Some days I wonder..."How would life be different if we pruned out of our lives ALL that (as a pattern) tends to take away from our lives"?
If I refused to watch any t.v. that had put my mind on anything negative...No shows where women are sex objects, no violence, no news...
If I got rid of every piece of clutter in my home for which I do not have sentimental value or do not use...
If I ONLY ever opened up to the people I know won't judge me or criticize me...
If I refused to spend time with people who as a pattern judge me or make me feel badly...
If I then filled my mind with more Scripture, more reading of the classics, more positive energy, more of the people who bring out the best in me...
If I pushed away every negative thought and spent twice that time on truthful, positive thoughts.
If I spent more time noticing those in life who want to receive what I've been blessed to give...
If I had the courage to plow forward with my heart's dreams...
How would life be different?
This year for me has been somewhat about pruning. I've gotten rid of some unhealthy eating habits, set some new boundaries, started exercising instead of watching that favorite show. I've de-cluttered some, found new depths of emotional intimacy in my marriage, started a new job...
However, there is so much more that could be pruned, and so much more good that could be added.
How would life be different if we were willing to let go of the familiar but unhealthy things in our lives, people or material things, or even ideas that weigh us down. How would life be different if we had the courage to set new healthy disciplines in our lives, disciplines that go beyond just starting an exercise regimen and moved into the realm of bold, courageous changes that could make permanent changes in our own peace, or brought lasting joy to others?
What do you wish you could prune? What do you wish you could add? We don't have control over ALL of the negative forces in our lives, but we probably have a lot more control than we think we do.
I think about the fact that Jesus surrounded himself with 11 people who adored and followed Him every day.
I think about His attempts to prune out the negative religious traditions that He saw weighing down His culture. If we really had the courage to whole-heartedly follow His example, how much more power might the Holy Spirit have in our lives?
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