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. (John 15:1-2)
Read: Matthew 12:22 – 13:9, Mark 3:20 – 4:20, Luke 8:1-8
Relate: The autumn months seem to bring Americans together like no other time of year. As the leaves start to fall people will begin inviting their friends and neighbors over on Sunday afternoons and a couple nights a week. Those going out to eat will find themselves having random conversations that will spontaneously begin with neighboring tables and even more random conversations that will be sparked on streets, in shopping centers, and wherever two people gather… and one of them is wearing a sports jersey. This is one way to look at it, here’s another:
React: I believe it was A W Tozer who said, “If you narrow your interests, God will enlarge your heart.” That simple statement, whether it was him or someone else, is the key to experiencing revival both personally and as a community. I was reading recently about the Welsh revival that rocked that community, and the world, just over a century ago. Before this reading, I knew that the revival forced most bars out of business for lack of customers, I also knew that the police started forming quartets to sing in the churches because crime had pretty much come to a stop and their only real job was crowd control for people getting into and out of the church buildings. What I didn’t previously realize was that it wasn’t only the vices that were losing business. People weren’t going to sporting events or to the cinema or theaters. Rec and social clubs were suddenly finding themselves empty. Nobody really cared for any form of “entertainment” or diversion. God was their only interest.
What would happen today if revival were to spread through our world? Facebook would become a ghost town like myspace already is, in app purchases for smart phones would become a dead business. Televisions would sit untouched and businesses like netlix, hulu, and redbox would go under. We live in a society today that has more entertainment and diversions than ever before… And we wonder why God seems so silent.
Respond:
Oh God, do some pruning in my life. Take away the joy and passion I have for things that, not necessarily bad, keep me from You. Help me to discipline my time so that pointless diversions do not sap up so much of it. Forgive me for the laziness of wandering the internet while You are calling me to spend time with You. Remove the addictions that constantly pull my mind in so many fruitless directions. I long for You to be all I long for.
THE RIVER WALK 
Really enjoyed this post. I seem to recall hearing that the miners had to retrain the pit ponies or get new ones because the ponies were so used to orders that contained a lot of bad language. I don’t know if it’s true but it made me smile 🙂
Yes, it’s true.
A united heart to serve the Lord makes all the difference. Thanks for this reminder.
Reblogged this on I love the Psalms and commented:
This is simply worth listening and watching, particularly the Skit Guys video.
Exactly what i need right now.
Let us all pray for a narrowing of our interests. We could pray for His blessing and His power to limit our interest to the One thing that is without limits. By seeking more of that One thing, we too can find ourselves lost in His love and life without end. And we will rejoice when our understandings are opened and we witness His unlimited Glory. To be close to that Presence, cannot possibly be compared to any other more temporary distraction.
Thanks BJ for pointing us all to Him!
Yesterday, I was in the worst “place” I’ve ever been. I didn’t want to live (this life anyway). I laid in bed and cried hard, silently. The most I could do was post a prayer request on FB. In that LONG moment of absolute despair, I KNEW my only help would be God, so I’ve decided to isolate. Not “from” but TO. To God, the only One Who can help (if I listen). I only want HIS truth, HIS opinion, HIS revival in my heart. Once I chose to do that, I forced myself up, put headphones in (listened to Curry Blake), and did dishes.
The truth is, if I fight, I’ll win, but if I don’t, I’ll keep losing. HIS divine health is ALL I plan to walk in!!
I garden A LOT. Pruning is something I’m familiar with. It’s not an inconsiderate lopping of branches. It’s during specific seasons, specific branches, and if you cut over a 3rd the tree can get infected with disease or just die. When you cut branches, most of the cuts are covered in something to treat the opening in the tree… Bonsai is an art form … Such a beautiful illustration and a good horticulturalist treats that tree like a baby. ❤️ It!
I liked your prayer. Prune my heart…wow!
Reblogged this on ChristianBlessings and commented:
Cut off,, distracted, addicted… find your focus back on God and you will be revived, refreshed, revealing what is important, living in and being engrossed in what matters eternally. Find your first love again.
Yes, there are so many distractions and things that will amount to nothing in the end. Very true post. Have a good weekend.