(August 18, 2025) Carol Round reminds us about necessary spiritual pruning to produce spiritual growth… 

Each year as the summer wanes, I force myself to continue pruning my flowers or deadheading them!

Essential Motivated Pruning
In the horticulture world, deadheading means removing faded blooms, especially in flower gardens. After the plants are pruned, more blooms emerge.
 
In the spring, I’m filled with energy and excitement as I dig holes to plant my flowers. Pruning them as they grow isn’t a chore, but a delight because I know it will increase the number of blossoms. My enthusiasm, however, decreases as the summer days go by, sapping my energy and spirit.

The one thing keeping me motivated is the beauty of God’s creation. My flowers attract butterflies, bees and hummingbirds. Without pruning, my flowers droop and fade.

Essential Refreshing Moisture
Drooping flowers also require moisture!

We’ve had a wet summer here with record rainfall. But toward the end of July, the rain showers dwindle into spurts of sporadic sprinkling. Earlier this summer, I installed a soaker hose in my largest front flowerbed. It’s better for the flowers and bushes to receive moisture underneath and close to the roots.

Watering my plants reminds me of Jesus, the Living Water. Just as water refreshes and quenches our thirst, so does the Holy Spirit give life to believers, enabling God to produce fruit in our lives.

Without pruning and water, my flowers won’t produce blooms. The pollinators who visit my flowerbed each day would suffer as well. If I get distracted, and forget to water, the hot sun takes its toll.

Essential Spiritual Cultivation
The above essential garden chores also speak to me that it’s so easy to get distracted from our spiritual life.

In John 15:1-4NLT, Jesus reminds us of the purpose for spiritual pruning. ‘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.’ 

How often do we let the things of this world distract us from Jesus?

• Do we spend less time in the word, the Holy Bible?
• Are we attending church less, finding entertainment or other activities more appealing?
• Do we quit participating in small groups created specifically for our spiritual edification?

Spiritual growth is a lifelong journey. When our growth is stunted, the pruning process begins. Sometimes, the trials we experience are painful… but the Master Gardner knows what is best for us.

God’s desire is for us to cultivate a deeper, more fulfilling walk with Jesus so we can become more like Him.

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Carol Round is an inspirational speaker and author. Her encouraging articles have appeared in many publications and she loves hearing from readers, whom Carol encourages readers to ‘Feel free to share this post.

Recommended: Journaling with Jesus and companion The 40 Day Challenge. These help readers draw close to God— (See: http://bit.ly/2LGOvKN and Amazon author page: https://amzn.to/2pP5Yr6). Link: carol@carolaround.com / www.carolaround.com
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