During this Easter season, God wants to work deep within your heart. Now is a great time to prepare your heart for new life to emerge. Every heart needs pruning on a regular basis. God is always tending to you, separating what is unnecessary from what is essential in His Kingdom.
God needs to winnow your heart. He needs to blow His Spirit through you in order to remove the chaff that protects the seed, His seed.
God shows you what you can do to help in His pruning process. When you follow His protocol, His removal of nonessential things in your life won’t hurt as much. It will be easier to let go when He asks for things. You know that He will replace whatever it is with something much better. What makes this hard is that you have to trust Him.
Let’s take a walk through the New Testament and see what God’s protocol is so your heart can be fruitful as new life emerges deep within you.
First, it is good to remember how the four seasons help nature follow God. Springtime is about new life emerging after its winter slumber. Nature isn’t truly asleep, its just resting in God. While you can’t see it, God is tending to the roots so spring can be ushered in. Spring gives way to summer where nature is in full bloom, on display for all to admire giving glory back to God. Then its time to prepare for their slumber once again as fall comes around.
God tends to us in this same fashion. The only difference is that we have a choice to follow His protocol whereas nature simply follows. This is the reason why God gave us His Word. It is like the Master Gardener’s Handbook. You and I need help. We are unable to find our way and grow like we are supposed to on our own. We need tending to by the Master Gardener.
Second, head to Matthew 22:36-39 and see what God says is necessary for your heart to give way to Jesus’ life within you. This is His seed. “You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself.” God must be first in your life, then you are to love others. It is so easy to put yourself first and fit God in afterwards. This creates much chaff that weeds out Christ.
Now, head to Romans 12:2 and see what else God says. “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then, you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” In nature, do you ever see a tree trying to be a rose bush? Or a deer acting like a chicken? Has the sun and moon ever traded places? Nature knows who is in charge and follows along. God is calling you to follow His Son.
Let’s move on to Colossians 1:9-10 and take note to what changes God wants to make within your heart. It is good to ask for prayer from others. Life is not a solo act. “We ask God to give you complete knowledge of His will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then, the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.”
What is God saying to you? Can you hear Him? Many slumbering plants are waiting for His voice to tell them to arise and bud out. God wants to prune you so you will bloom greater things. He can’t if you won’t let go of what you think you need or want. The chaff in your heart must go.
He may be calling you to a new season. Don’t be afraid of it. This is where my husband and I are. Rob and I are in a new season and we have no idea what God is doing with us. I have to keep reading Scriptures, praying and relying on Him. I must keep my eyes my focused on Christ, or else anxiety and the devil will consume me.
Finally, head to 2 Timothy 2:15-17 for added insight into how to live for Christ. “Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive His approval.” Nature shines forth to praise the Creator. You must too. “Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth. Avoid worthless, foolish talk that only leads to more godless behavior. This kind of talk spreads like cancer.” God wants to prune anything that could become cancerous to you, anything that is nonessential to the two of you walking in unity.
What is God wanting to prune in you? Study these scriptures and allow God to show you. He wants you to shine His Son where everyone around you can see Him, just like nature does. You will walk united in love with God when your heart has been winnowed. It will be ready for spring and summer.
Carol J German 