When God is pruning you, it’s never going to feel good.

You are going to feel uncomfortable, you may even feel like you are going backwards in your faith but press on.

Remember the principle of pruning in the Kingdom.

He cares for the branches connected to me by lifting and propping up the fruitless branches and pruning every fruitful branch to yield a greater harvest. John 15:2 TPT

When God prunes you, He is going to address the areas where you are bearing fruit and refine you so you can bear more fruit.

And have you forgotten his encouraging words spoken to you as his children? He said,

“My child, don’t underestimate the value
    of the discipline and training of the Lord God,
    or get depressed when he has to correct you.
For the Lord’s training of your life
    is the evidence of his faithful love.
    And when he draws you to himself,
    it proves you are his delightful child.

Hebrews 12:5-6 TPT

We are called endure His discipline because it is quite literally evidence that we are sons and daughters.

If God never corrects us, then we are illegitimate. Oh, how I am learning to long for more and more of the discipline of the Lord in my life for I know it only means that I am getting to look more and more like Him!

Even further, the writer of Hebrews reminds us:

Our parents corrected us for the short time of our childhood as it seemed good to them. But God corrects us throughout our lives for our own good, giving us an invitation to share his holiness. Now all discipline seems to be painful at the time, yet later it will produce a transformation of character, bringing a harvest of righteousness and peace to those who yield to it.

Hebrews 12:10-11 TPT

Repeat this to yourself out loud:

• When God corrects me, it is an invitation to share in his holiness.

• He corrects me because He loves me.

• The discipline of the Lord is painful.

• However, I can choose to endure because of the fruit He promises to produce.

• God has promised me that His discipline will transform my character.

• God has promised that when my character is transformed it brings forth the fruit of peace and righteousness.

• Because of my love for Christ, and because I desire to be transformed into the image of Christ, I choose to endure in my hardship.

Whom have I in heaven but you? You’re all I want!
No one on earth means as much to me as you.
Lord, so many times I fail; I fall into disgrace.
But when I trust in you, I have a strong and glorious presence protecting and anointing me. Forever you’re all I need!

Psalm 73:25-36 TPT

God, I am coming back to first love where all I want is to look at you and to look more like you.

I don’t care what it costs me, I don’t care about the pain that is involved. If you gladly chose surrender, so will I. All I ask is that you would teach me your ways. I know I can’t be like you in my own strength, I have to submit to who You are, what You’re saying in your Word, and how you choose to set the pace of my sanctification.

And this is God’s will: your sanctification.

1 Thessalonians 4:13

I don’t care who I have to forgive, what I have to let go of.

I just want to live for you.

Every idol, every demon, every familiar spirit, I will let go of no matter how uncomfortable it may be.

You have carried me so far. You have healed me; you have delivered me. What an honor and a privilege it is to know you!

Oh, better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere!

The pruning is painful but I say YES to the pruning process.