30 Days of Gratitude Day Twenty-One
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We are continuing our 30 Days of Gratitude! If you missed the scoop about why we’re celebrating, be sure to check out Episode One. Yesterday, we talked about bullies and words. Today, we’re going to be discussing Day Twenty-One’s topic: Secrets.
Today’s episode is so timely, you guys. You really have no idea, but you will. I want you to be grateful that your secrets don’t have the power to hold you hostage unless you give them that power. I want you to be grateful that you do not have to be bound by the things you cannot tell anyone. Let’s dig deeper by listening to today’s excerpt from my book.
“And he said to them, ‘Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand? For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light.’”
Mark 4:21-22 (ESV)
~ Today’s Declaration ~
I will not allow secrets to run nor ruin my life.
Secrets. They eat away at us. Every time we get ready to lift our hands in worship, they are there. Every time we get ready to move forward, they are there. When we meet someone new, yep – secrets are right there.
So many people have attempted and/or died by suicide because of secrets either being revealed or rising to the surface and almost coming to the light. It’s a terrible thing.
Today isn’t about telling all of your secrets. There are some things that I have experienced, done, said, etc. that I will NEVER tell. They will go with me to my grave, urn, the river, or wherever my remains end up. I will NEVER tell a soul. There are some secrets that I have HAD to tell in order to get free from the condemnation and shame surrounding them. It goes both ways.
I can’t make the decision for you. It’s not my place. I’m not telling you to tell anything, and I am not telling you to keep anything. What I’m telling you is that there isn’t a single thing hidden that won’t be revealed. That doesn’t necessarily mean that all of your secrets will become known to the world. It means that your secrets will be revealed to YOU. YOU will have to deal with them.
There are things that happen in childhood that we “bury”… but have you ever noticed that the thing you thought was buried still comes up from time to time? It could come up when you hear a voice that sounds like the voice of someone who assaulted or molested you. It could come up when you smell a scent that reminds you of the person you had an affair with. It could come up when you hear a baby crying. There are so many ways that these things come up.
These things don’t come up to torment us. That may be the enemy’s intention, but remember that God’s intentions will always trump the intentions of the enemy, and according to Jeremiah 29:11, God thinks thoughts of peace and not evil towards us. These things come up so that we can properly deal with them.
I encourage you to deal with your secrets. Even if it’s no more than saying, “God, I did this. I am sorry that I did this. I forgive myself.” or “God, I have been living in guilt and shame because this happened to me. Today I want to be free from that guilt and shame.” – I encourage you to do that. I encourage you to free yourself.
Let me forewarn you: When you do this, the emotions WILL COME. Every emotion that you have held back in regards to these secrets WILL MANIFEST. You have to let them come. That’s a part of the healing process. Don’t just let them come, though. Let them come AND GO. Feel them… embrace them… tell yourself why you’re feeling what you’re feeling. Give it to God. It’s gotta stay in motion. You can’t sit still on any of those steps. You can’t wallow in any of those emotions. You have to let them come and go. No matter how good or how bad they are, you have to let them come and go. That’s the only way to get free.
I have faith that you can do this. It’s going to be tough at times. You may even need to reach out to someone to help you through it. That’s okay. There’s a whole section of resources in the back of this book. I would rather see you crying for a moment than see you bound for a lifetime. I come against every spirit of anxiety, depression, and fear. You can do this. Live. I believe in you.”
Have an amazing day today. Show love to yourself AND others. Be GREAT! I speak life to you and everyone and everything connected to you! Catch me tomorrow!
XOXO,
Na’Kole ♥
