How Does God “Prune” Us? (John 15)
In John 15, Jesus used the illustration of a vine to describe how we produce fruit. He is the vine and we are the branches. In verse 2, He spoke of pruning- how does He prune us? In the very next verse, He said we are cleansed by the Word.
We are pruned and cleansed through His Word. So, we are meant to "abide" in Christ by paying attention to His words and obeying His commands (verse 10, also John 14:21-23). John 17:17 also says we are sanctified by the truth- the Word.
Another way we are pruned is through trials (hardship), as 1 Peter 1:7 says, "that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ."
God also works in our hearts to bring conviction of sin when we begin to stray. When we pay attention to His conviction and leading, that is "walking in the Spirit" and leads to fruit (Galatians 5:16, 22-23).
One more way we are pruned is through discipline. If we need correction, He can use circumstances to discipline us, and He does so in love, as our Father. When we are disciplined, it leads us to yield fruit, as Hebrews 12:11 says: "Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."
One book I recommend on this topic is Abide in Christ by Andrew Murray, which you can find for free online to read or listen to on audio.
Although God will always be pruning us, our lives will be more fruitful when we stay close to Him in prayer and read His Word, and walk in obedience. God conforms us to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29) as we yield to His work (pruning) in our hearts and lives.