Pruning

Good morning, my friend!  Good morning, Father!

“When things are going well for you, be glad, and when trouble comes, just remember: God sends both happiness and trouble; you never know what is going to happen next." - Ecclesiastes 7:14  

Lord, when I read a book I would consider the book boring if only good things happened in the story.  It is the conflict and rollercoaster of events that makes the story interesting.  It makes for a great story to have all sorts of twists and turns and conflict.  In my own life, however, I just want smooth sailing every day...no drama...no trauma...no pain.  However, this life we are living is history..."His" Story"...the story written by You, the most amazing author.  You allows conflict and drama to allow us the opportunity to live a life that has the most potential for adventure and spiritual growth...if we choose it.  We are afforded the opportunity to learn about You and ourselves, and we have the opportunity to choose to become "bitter" or "better" as a result of these circumstances and our response to them.  

Father, I lift my friend before You.  They are in hard part of the path, but they want to keep their eyes on the prize and choose to become "better.”  Through the tears, they choose to trust You to get them safely home.  While, it would be so much more pleasant to have smooth sailing every day, they wouldn't have much spiritual growth or character to show for it in the end.  Much like the grape vines that become more fruitful at the hands of the vinedresser’s shears, they are choosing to submit to Your pruning shears to become more fruitful, instead of a leafy, barren vine.  Help them in this, Lord!  It is difficult, stressful and can be so painful.  Bless and comfort them as they submit to Your plan for their lives.  Dry their tears and hold them close.  May Your pruning of their life lead to a bountiful harvest of sweet, beautiful fruit that delights both them and You.


"My friends, consider yourselves fortunate when all kinds of trials come your way, for you know that when your faith succeeds in facing such trials, the result is the ability to endure. Make sure that your endurance carries you all the way without failing, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." - James 1:2-4    Lord, fortify their endurance.  And keep them safe and growing all the way home!  In Jesus Name❤️

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