All you fishermen out there……did I leave you hanging from last week’s post? Are you tuning in to see what kind of hook I will be using? I won’t keep you in suspense any longer. God has equipped me with a “circle” hook.
God has been putting the word circle in front of me for a while. I’d like to share some of those ways and how God has been speaking into me as I do this “circle” of life with Him.
Psalm 34:7 The angel of the Lord encamps (circles) around those who fear him and delivers them.
I have a “circle” of very close like-minded, bible believing-spiritual sisters that encourage me and help keep me accountable. They are a very precious gift that God has blessed me with and the way He brought us together was in His perfect plan and timing. He knew I would need a particular group of women not only to love and encourage me, but to train me to encircle and uplift and support them as well. God has used this “circle” to grow my love for Him and His Word and others in a way I can’t even explain. This circle “circles up” (our euphemism for prayer) often!
Ecclesiastes.4:12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him. A threefold cord is not quickly broken.
God sent me to Woodcrest, where I have been circled in intercession and loved by a church family who builds me up in so many ways and to a church that God has placed on my heart to embrace and surround in exhortation. The Body of Christ at work!
Hebrews 3:13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
Not many weeks ago, God reminded me of a book I heard about many years ago called THE CIRCLE MAKER. I was talking about this book to a “circle” of prayer warriors and Pastor Charles immediately left the room and came back with the book from the church library. I began reading it and then put it to the side and recently, was reminded to finish it. I believe this book, which emphasizes circling things in prayer, may be instrumental for our church next year in the “circle up” growth of our church!
Isaiah 56:7 “these I will bring to my holy mountain and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.
Lastly, I was praying one night about an issue that God had laid on my heart. I went to sleep with no answers but woke up in the middle of the night and heard the word “circle”. I immediately knew that word was in an email my sister in love had recently sent me and the next morning, sure enough in the last paragraph, the words “circle back” were staring me in the face. So, God, You are absolutely highlighting the word circle. What do you want me to learn from this? What are you asking me to do?
Isaiah 40:22 He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in.
I looked up the word circle in the dictionary. Other than surround, enclose, circulate, to move or revolve around, embrace, encompass, gird which are all uplifting encouraging words; the definitions that caught my attention were 1. Diadem, a crown, something that adorns like a crown 2. Realm, an area of action or influence. 3. a group of persons sharing a common interest. Those, for me, were spiritual definitions highlighting that the circles God has placed me in are “on purpose” for His purpose! He is the King; the Crown and my job is to help usher in His Kingdom here on earth and I have been placed in a circle of friends and within a Body of Christ to circle around others as He leads, whether in love or by works or prayer!
Proverbs 8:27 When he established the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,
So, with all that in mind, I’m going to “circle back” to the fishing hook? A circle hook is a fishing hook designed with the point turned back at a right angle to the hook shank that helps the hook set perfectly in the corner of the fish’s mouth. It helps prevent the hook from being swallowed by the fish and doing harm to the fish. It eliminates the need to set the hook hard. You just wait until the fish has the bait in its mouth and is moving with it. The circle hook sets itself in the perfect spot. In fact, attempting to set a circle hook defeats the purpose and will lose the fish.
Does this not sound like how we are to evangelize (to fish)? WAIT, then initiate the hook (conversation) and turn the conversation toward God (the point turned back at the RIGHT angle), listen to the Holy Spirit (this is where the hook will be set perfectly), love people (their welfare, their eternity), and reveal Jesus to them (Holy Spirit will fill and move in the perfect way so the person is not lost). This, also, sounds like a process for prayer! Conversation with God, waiting, allowing Holy Spirit to move and draw the person to God, loving them enough to pray for them! Circling people in prayer!!!
Ezekiel 47:10 And it will come about that fishermen will stand beside it; from Engedi to Eneglaim there will be a place for the spreading of nets. Their fish will be according to their kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea, very many.
Jesus, thank you for our stories, for all the circles where you touch us and show up. Our circle of friends, our family circles, the circle of life, the never-ending circle of eternity, for the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost who has no beginning or end represented by an infinite circle, how we can “circle up” in prayer and how you surround us within the circle of your arms, your very presence! Thank you for highlighting those circles. May we continue to adore you as our King of Kings and influence our circles with the godly influence of Holy Spirit! May we continue to grow in prayer, in “circling up” to seek You in all things! In Your precious name, Jesus, I pray these things! AMEN
I could go on and on, like a never-ending circle, but you get the picture! Love each of you!
Will the circle be unbroken
By and by Lord, by and by
There’s a better home awaiting
In the sky Lord, in the sky! *
Prayerfully submitted,
Kathy Comeaux
Prayer Coordinator
Pioneer
Fisherman
Circle Maker
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*lyrics from the song WILL THE CIRCLE BE UNBROKEN
Public domain
