Prison Ministries

Posts Tagged ‘pruned’

Read James 1, Psalm 26
Are You Being Pruned or Punished?

“But I know! I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.” Jeremiah 17:9 NLT

Whether we are being disciplined by God as punishment for our sins, or pruned by God in order that we become more fruitful, it hurts just the same.

One of the best ways to determine whether we are being disciplined or pruned is through self examination.

While it is presumptuous to think anyone knows the mind of God, there are certain principles that He has laid down in His Word that can offer a lot of insight.

Just as He loved us enough to send His Son to die for us, He loves us enough to chasten us as severely as it takes to correct us and bring us back into a right relationship with Him when we fall into unrepentant sin.

If, after serious prayer and self examination, we are not convicted of any sins for which we are suffering chastening; we must consider the probability that we are experiencing the pruning of God through which we are being conformed more and more into the image of Christ and being equipped to produce the fruit for which God created us.

We are better equipped to forgive when we have been forgiven much. We are better equipped to comfort and love others when we have been comforted and loved. We are more sensitive to pain and suffering when we have experienced it for ourselves.

As God molds and melds us through the refiners fire, after we have determined that our problem is not an un confessed or unrepentant sin, we need to consider it all joy that God is working in our lives to draw us closer to Him and to believe that God does work all things for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purposes. Easier to say than to do, but nevertheless true.

Father, As you lead me to the green pastures and still waters through the valleys let me

remember that You are the Good Shepherd. In Jesus’ Name, Amen