The Purpose of Pruning - Part 1

Pruning plays an essential role in healthy growth. What if the things being cut away are making space for something better to bloom? In Part 1 of this series, I explore how God lovingly tends to our growth — not to harm us, but to help us flourish.

In the devotional blogs, The Soil of Your Heart and Cultivating a Fruitful Life, I focused on the aspects of soil and how soil impacts quality and growth, the soil of our heart, and how the Fruit of the Spirit is cultivated in our life. In the parable of the farmer planting seeds, Jesus talked about seeds and the quality of the soil in Matthew 13:1-23.

Are you a gardener? If so, then you understand the parallels between gardening and life. Pruning plays an essential role in the healthy growth of a plant as well as in a person and a fruitful life. In this two-part devotional blog, I would like to discuss another important aspect involved in a cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit.

I give credit to Beth Moore in her well written Bible study, A Woman’s Heart, God’s Dwelling Place for the following two-fold concept on pruning. In John 15: 2-3 Jesus said,

“Every branch which is part of me but fails to bear fruit, he cuts off; and every branch that does bear fruit, he prunes, so that it may bear more fruit. Right now, because of the Word which I have spoken to you, you are pruned.” (John 15:2-3)

Agriculture is a vital aspect to life in Israel, so Jesus spoke in terms that the people could understand. In order for a vine, a plant, or a garden to grow, it must be pruned. Because The Lord loves us, He will prune us. He prunes so that we may produce much fruit. How does He prune us? One way is by The Word. A second way we are pruned is by circumstances. Let's focus first on pruning by The Word.

Pruning by The Word

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is valuable for teaching the truth, convicting of sin, correcting faults and training in right living; so that anyone who belongs to God may be fully equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

“See, the Word of God is alive! It is at work and is sharper than any double-edged sword – it cuts through to where soul meets spirit and joints meet marrow, and it is quick to judge the inner reflections and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

God is the only one who can judge rightly. And because The Word of God is living and active it convicts, exhorts, and encourages us accurately and rightly, as nothing and no one else can. In James, the brother of Jesus and Jude wrote,

“Don’t deceive yourselves by only hearing what the Word says, but do it! For whoever hears the Word but doesn’t do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror, who looks at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But if a person looks closely into the perfect law which gives freedom, and continues, becoming not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work it requires, then he will be blessed in what he does.” ( James 1:22-25)

In Hebrew the word “law” means “teaching and instruction”. The passage in James says that “the perfect law – or the perfect teaching and instruction – gives freedom.” In-other-words, God's Word applied to our way of thinking and living, brings freedom. Unfortunately, legalism and righteousness based on works was not confined to Jesus day...it remains active today and if we are not careful, we can find ourselves feeling confined in captivity instead of flourishing in freedom.

If you were given verbal or emotional messages as a child that your work = your worth or you felt you had to earn love, it can be easy to view God the same way. The underlying message we believe is: "If I do what is right and good, God will love me. If I don't, then God will punish me." But that is not the truth of who God is or how He loves you. God loves you … regardless what you do. There is nothing you have done, or could do, that would change God’s love for you.

So it is vital to understand that pruning is done in a loving way, by a loving God, who knows what is best for you, the potential you are capable of, and the purpose He has called you to. When you allow God's Word to change the soil of your heart, you will produce the fruit of His spirit in your life.

Check out the next blog, NAME OF DEVOTION where we continue with Pruning by Circumstances

Questions for Reflection: Are there areas, attitudes, or actions that need to be pruned from my life in order for me to grow? What would it look like to ask God – to trust God – to cut away these things in my life so I can flourish?

Prayer: God, thank you that you love me enough to give me your best. When pruning hurts, help me remember the purpose and to surrender to your divine design as the Master Gardener. Empower and strengthen me to bear much fruit! Thank you. Amen.

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Editor's Note:

This devotional blog is by Jen Stone-Sexton, Christian Life Coach, Author, Speaker, Teacher and Founder. Jen has openings for a select number of new clients. Learn more about Jen and what Freedom to Flourish Life Coaching has to offer you.

Jennifer C. Stone-Sexton © 2025

All graphics created by Jen Stone-Sexton © 2025

All Rights Reserved.

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Credits:

A Woman’s Heart, God’s Dwelling Place, Bible Study by Beth Moore, Copyright 1995 and 2003, Life Way Press, Nashville, Tennessee

All Scripture references and quotations used with permission: Copyright © 1998 by David H. Stern, Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc., Clarksville, Maryland USA & Jerusalem, Israel

Photo Credits: Photo 1 by Sandie Clarke on Unsplash