Without regular pruning, a vine will live up to only a fraction of its potential. Vineyards have only one purpose – grapes! Energy spent on anything else, no matter how impressive, is wasted. Expert pruners have four things clearly in mind: (1) Removing anything that’s dead or dying. (2) Making sure sunlight gets to all fruit-bearing branches. (3) Increasing the size and quality of the fruit. (4) Encouraging new fruit to develop. To make room for the kind of abundance God created you for, He’ll begin cutting away the parts of your life that are draining precious time and energy from what’s truly important. To accomplish this, He’ll even risk your misunderstanding of His methods and motives. His purpose for you requires the cutting away of bad habits and attitudes, wrong relationships, lesser priorities, anything that distracts from your highest calling. Are you praying for God’s abundant blessings in your life? Are you asking Him to use you in His service? If so, you’re asking for the shears! Pruning is how God answers such prayers! If you’re being pruned today, follow these steps: (1) Pay attention. Don’t waste this season of preparation. (2) Ask God whether you’re being pruned for greater fruitfulness, or disciplined because of sin - there’s a difference. If it’s sin, repent and get back on track. If your response to the pruning process is right, your rewards will be great.