyle Idleman
“When he, the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth.”- John 16:13 (NIV)
Kyle Idleman concludes Chapter 9 of When Your Way Isn’t Working with three categories of “shoots and leaves” in our lives that God cuts back and prunes.
1. Diseased and dying shoots. Here Pastor Idleman asks us to think along the lines of secret sins, toxic relationships, and hurtful habits. Patterns that start to infect our lives — and the lives of those around us.
Certainly, God’s pruning through loving exposure may embarrass us, cost us dearly, or alter our life. But God’s ultimate concern involves our eternal health. Rather than temporary discomfort. And we need a certain level of humility and attentiveness.
2. Sucker shoots. It’s quite natural to seek sucker shoots growing where a branch connects with the vine. However, these sucker shoots never grow to produce fruit. Instead, they steal nutrients from the vine that should go to fruit-bearing branches.
In addition, sucker shoots require constant pruning and maintenance. Thus, we need vigilance in this never-ending battle.
3. Healthy branches. Finally, God sometimes prunes healthy, fruit-bearing branches to make room for better and more abundant fruit. Above all, Kyle counsels, don’t presume that God works off the current cultural definition of fruitfulness. God prunes us for our ultimate good and His ultimate glory. But what appears or “feels good” in this world isn’t always what’s really good for us.
In conclusion, Kyle closes with this challenge:
“Ask for the pruning. If Jesus’ portrayal of pruning is accurate, we shouldn’t merely accept it or tolerate it; we should ask for it. . . . the pruning we ask for isn’t nearly as painful as the pruning we don’t ask for. I would rather invite the constant snips of God’s sovereign scissors than wait until a chainsaw is required. . . .”
Today’s question: What has served as a spiritual defibrillator in your life? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Network of tangled branches”