This morning I was up early and out in my garden pulling little weeds between my flowers and noticed that the first blooms on my flowers are beginning to fade. Out came the pruning shears to take off the almost dead blossoms. I had to be careful as to not cut off the new blooms, but the old had to come off for the plant to look beautiful again and to give energy to producing new flowers. 

So it is in my life, I have to prune those things in my life that are draining energy from me and taking away from the new flowers that God is forming in me. It's a careful process and not one to be rushed into, and yet it needs to be done. If I leave the old flowers on, it hinders new growth, and those that do bloom are stunted because the plant had to feed the old and the new. I think one of the reasons that I hang on to the old, is because I get lazy and don't want to do the work, and the other is it hurts to prune back my life. It causes change and commitment on my part, and that can really stretch me. Sometimes it's easier to stay in a stunted position..less is required.

 But the truth is I want and like to grow more than to stay the same. I want to learn and continue on the path that the Lord has me on, no matter what might lay ahead for me. It's the only way that I will be fulfilled. To do and be what what the Lord has designed for my life.