(1) Pruned to Yield Fruit "And every branch that beareth fruit he purgethit, that it may bring forth more fruit"(John 15:2). A child of God was dazed by the variety ofafflictions which seemed to make her theirtarget. Walking past a vineyard in the richautumnal glow she noticed the untrimmedappearance and the luxuriant wealth of leaves onthe vines, that the ground was given over to atangle of weeds and grass, and that the wholeplace looked utterly uncared for; and as shepondered, the Heavenly Gardener whispered soprecious a message that she would fain pass iton: "My dear child, are you wondering at the sequenceof trials in your life? Behold that vineyard andlearn of it. The gardener ceases to prune, totrim, to harrow, or to pluck the ripe fruit onlywhen he expects nothing more from the vine duringthat season. It is left to itself, because theseason of fruit is past and further effort forthe present would yield no profit. Comparativeuselessness is the condition of freedom fromsuffering. Do you then wish me to cease pruningyour life? Shall I leave you alone?" And thecomforted heart cried, "No!"--Homera Homer-Dixon It is the branch that bears the fruit,That feels the knife,To prune it for a larger growth,A fuller life. Though every budding twig be lopped,And every graceOf swaying tendril, springing leaf,Be lost a space. O thou whose life of joy seems reft,Of beauty shorn;Whose aspirations lie in dust,All bruised and torn, Rejoice, tho' each desire, each dream,Each hope of thineShall fall and fade; it is the handOf Love Divine That holds the knife, that cuts and breaksWith tenderest touch,That thou, whose life has borne some fruitMay'st now bear much.--Annie Johnson Flint
(2) Victorious Living is Possible "Nothing shall be impossible unto you" (Matt.17:20). It is possible, for those who really are willingto reckon on the power of the Lord for keepingand victory, to lead a life in which His promisesare taken as they stand and are found to be true. It is possible to cast all our care upon Himdaily and to enjoy deep peace in doing it. It is possible to have the thoughts andimaginations of our hearts purified, in thedeepest meaning of the word. It is possible to see the will of God ineverything, and to receive it, not with sighing,but with singing. It is possible by taking complete refuge inDivine power to become strong through andthrough; and, where previously our greatestweakness lay, to find that things which formerlyupset all our resolves to be patient, or pure, orhumble, furnish today an opportunity--through Himwho loved us, and works in us an agreement withHis will and a blessed sense of His presence andHis power--to make sin powerless over us. These things are DIVINE POSSIBILITIES, andbecause they are His work, the true experience ofthem will always cause us to bow lower at Hisfeet and to learn to thirst and long for more. We cannot possibly be satisfied with anythingless--each day, each hour, each moment, inChrist, through the power of the HolySpirit--than to WALK WITH GOD. --H. C. G. Moule We may have as much of God as we will. Christputs the key of the treasure-chamber into ourhand, and bids us take all that we want. If a manis admitted into the bullion vault of a bank, andtold to help himself, and comes out with onecent, whose fault is it that he is poor? Whosefault is it that Christian people generally havesuch scanty portions of the free riches of God?--McLaren.
(3) Wait With Patience "Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him"(Ps. 37:7). Have you prayed and prayed and waited and waited,and still there is no manifestation? Are you tired of seeing nothing move? Are youjust at the point of giving it all up? Perhapsyou have not waited in the right way? This wouldtake you out of the right place the place whereHe can meet you. "With patience wait" (Rom. 8:25). Patience takesaway worry. He said He would come, and Hispromise is equal to His presence. Patience takesaway your weeping. Why feel sad and despondent?He knows your need better than you do, and Hispurpose in waiting is to bring more glory out ofit all. Patience takes away self-works. The workHe desires is that you "believe" (John 6:29), andwhen you believe, you may then know that all iswell. Patience takes away all want. Your desirefor the thing you wish is perhaps stronger thanyour desire for the will of God to be fulfilledin its arrival. Patience takes away all weakening. Instead ofhaving the delaying time, a time of letting go,know that God is getting a