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Once upon a time, the large pin oaks surrounding our little farmhouse desperately needed pruning. Dead limbs hung loosely. They taunted those who ventured beneath its canopy. Widow-makers routinely tumbled from high above, landing with a loud thud to the ground below. The unwanted dead weight was a burden to the trees and threatened those around them, especially on windy days.
Enter tree trimmer named Chuck and his son Robby Dales. They carefully secured the area beneath the arching limbs. They masterfully cut away the dead branches and pruned the living. Their talent made our 120 feet tall trees stronger and more beautiful than before. The faithful pruning made the future promising.
Friends, what dead weight do you need to let go of today? What does the loving master need to cut free in your life? It is time. His faithful pruning will make your future promising. It is time to let go of bitterness, negativity, worry, or anger. It is time for you and me to surrender to our Lord the burdens of dead weights. It is time for big and better things.
Here are a few heavyweights I must rid from my life to live free and happy. How about you?
Bitterness: Let go of Bitterness. It will weigh you down. “See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled.” Hebrews 12:15 (ESV)
Negativity: Cut negativity from your life. It will carry your spirit into the pit and drag everyone around you down too. Instead, sweet sister, put your thoughts on positive things. You will find contentment and joy as you train your brain to re-frame your situation. Place your mind on – “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Philippians 4:8 (ESV)
Worry: Rid your life of anxiety and worry. Prune it out of your thoughts. Instead, pray to the One who can change your worry into peace. Whatever level of intensity you feel today from a worrisome thought, change that same worry into a powerful prayer. You can overcome by turning a worrisome worry into a warrior’s prayer. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6 (NIV)
Anger: Choose to let go of anger and instead replace it with peace. Yes, it is a choice and you get to choose. Choose to hang onto the anger and let it eat you up; or make the conscious decision not to embrace the anger. “Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.” Psalm 37:8 (ESV)
Sweet friend, whatever weighs you down today, whether it is bitterness, negativity, worry, anger, or some other heavy burden – choose to rid it from your life. I encourage you to let it go because you were made for bigger and better things. Be free from any dead weight. It will be the best weight you have ever lost. 🙂 I promise.
“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. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” Matthew 15:1-5 (NIV)