Full Circle

In every situation, no matter what the circumstances, I am expressing gratitude and continually giving thanks to God because this is what He requires. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (Personalized)

D. Gilmore-Young defines the term ‘to come full circle spiritually’ as “to experience a series of developments or circumstances that lead us back to the original source, position, or situation.” 

A new year is quickly approaching and none of us know what is around the corner. Even with the best preparations and precautions life can switch up fast. It often feels like the more things change, the more they remain the same. Over the years, I started going back to my childhood to unearth why I did certain things, what shaped my patterns and thought processes. This seemingly will be a lifelong work as there is much to discover and unpack; to learn and unlearn. A journey worth the taking.

One treasure I unearthed was my love for art. Creating journals with a mixture of art has brought me immense joy. One embedded trait I realised I need to unlearn is that my inner critic had become my inner voice. Being able to come full circle in this aspect has helped me to grow as an individual. Paul in 1 Corinthians 13:11 says, “When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, reason like a child, think like a child. But now that I have become a man, I’ve put an end to childish things.” 

God has an uncanny way of directing our path. In a sense it feels like we move in circles yet climb upwards, that is, if we align to His path. In the Book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon speaks about coming full circle. In Ecclesiastes 1: 2, he says “Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.” And in Chapter 12: 8 again, “Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.” To this end he admonishes us to remember the Creator in our youth and to fear God and keep his commandments. (Ecclesiastes 12:1, 13)

What has God equipped you with this year to take with you into the new one? As you ponder on your journey, give thanks. I love to watch the clouds as they coast in merriment along the sky or the birds as they move in formation. I often think of our life as a dance and us being led by the ‘Lord of the dance’. The music cues, He takes us in hand and gracefully moves us ‘through all the changing scenes of life’. Will you then, let Him take your hand in His and guide you? 

Quoting the last stanza and refrain of the hymn Lord of the Dance by Sydney Carter

They cut me down and I leapt up high,

I am the life that’ll never, never die;

I’ll live in you if you’ll live in me;

I am the Lord of the Dance, said he.

Dance, then, wherever you may be;

I am the Lord of the Dance, said he.

And I’ll lead you all wherever you may be,

And I’ll lead you all in the dance, said he.

“It’s often the places we didn’t plan to go and the people we didn’t know we needed to meet that end up changing our lives in the most beautiful ways.” - Topher Kearby

“I consider... Life is more of a dance with God, than a battle with the enemy.”

- Rhonda Hendricks

Dear Heavenly Father, 

What a year this has been, yet I trust you. As you take my trembling hand in yours, help me to trust in Your leading as we waltz into another year with its own opportunities and blessings and challenges and griefs. I know through it all in fire, in water, in tempest or in the stillness, you will be with me. In Jesus name, Amen.

Lord, if you keep in mind our sins, then who can ever get an answer to his prayers? But You forgive! What an awesome thing this is! That is why I wait expectantly, trusting God to help, for He has promised. Psalm 130: 3,4 TLB

I finally found my rhythm when I realized that even the steps backward were part of the dance. - Unknown

Faith goes up the stairs that love has built and looks out the windows which hope has opened. - Charles H. Spurgeon

Be blessed to be a blessing.

K.I.M (Kingdom Inspired Messages)

Author of K.I.M