Growing up, secrets played a huge part in my daily living. I never dared share what daily life could look like in our home. I knew the signs. When they appeared I knew the demons had triggered what would end up being a hellish night for us. The morning after, we would all get up, bruised and battered (mostly emotional) shaky and full of fear. It was an unspoken rule, no one was to mention the night before and EVERYONE was expected to carry on as if the night before didn’t happen. Days would go by without incident and then the cycle repeated and we would do it all over again. Fear was always lying wait.
Security was elusive!
I am in full reality that not all ministry wives grew up like me! Praise the Lord! My own children haven’t grown up like this! Their stories will be different! (again, PTL!) Yet, I am painfully aware that there are more ministry wives who live with the secrets of their pasts and with secrets of the present. These secrets can, do and will order our world. They shape our identity and keep us from living in freedom!
Secrets can kill. I’m not advocating that you come clean with the world. Not everyone needs to know our “dirty laundry” nor could they handle it. I am strongly suggesting in ministry there are times we can be our own worst enemy. We can have a huge successful ministry or even a small faithfully successful ministry and lose site of the fact that apart from the Creator of this universe we would not have any of it.
Accountability is a must if we are to finish the well the race God has called us!
I am stating emphatically, ministry wives need friends who get us and whom we have given permission to speak life and truth into our lives.
We need a friend that knows “the good, the bad, and the ugly” of our lives and still believes in us! Still has our backs!
Truths:
- You and your family are targets – the moment that you stepped up and surrendered the call to ministry. FACE it. You are on the front lines of battle. There will be huge and small battles. Train your children – make them aware without scaring them to death. Learn to develop prayer strategy for this battle. It won’t always be hard in fact, much of the journey is outrageously joyous but you need to be aware that you are in the battle and suit up accordingly (Ephesians 6:10- 24).
- Active Secrets never stay secret – if you have secret sin – stop it! Flee! Go NOW! Get help! The enemy whispers, “You can conquer this thing on your own!” You won’t and you can’t! Contact someone! Contact ME! Search for a way of escape! The Lord will always provide it – if you seek it. Get to someone who is safe and bring the SECRET in to the light of your sweet Jesus who loves you! (I Corinthians 10:13).
- Betrayal is a deep deep wound – There are times that those closest to you will betray you. Don’t ignore the depth of this wound. It affects every area of trust. Get help. Seek Godly counsel and decide that you will heal and that you will begin to trust again. If Jesus experienced betrayal why would we or should we escape this wound. (John 13:21).
The Lord is fighting for you – stop making it harder. Be still. Be quiet – There is not a set way that He will deliver you. You must ask Him to fight for you and to give you wisdom for each situation. The promise is: He will fight for you! He will hear you! He desires to fight for you. In the midst of all of it……
Remember:
4 for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you. – Deuteronomy 20:4
3 Encourage the exhausted, and strengthen the feeble.
4 Say to those with anxious heart,
“Take courage, fear not.
Behold, your God will come with vengeance;
The recompense of God will come,
But He will save you. He will come and save you – Isaiah 35:3-4
2 Timothy 4:17-18(ESV)
17 …the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Click here for more scriptures of our mighty God fighting for us!
AND when you can join us at a
Refresh Retreat. Check below at our new dates for 2019. We would love to encourage you and give you a place to rest with other like-minded women.
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here or sign in and post privately. If you need a listening ear – please
contact me – I’m here. A safe place. Have a blessed weekend.
Loving and Praying for you!
Diane Nix
is the director and founder of Contagious Joy. She and her professor/pastor husband, Dr. Preston Nix, have served in ministry for 35 years August 2018. She speaks and teaches whenever the Lord gives her opportunity.
Diane has two miracle birth girls – Rebekah 23 married to Will & Rachel 20. Two spiritual daughters – Kasia 37 married to Robby, who pastors in Beaumont, Texas & Courtney (35) who is finishing up a Ph.D. Kasia & Robby have two beautiful children Samuel (3) & Jailee (2) and Diane is Mama Di to these precious ones.
You can check out Contagiousjoy4him & Diane’s statement of faith here. We Believe. You can check out Diane’s speaking topics here and her schedule here.
This is not a final list(below). A couple of dates will be added and confirmed. Don’t miss the opportunities to be Refreshed! Register!