By Rodetta Cook

Rodetta Cook has been a pastor’s wife for over 40 years. She and her husband, Ron, have actively served the Lord together in ministry during the entire time and are co-founders of Care for Pastors. She understands the expectations, loneliness and how hard it is to find balance in ministry as a pastor’s wife. Rodetta also leads the pastor’s wives initiative at Care for Pastors called The Confidante and ministers to hundreds of wives each week. She strives to share blogs with other pastors’ wives that will help them in their ministry walk.

Posted by Rodetta Cook

Topics: For Pastors' Wives · Identity · Spiritual Walk

Leaving the Past Behind

Monday, July 20, 2015

I want to talk to you today about a subject we all deal with or have dealt with, and that is our past. The past isn’t the past if it’s affecting your present.

Are you carrying around the weight of shame? Are you constantly dragging some baggage behind you? Are you harboring secrets?

We know in our mind that Christ forgives us, but so many times it is hard for us to wrap our heart around the fact that we need to forgive ourselves. Stop believing the lies that you aren’t good enough or the thought “if people only knew, what would they think of me?” By believing these lies you are hindering yourself from God using you in the way He wants to use you. We can learn from our past mistakes and use them to help others.

You must choose to release the power of the past if you are going to find freedom. What is it that haunts you?

I stole from my employer
I dropped out of school
I had an abortion
I was promiscuous as a teenager
I’ve had an affair
I lied on my resume
I ______________________________

The list could go on and on, so you fill in the blank of what it is you are holding onto. I dare say you have come alongside many women and given them wise counsel on letting go of the past, but are you?

Don’t continue to live in bondage. Allow God to set you free and allow Him to use your past in ministering to others.