Priorities in pruning.

Acts 9:1-31

Saul to Paul

The first time I heard this story was while helping my friend work on VBS. I'm gonna say 2 years ago. (Christian Shame) Last night Justin and I reviewed it in our study of Acts. After reading and answering questions I drifted off to sleep. This morning God showed me multiple examples of this in my own life.

I was feeding Joseph breakfast when he Mickey Mouse Clubhouse came on. My child is obsessed. I think it's just with Mickey. Anyway, I was in the middle of the container of food when Joseph turned around and tuned me out to listen to the animated mouse say, "I forgot. We have to say the magic words. Say them with me." Sadly, I say them... every time. I also sing the hot dog song at random times of the day. Having children change EVERYTHING.

God showed me that Joseph has priorities. Even at 9 months. Mickey over rules everything, including breakfast. I'm not proud of the fact that my son is in love with this character but if he is screaming, a youtube video usually saves me from massive hystaria. Thank you Disney Jr. When Saul was on his way to Damascus he had priorities. Kill Christians. That's what he was known for. To the extent that when he called Ananias to go pray for him, Ananias was like, "umm no thanks I'd rather eat rotten raw meat." *Dramatic I know. Not biblical.*

Backing up a shake. Saul was blinded on the road. This was BEFORE Ananias was asked to go pray for him. During the 3 days he was blinded, God was working on his character. He added some things, took away some things, and he was changed. In our own life I think that we have areas of our character that need to be adjusted. BUT we don't want to give them up. Saul was content with his life the way it was but God wanted to use him. He stopped him. Smacked him down a notch. And changed him. Allow God to show you area's that he wants to alter. We have to be willing to let things go and move forward.

Saul was blind. One thing he needed, God took from him. This wasn't the first time that we have seen God do that to someone. Zachariah. While I was opening the windows this morning I saw something I never thought I would see. Justin and I have a fig tree outside our bathroom window. The first year we lived here it produced fruit. We've been here for 3 years and there was about 4 sprouts coming up from the ground. None of which produced any fruit. We had looked up how to prune it and take care of it. We got so frustrated with it that we cut it all the way back to the ground.

This morning I was looking out the bathroom window and there is new growth of my fig tree. There is new sprouts. I'm not sure if fruit will produce this year, but maybe next year. Sometimes God has to remove something COMPLETELY so our growth produces new fruit. That could be a job, a friendship, a position in your church. It could be anything. We have to remember that these moments aren't to hurt us but to allow us to produce different fruit.