by Janis Cox

Our front garden was a disaster! What had been carefully planted five years ago had become overgrown and was not a pretty sight. There were even three dying bushes and the deer had made havoc on the Hostas and lilies. Something had to be done.

With gusto and a new-found passion and energy, my husband and I tackled the job. We weeded, pruned, hoed and raked until we had the garden back under control.

It reminded me, as I hoed, that our lives could be like this garden. When we first find Christ – we are new Christians and the light in us shines brightly. Sometimes, though we stop tending to our spiritual needs – LIFE happens and stuff gets in our way.

We neglect to study, to pray, to praise and thank God.

Our lives get complicated and like our garden, overgrown and weedy. Our light can no longer shine as brightly.

Pruning is necessary and God is our gardener. (click to tweet)

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. (John 15:1,2,NIV).

In order to be a strong and sturdy Christian we need that pruning.

Let us help God by clearing away the rumble in our lives and focus on the one who planted us.

A Prayer for Today

Lord, we all have weeds around us, and branches that need your pruning. Help us to discern how to make our lives fruitful for you. Give us wisdom to know where and what needs to be done. In Jesus’ name we pray. AMEN.

Janis Cox

Janis Cox – Author and Illustrator

Janis Cox is a wife, mother, grandmother, a sister and friend. She has been married for almost 41 years to a wonderful, caring and patient husband – they have three grown children who are married; they have 5 grandchildren and a new one on the way.

She is a writer, watercolour artist and person who always is involved in doing something. She has her fingers in many pies – but all of them are delicious. A friend once told her that she saw a vision of her – with a whole bunch of coloured balloons and she tried to capture each one of them.

As a former public school teacher she loved to write poems for her kids. With this background she has now published her first illustrated children’s book, Tadeo Turtle.

She is a member of The Word Guild and Inscribe. You can find her at her website www.janiscox.com.