18Early in the morning, as he was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. 19Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered. Matthew 21:18, 19 (NIV)
Going through the motions each day you make a plea to do well and be protected. You say a few words as you rush about your day. Never really taking time to look inside for whatever God wanted to change. Hurried out the door you think tomorrow is when I’ll do things differently; tomorrow I’ll make that much-needed adjustment in my schedule. You insist, God understands and you’re right He knows all about the reasons why you’ve decided to go about your day this way. You’re just too busy, right? On the outside your leaves are green and things appear to be growing, but underneath the lush green foliage there isn’t any fruit.
What happened to the fruit that you were meant to bear? Did your life become so busy that you simply failed to stay connected? No one needs to tell you whether your life is fruitful or not. Consider your ways, your thoughts and your time. No one needs to help with this one; you know the truth. Take time now to examine your results. If you are surfing through life doing what looks right, but on the inside you’re spiritually dying then be honest with yourself, and face the hidden truth that your life isn’t bearing much fruit. Jesus was hungry and went over to check the fig tree for figs. It looked good from afar, but under closer examination it was clear that no fruit existed. Fruitlessness is a state that many Christian women easily fall into, but it’s completely avoidable.
Your life is meant to bear much fruit; good, healthy produce that supplies nutritional value to others. When you are in Christ your life produces fruit, and that fruit endures. Without Christ you run the risk of never producing anything of value. “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5 (NLT)
Barrenness creates an urgent need for God’s help. If you look at your life and realize things just aren’t what they should be, don’t make the common mistake of trying to fix it on your own. Ask God for help. He will guide you and give the strength to make the much-needed change. Approach His throne with boldness. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16 (NIV) All the answers you need to live a more balanced and productive life are found there. God wants you to have huge success; slow down long enough to ask Him for His help. Not just another quick and shallow, “Lord help me today,” but really seek to know His ways. Reach out to God and seek to live your life the specific way He desires. Tarry until you push beyond your flesh (what you want and how you feel) and experience the long-awaited breakthrough.
Allow God to cut back the extra foliage. Let him cut away the unfruitful things so that your life (and the body of Christ) will be more productive. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. John 15:2 (NLT) What a difference you’ll begin to experience as He prunes you and frees you from anything that slows your growth.
Organizing the Inside 365 Days 
I would just addd one thing to your excellent post. If you really truly dare to pray for God to prune, be prepared for him to prune A LOT. I speak as one coming out of a season of pruning. I’m sure it will be ‘worth it’ in the end, but my life is looking like a very bad haircut at the moment!
I hear you Catherine… Just remember that this present suffering is not to be compared with the joy that will be revealed. I sincerely believe we can experience the beauty of God’s perfect work in us in this life and in the life to come. Rejoice, I see long luscious locks when it all grows back for you. Thank you so much for sharing.