A season for pruning

Dear Friends,

I believe the Lord has a word for you to encourage you and I wanted to share that with you today :) 

I had a dream recently where I was driving through different places, and all around me I saw trees being bulldozed and uprooted. Some of the places were familiar places from my past and I remember thinking “look what’s happening! It’s all changing!” And I was a little bit upset about it, almost distressed, because I wondered why that was going on. I LIKED those trees! I even felt like I needed some of those trees! At least I thought I did.

After I woke up I asked the Lord about it and I was brought to two scriptures: 

"An ax is ready to cut the trees down at their roots. Any tree that doesn't produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire." Matthew 3:10 CEV

"Jesus told them this parable: There was a man who planted a fig tree in his orchard. But when he came to gather fruit from his tree he found none, for it was barren and had no fruit. So he said to his gardener, For the last 3 years I've come to gather figs from my tree but it remains fruitless. What a waste! Go ahead and cut it down!" Luke 13:6-7 TPT

After pondering it for a little bit I felt like the Lord was showing me that the trees represented everything unfruitful (good and bad) in my life that was being brought down to make room for fruitful things, and also to allow the things that are already producing good fruit to thrive and grow even more (think pruning in a garden). It was a GOOD thing, and even though it made me uncomfortable, it was necessary. Yes things were changing, but it was a good change! Another thing to note is these trees were being brought down in familiar places. 

Sometimes we see commercials of all the trees being cut down all over the world and it’s being shone in a negative light. But the Lord showed me that this was a clearing out of unnecessary things, so it was contrary to where our thoughts would go to and instead was a good thing! The word tells us in Psalm 45:10b TPT to "let go of our attachment to the familiar." That can include habits, patterns, lies, fear & hurts; but can also include good things that you're growing out of, things that no longer fit you. And this makes room for all the amazing things God has for us and allows us to BLOSSOM!

But remember this was God doing the removal, not by my power but His. It wasn't according to my understanding, but His. In that dream, I wasn’t cutting down the trees. You see, 
we can’t do this on our own. Not successfully anyway. We have to allow Him access to do the heavy lifting, and our job is to obey Him and rest and trust and move forward with fixed purpose. It really works if we obey :)  (I'm reminding myself of this as well, lol!)

"Watch Where You’re Going. Set your gaze on the path before you. With fixed purpose, looking straight ahead, ignore life’s distractions" Proverbs 4:25

I encourage you with this, if you feel like you've been going through a pruning or an uprooting of things, TRUST GOD! You will be more than ok! He is such a loving Father who cares for us and loves us and like any good parent, He consistently works with us to make us the best we can be. Get ready to be stronger, more free and flourishing more than ever! There is change in the air! 

"Arise, my dearest. Hurry, my darling.

Come away with me!

I have come as you have asked

to draw you to my heart and lead you out.

For now is the time, my beautiful one.

11 

The season has changed,

the bondage of your barren winter has ended,

and the season of hiding is over and gone.

The rains have soaked the earth

12 

and left it bright with blossoming flowers.

The season for singing and pruning the vines has arrived.

I hear the cooing of doves in our land,

filling the air with songs to awaken you

and guide you forth.

13 

Can you not discern this new day of destiny

breaking forth around you?

The early signs of my purposes and plans

are bursting forth.

The budding vines of new life

are now blooming everywhere.

The fragrance of their flowers whispers,

“There is change in the air.”

Song of Songs 2:10-13 tpt

Love, 
Kristin J