Pruning

Yesterday we heard a speaker talk about John 15 on the vine-dresser and the vineyard.  It was one of those life-changing sessions.  The picture of the vine-dresser pruning is actually not of cutting off and throwing away.  The Greek action word is "Airos" which means lifting up.  What happens in the vineyard is that the vine falls off the trellis.  While on the ground it will become covered in dirt and get mold and thus not produce any fruit.  What the vine-dresser does is come along and lift the vine up, clean it off, and attach it back to the trellis.  That is actually what God is doing for us.  He picks us up from those things that keep us from bearing fruit, cleans us up, and attaches us back to Him so that we will be able to bear much fruit.  I want with all my heart to bear much fruit for Him.  When God prunes, He is removing those things that will keep us from bearing much fruit.  So I'm asking Him to remove anything in my life that will hinder fruit-bearing.  What about you?  Are there some things in your life that need pruning away?  Do you want to be a vine that bears much fruit?