We need to let the Holy Spirit search our hearts and reveal areas where He wants to lead us through his refining fire.
The Lord desires to bring each of us into deeper levels of healing and draw us deeper into a relationship with Him as Savior and Redeemer.
The Father wants to bring us through this pruning process so that we may be even more fruitful in his kingdom. The following prayer points will help you to walk into that experience of pruning and Refining.
As you move through these prayer points, allow the Holy Spirit to guide you. Linger over each step as the Spirit leads, and then move to the next step as He shows you.
STEP 1. FOCUS ON JESUS
Scripture is clear that God is love and that He loves us, His children. Take some time to meditate on the following scriptures that speak of God’s love and Christ’s supremacy.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 (NIV)
Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:4–6 (NIV)
The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Colossians 1:15–20 (NIV)
STEP 2. DRAW NEAR TO GOD
We must come close to the Lord and surrender to Him as our Lord and Savior.
Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:8 (NIV)
STEP 3. ASK THE LORD, “WHAT NEEDS TO BE PRUNED?”
If we ask the Lord, he will show us those things in our lives that He would like to deal with. So take some time in quiet, and ask the Holy Spirit to shine his light upon you and show you those things he wants to work upon.
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. John 15:2 (NIV)
Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23–24 (NIV)
STEP 4. ASK THE LORD FOR FURTHER GUIDANCE
Sit with Holy Spirit and ask Him to reveal the root causes of the attitudes, behaviors, or woundings He wants to deal with. Allow the Spirit to bring memories to the surface of your conscious mind, and ask him to show you what you need to do with them.
Here are some questions to consider as you do this:
- Is there someone or a group of people whom you need to forgive?
- Do you need to ask for forgiveness for anything or from anyone?
- Are there lies you have believed that need to be renounced?
- Are there vows you have made that need to be rejected?
STEP 5. INVITE JESUS INTO YOUR WOUNDEDNESS & BROKENNESS
Open your heart to allow Jesus to manifest his healing presence to you.
I will exalt you, Lord, for you rescued me. You refused to let my enemies triumph over me. O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you restored my health. Psalm 30:1–2 (NLT)
STEP 6. HEALING THROUGH THE WORD
God’s healing comes with the command to walk further with him in obedience. Ask the Lord to help you hear the Word he is speaking to you.
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave. Psalm 107:19–20 (NIV)
STEP 7. CHOOSING TO ABIDE
I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5 (NRSV)
As we choose to remain and abide in Jesus, he will use us to bear fruit in his kingdom. Ask the Lord to reveal his kingdom’s purposes for you.
STEP 8. INVITE THE HOLY SPIRIT TO FILL YOU
Don’t drink too much wine. That cheapens your life. Drink the Spirit of God, huge draughts of him. Sing hymns instead of drinking songs! Sing songs from your heart to Christ. Sing praises over everything, any excuse for a song to God the Father in the name of our Master, Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:18–20 (The Message)
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (NIV)
Invite Holy Spirit to fill you now and empower you to be a witness for Him in His Kingdom.
