There are very few
things that really grind my gears in life and one of them is…
Yep, HANG
NAILS.
Growing up I had a
habit of biting my nails, even as I tried to let them grow out or after making
bets that I could let them grow out for a certain period of time. I failed
every single time. As I got older, I really made up in my mind that I would
grow my nails without biting them …mainly because they looked horrible, lol. So
when I get a “hang nail” after I’ve been working SO HARD on
growing them out, I feel kind of down when I finally muster up the strength to
clip it off. It’s important that I clip it off because nothing else will
grow on that finger until I do…and if something DOES manage to
grow, it will be weak and will certainly break. As a few days go by, I hate
looking at that nail….until it eventually grows back and catches up with the
other nails and I’m all happy again, ready to show off the progress.
This brings me to a
question: How many of us have Spiritual “Hang Nails?” You
know: things that we’ve grown accustomed to being there/the way they are or
habits we’re used to having that need to be cut away so that growth can take
place.
The Word of God
declares, “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. You
have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given
you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot
produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless
you remain in me.” John 15:1-4
Funny thing with
pruning is that: From the outside whatever is being
pruned LOOKS like it is producing…
There are some things
we keep around in our lives that are either serving no purpose or harming us
that we keep around because we’re comfortable with the idea of that thing.
Those things are taking up time, space, energy, and resources from things that
will benefit us. The Bible tells us that God will prune the branches that do NOT
bear fruit so they will bear even more ….my friend, God wants to take
everything that isn’t fruitful or for your good away from you to make room for
the things that He has for you. “The blessing of the
Lord makes a person rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.” – Prov.
10:22 (Side Note: Let these stressful SELECTIVE
relationships…especially friendships go! Granted every type of relationship has
“ups & down” but relationships should not be stressful. If it’s unfruitful,
let it go!)
The only way to have this
spiritual pruning or purging process is to remain in Christ, and not that it’s
a “give-and-take exchange”, there are benefits in allowing God to
prune, shape, and mold youas John 15:7 states: “But if you remain in
me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will
be granted!”
I urge you to let go
of anything or anyone that is preventing you
from spiritual growth, let go of what’s familiar and sometimes comfortable. You
cannot grow without a solid foundation ….and sometimes, like with a hang nail,
you have to….
Just as John urged the
church at Ephesus (Rev 2:4-5), return to your first love of Christ…
when you were “on fire for God” and possessed the sheer excitement of a kid on
Christmas Eve.
Yes, it’s painful sometimes but I assure you the
reward of watching your OWN progress & growth in God will be well worth it.
That way you can “In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to
see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” – Matt 5:16
I pray that you have a
wonderful Merry Christmas celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior while
using this season as a time to kick the Love of Christ we show daily up to
another level! It is my prayer that you, your home, family, everything you put
your hands to be blessed and that anything that concerns you is looked upon
favorably by the Lord our God.
Allison
(originally posted December
21,2011)
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