Is God Calling You to Prune or to Cull in Your Garden?

God often tends to us like a garden. You'll find plenty of parables in the Bible about gardens and planting. Many of which you may be familiar. From the parable of the seed sower to the vines and branches to the mustard seed, one likely comes to mind. His Word shares wisdom of how to treat ourselves, our relationships, and our lives like a garden.

The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail," Isiah 58:11, NIV.

Our lives are seasonal like gardens. Certain periods of time require certain needs. All are important and necessary for our gardens to survive, just like a real garden. For us to thrive, God calls us to tend the different branches in our garden. Paying mind which are fruitful and capable of good growth and fruits versus those that need to be eliminated to ensure our garden's health.

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In the Book of John (1 John 15:1-8) we hear Jesus' parable of the vine. Here we see that God, the gardener, is always at work. He prunes the branches that need to be shaped to bear more fruit or destroys the unfruitful branches altogether. Let's look at these words, prune and cull, and these verses from the first Book of John more closely.

Pruning

prune, transitive verb

1: to reduce especially by eliminating superfluous matter

2: to cut off or cut back parts of for better shape or more fruitful growth

intransitive verb: to cut away what is unwanted or superfluous

When God prunes us or asks us to prune something in our lives it can feel punitive in the moment. But with His perspective and faith in His goodness, we remember that it's for our ultimate good.

"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...Remain in me, and I will 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," 1 John: 15, 1-4, NIV.

Pruning allows us to focus on what God has for us. He calls us to reduce the things that are not fruitful. They don't serve others, ourselves, or God. These are likely things that on their own are objectively harmless, but they are not serving us well.

Examples are things that we enjoy in isolation versus sharing with others. Stuffing our faces with junk food can be harmful even glutinous, but sharing a meal with our family can be joyous even holy. Using social media to numb how we are feeling or delay responsibility can be disastrous for our health, but using social media to share inspiring and uplifting content with our community can create bridges. The act itself is not sinful, but how we engage with it and how we ultimately act after engaging in the activity can be. So in these situations, God may call us to prune or reduce these activities to only use in community with others.

Culling

cull, transitive verb

1: to select from a group: CHOOSE

2: to reduce or control the size of (something, such as a herd) by removal (as by hunting or slaughter) of especially weak or sick individuals

also : to hunt or kill (individuals) for culling

noun: something rejected especially as being inferior or worthless

Then there are the wicked things in our lives that we expose ourselves to, intentionally or not. These are things in our life that do not produce anything positive, even if done in community with others.

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given to you.This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples," 1 John: 15, 5-8, NIV.

God may be calling you to discard, turn away, or reject something wholeheartedly in your life. Likely something sinful, or something that takes you away from God. This is a call to cull. This action, person, or thing is proving harmful or even wicked in your life. It puts distance between you and your God. It could be an addiction or a bad habit. Obsessive screen time, graphic TV shows or vulgar music. It's easy to hear that recommendation and think deprivation or censorship, but really it's about "does this serve me or the people around me in a positive way?" If you are honest with yourself, likely the answer is no. God wants good and heavenly things for us. He doesn't want us bogged down by dark temptations.

Identifying a Branch that Needs Tending

If you find a branch problematic, this is God's way of alerting you it needs to be tended. If you are unsure what to do with a problematic branch in your life, try putting it to the test to see which ones God puts on your heart or mind. Here are three things you can do to help you determine which branches need tending:

1. Get quiet. Pray to God, meditate for a clear mind, and write out your thoughts. Let His voice speak to you in the stillness. One simple and helpful way to do this is to record your prayer lists, reflections, or journal entries in one spot. Use a bible app, your phone, a notepad, or a journal. Want a good faith-based journal? Check out this "For I Know the Plans" Journal.

2. Seek His Word.

   1. Read the Bible. Open the good book and see what God has to say. Try a verse of the day or a Bible-in-a-year-type podcast to help you keep going back to God's word.

   2. Pick a devotional. Choose one that speaks to the branch you are deliberating on. Need some inspiration? Check out one of these devotionals available at Mary & Martha.

   3. Look for God's nods. Pay attention to the recurring messages throughout the week: If you are looking to hear from Him, He will share his voice. Note the readings at Church this week. Mind the media you encounter over a few days. Consider the articles, chapters, segments, and conversations about the very thing you are evaluating. You never know where His wisdom will sprout.

3. Try fasting. Yep, a deep-rooted tradition in many faiths; fasting. Try abstaining from the branch in question for a week or so. And at the end of the allotted time, ask yourself these things

   1. During my fast, did I find myself reaching for the branch in question?

   2. What did I do with the time I wasn't spending on the old branch?

   3. Do I want to incorporate this old branch back into my life?
      

To Prune or To Cull?

After trying these three steps, it's time to tend to the branch for your garden's sake. So how do you tend it? After seeking His voice and considering this branch in your life, ask yourself, do I need to prune the branch? or cull it?

• Do I need to prune it? Maybe you moderate how much time you spend doing this thing. Consider I only do this thing when I am in this place/with these people/at this time/for this long. The branch itself is not evil, but how I use it can get away from me. I need to moderate how much time I spend doing it or control when I engage with this branch.
  

• Do I need to cull it? Yes, I found myself feeling lighter, and more aligned when I wasn't engaging in this activity/around that person/ etc. I need to abstain not moderate. I will eradicate this from my day-to-day life altogether.

We hope these steps help you determine if you need to tend to your garden and what steps you need to take. Just remember that we cannot do anything without God. He does not need us but chooses to include us in His plans. Let Him guide you all else. Happy Gardening!

"So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth," 1 Corinthians 3:7, ESV.

Sources:

"prune" Merriam-Webster.com. 2024. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prune (15 July 2024).

"cull" Merriam-Webster.com. 2024. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cull (15 July 2024).

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