When you wrestle with deep soul secret keeping, you risk your relationship with God, with yourself, and with others.
In 1998, I practiced a quickly growing, cultish behavior when I joined a Wiccan coven. I committed; I practiced; I researched; I participated; I went all in with a pagan walk and turned my back on our Heavenly Father.
For seven years, I deliberately disobeyed God. I denied Christ. I knew I was wrong. I kept it from my friends and family.
I became the deceivable woman.
2 Corinthians 11:3 (NIV) states, “the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness.” Deceived exapato means “to seduce wholly; “ “To persuade into disobedience.”
Utilizing the 2 Corinthians passage, we are able to see that in Genesis, Eve is an example of a woman who was persuaded to do wrong. When she was alone, she was vulnerable to temptation.
She was the first deceivable woman.
In my last post, I stated that quirky tendencies are not necessary sinful. It’s when we keep secrets deep in our soul that we become vulnerable to sinful behavior.
In the case of practicing Wicca, I was committing sinful behavior, which I was keeping secret. Is there a difference? Perhaps.
Once I shared the secret of my sinful behavior with my closest friends and family, they immediately began praying for me to be restored to a Christian walk. That did not happen immediately, but it did happen eventually. When we selectively share our hearts with other believers, they are able to bolster us. They are able to hold us accountable. They are able to approach the Father on our behalf.
Last week’s hang ups, phobias, and quirks seem very miniscule when compared to my absolute avoidance of the occult aisle at the bookstore. I avoid horoscopes, moon cycles, and other pagan related calendar items. I steer my child away from tarot cards and subtle pagan television shows. Avoiding and dismissing occult and pagan related issues has become a hang-up, phobia, and quirk. It’s one that will not be a secret in my life, because I refuse to have that sin ever take hold of me or my house again.
I was the deceivable woman. It wore me out being that woman with the deep-seated secret. If you have sinful behaviors that are wearing you out…that you are keeping secret…I am urging you to find a strong Christian woman to confide in so that she can go to the Lord in prayer on your behalf.
Turn from the secrecy. Ensure you aren’t falling into a sin trap because of secrets.
~Emily
Iron Porch 