Trusting the Gardener

Trusting the Gardener

 Matthew 6:9-13            John 15:1-4

Like we’ve talked about in previous days, submission is not a popular idea. Because submission is choosing to give up what little control we think we have as we trust in God. And, for most of us, we really like having control. It brings us comfort and confidence. But it doesn’t bring us closer to God and His plans for the world. As a matter of fact, until we are willing to let go of control, we will never actually be able to fully obey God. He’s the one in charge, not us. He’s the Father, we’re His kids. This doesn’t mean what we do, think, or say, doesn’t matter. What we do absolutely matters! God wants us to bring all that we are to Him and give all we have to His mission.

But, at the end of the day, He’s the only one who can be God. And oftentimes, in the process of us learning to trust and follow Him, there are parts of us we need to let go of. Parts of us that need to die. That’s what we are talking about today. Learning to trust the loving care of the Gardener.

Pray…

Father, you’re God and I’m not. You’re in charge and I trust in you. When I start to think I know better, remind me that your ways are so much higher and better than mine. Make me less of who I used to be and more of who I need to be. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Read…

    “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.” John 15:1-4 NLT

Consider…

Jesus spoke these words to His disciples shortly after the Last Supper and just before being arrested. This was His last real chance to remind His disciples what really matters before His death. While walking through a vineyard, He points to a grapevine as an illustration to show us who we really are and what our relationship to God is meant to be. Jesus is the vine. We are the branches. And God the Father is the gardener. When we are connected to Jesus, we have life. When we are disconnected from Him, we start to die. And God wants to prune us so we can produce more fruit.

What does God’s pruning look like? It looks like convicting us of our sins and correcting us when we’re wrong. It looks like Him showing us the parts of our lives that are false and inviting us back to the truth. Pruning can be painful, but, if we are willing to endure it, it will absolutely be worth it. Because God’s pruning makes us more like Jesus and brings us closer to Him.

When God wants to prune you, do you let Him? Where have you seen God do this already? What came from that? What can help you better trust Him when He wants to prune you in the future?

Practice…

Pray to God by submitting to Him. Let Him bring correction to your life. Open yourself up to His pruning. And remember, God prunes us because He loves us.

As you do, imagine you are talking to God face-to-face. Because, at its most basic level, that’s really what prayer is: talking to God.

When you’re ready, pray to your Father using Jesus’ words, “Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy… don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. Matthew 6:9,13 NLT

Listen…

Create space to experience God’s presence by getting quiet, getting alone, and asking Him to speak. Start by setting a timer for five minutes.

Next, ask God to speak to you.

When you get distracted, because you will get distracted, bring your focus back to God by repeating the first words of this prayer: “Our Father…”

When the timer ends, thank God for the time you got to spend with Him, then head into your day looking for opportunities to better serve Him and serve others.