The Vinedresser

These are no ordinary pears.  Ten years ago we planted two pear trees in our yard.  We (well Hubby) carefully followed the instructions on planting the fruit trees and they grew and grew.  The only problem has been that year after year they never flowered.
No flower = No fruit.  Until this year!  This year we have 5 pears between the two trees.  I could almost make a tart!

I am reminded of the 15th chapter of John that starts with; "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.  Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.  Abide in Me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me....for without Me you can do nothing.  If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you."

Just like our pear tree that was dormant for a decade we too can find ourselves coasting in our spiritual walk. Notice that God says he is either gonna take away or prune.  I was startled when I read in Psalm 106:15,

"And He gave them their desire, but sent leanness into their soul."

Be careful what you ask for, you just might get it!  The fine print at the bottom warns of an empty heart.  Have you ever felt like God can be silent in your life and you are wondering why He isn't showing up and moving in your heart.  I have definitely felt God's extreme absence from my heart.  I have desperately cried out to Him for months and heard not a peep.  Why?  Why can we not find Him when we call sometimes?  Which do I want more, what I want or for my soul to be full?  No question, I want to be phat in that area!    Forget my desires and requests Lord, You always have a better idea or plan for me!  I can do nothing truly worthwhile in my strength, power, or agenda, but when I open my heart and hands to the Lord, abundance fills my soul.  That pruning part can take awhile.  Change takes time.  Things can seem pretty quite while we are growing in new areas of our journey.

My friend Deb recently shared a little about her homeschool journey coming to a screeching halt in the dessert.  What happened?  Wasn't she abiding in God's will by ministering to her children?  Wasn't she in the center of his heart sheperding her quiver?  What do we do when God is silent?

First, I remember that He is a jealous God.

Exodus 34:14 

Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.

Deuteronomy 4:24 

For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.

He wants us.  He wants 100% of us.  Let that sink in for a moment.  If you are skipping along do'in your thang be sure to check your spiritual barometer and make sure God is right there with ya!  We can find ourselves doing lots of 'good, Christian, servant-minded" actions but unless it is punctuated with God's hand in yours, then it becomes all about you.  

Here is the tricky part, God is very interested in us being still, seeking His face, meditating on His word, fasting, and reflecting on His character.  The second point is that we have to learn to abide in Him.  We want to go and do and God wants us to sit and stay!  Why is that so hard for us?  The devil, for one, LOVES to distract us.  The tyranny of the urgent, the phone, the kids, the to-do list, the.....sigh, you get the point.  What preoccupies your mind?  Lay that before the Lord.  

One last thought is the parable of the persistent widow.  She nagged the judge continually until he gave in to her request.  Jesus tells us to always pray and to not lose heart.  God is long suffering.  Are you really serious about seeking Him?  If you are, you will be relentlous in your quest to know what He wants for you.  Persistence prayer pays!  Why?  Because this jealous God of ours knows then that you are serious about searching for Him with your whole heart.  

I desire for the vinedresser to lavish in my soul.  I want to be clothed & consumed with His love and to align myself with His desires for my life.  Keep pressing on dear one.

Blessings,

E.W.