When we keep secrets, especially from those we love, Satan is able to "water down” (dilute) our healing and freedom in Christ because of our fear of someone finding out. Fear and shame are both tools of our enemy crafted to keep us bound by our past sin and to keep us ineffective for Christ. All the healing that has taken place in this area of bondage and condemnation will begin to slip away. We will be captives still.

It is only when we completely place our past at the Throne of God, entrusting it to Him, giving it to Him to use as He will that two things happen: First our fear and shame are vanquished by His grace and mercy, and second, we are free to allow Him to use our past as He will in the lives of those around us. Who are we to tell the Lord what He can or cannot use for His glory? When we begin to understand and believe that we are who God says we are and when our past no longer controls us, the fear of someone finding out is gone. That is when we are truly free!

God does not save us from the tragedies and horrors of our lives for our sakes alone. Each of us is a living testimony to the mightiness, faithfulness, and redeeming power and love of our Awesome God! Hiding your healing under the barrel of fear, shame and/or secrecy is but another foothold for the enemy. Hold the healing of your past up to God with open hands and allow Him to use it as He will for His glory.

Telling the secret (especially to your children) is just another step in the healing process. Allow the truth of your abortion to come out of the closet of fear and shame as you continue through the healing process and allow God to use it to bring additional healing to your family and others in your sphere of influence.

Look for our new series on how and when to tell the secret in the next few days.