Praying and Pruning

I am reading back through John 15 this week, and going back into John 14 and then forward into chapter 16…all the red letters have me hooked!

These precious recordings of Jesus words to his disciples shortly before he is arrested and crucified feel heavy with intentionality and power. As a theme throughout this section, he is speaking difficult concepts in as clear language as possible. Simultaneously he is acknowledging the disciples straining to understand, and responding to them with tenderness. The message of having less in order to make room for more applies specifically to these interactions as he attempts to explain that he is leaving in order for the Holy Spirit to come. 

John 14:25 – All of this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, who the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 

John 14:29 – I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe.

John 15:9, 11- As my Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.

John 16:26 – In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask on your behalf. No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 

My response to all of this is this prayer, overflowing from my heart:

Jesus, we hear you. We hear your deep desire for our minds to know your words and our hearts to believe. It’s mysterious to us how you knew exactly the truth we would need, both in the moment of your crucifixion and resurrection, and now today…where we continue to come to you with our struggle and confusion. Less is making room for more. You said that and we hold to it, both for our individual selves and for our corporate church body. If we submit to your pruning, we will make room for more of your Holy Spirit overflowing in our lives. You can hear our questions, feel our wrestling, and you know our desire! By your Spirit we say to the Father, “Prune us!” We confess our inability to identify every area of pruning, and we entrust ourselves and our church body to you. Your love for us is the power of our testimony, encouraging us to be transparent before you, we know your love well. You say the process is difficult, but the result is your joy in us. Your JOY in us! We always long to make room for your joy, to more fully experience your great love, and to be drenched in the power of your Spirit. Come and do your handiwork in our hearts and in our body!

Friends, I am standing with you in the places of conviction in our own personal hearts and for our church. I am standing with you as we lift up leadership and planning and finances in the belief that less is making room for more. I am standing with you in joyful anticipation of the work of the Spirit among us and through us as the Kingdom continues to come in greater and greater revelation!