Spending Time Pondering My Fruitfulness

“Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit;
but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit,
neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit
is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”
Matthew 7:17-20

I have a lemon tree. It’s fruitless. When I bought it, I was excitingly hopeful that it would fill my garden basket with big, juicy lemons. Then, it did! It produced a lemon. One. Single. Lemon. It was big. It was juicy and yummy. And, that was it. My new, little, lemon tree froze. I hoped to save it. I watched and waited and slowly the leaves disappeared and never came back. It was gone.

Let down, but not ready to pull it up and replace it, I turned the dead little tree into a bottle tree, garden decoration, by hanging small, clear, vintage salt and pepper shakers and vintage bottles on its branches. And, that’s how I left it.

Until one day, I saw a green sprout at the bottom of the tree. “It’s alive!” I thought and checked on it daily. It grew and grew. I removed the bottles and cut out the dead tree to make room for the new growth. I was excited to see it grow into another beautiful, lemon tree just like the one I bought and planted. Then, I waited for it to produce fruit. But, no buds or fruit came. It was just a sucker tree that sprouted on the side of the old, original root. It’s still green and growing, but fruitless.

I keep the lemon tree in my garden to remind me that we have to grow and take our energy and nourishment from the main root to be fruitful. We can’t live on the fringes of our faith, pretending to be strong and whole, looking good on the outside, and trying to make it on our own. We need to tap into the root of our Creator. When the storms and trials of life come, we need the support of a good root system.

Corrupt Tree, Corrupt Fruit

When we stray away from God’s plans for us, to follow our own path, we are headed down the wrong road. God’s path leads us to good things like the Fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Our path leads us to corrupt things like the works of the unholy flesh (Galatians 5:19-21). When we plant corruption in our hearts and heads, our lives will produce evil fruit.

Good Tree, Good Fruit

If we want to be good trees bringing forth good fruit, we have to tap into the good root. God is that root and life-giving source. We can’t produce fruit without Him. He helps us grow into strong, healthy, fruitful trees through His Will, Word, and Ways. We can’t go it alone. We need our Creator.

Over the last few months, I’ve spent time:

• Pondering
• Praying
• Planning
• Prioritizing
• Preparing

But, for some reason, I haven’t been seeing the fruitfulness I desire. I’ve done what I thought was right. I’ve put in the effort. I attempted to overcome obstacles. I’ve tried and tried. But, somewhere along the way, I forgot that God, my Creator, is the one that gives the increase in our lives.

As I’ve spent time pondering my fruitfulness, I’ve realized that all my well-intended efforts are futile without Him, My purpose is purposeless. My passions are passionless. My priorities are out of place without His grace and guidance.

I’ve forgotten that without God’s blessings on my life’s garden, it won’t grow and be fruitful. He determines the harvest.

“So then neither is he that planteth any thing,
neither he that watereth;
but God that giveth the increase.”
1Corinthians 3:7

So, today, I’m going to God for my nourishment and direction and trusting that He will help me grow and produce the fruit He wants from me. While I ponder, I’m believing that He will increase my fruitfulness in due season.

Praying for you as we grow together,
Smiles, BRC