The Power of a Label

I’ve been sorting through the things in our loft this week and the labels on the boxes have been very helpful (when they are accurate!) It made me think about labels in general and how useful they can be in helping us know what something contains. But we also use labels for ourselves and those around us and these can be very unhelpful, inaccurate, and certainly don’t tell the whole story. We might define ourselves with labels of what we do – ‘I am a parent’ or the labels given to us by other people ‘the clown’, ‘the quiet one’. The problem is that these labels form how we see ourselves which can then affect our behaviour and can limit us. These labels often aren’t an accurate guide to who we are or what is inside us. The sad truth is that we tend to remember the negative words spoken over us much more than any positive words.

So, what can we do with our negative labels? I suggest you ask God to highlight a label that has been spoken over you, then pause while you wait and listen. When one comes to mind write it down, give it to God and ask Him to heal you of any hurt that is attached to that label. Then ask Him to tell you how He sees you.

God loves us completely and wants us to wear His designer label. Just as the material objects created by Dior or Chanel have great value when their name is stamped on them, we too have great value because God has ‘anointed us, set His seal of ownership on us, and put His spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.’ 2 Corinthians 1: 21-22. The Spirit is the official seal, or Designer label, of God’s ownership marking believers as His own.

I have found these songs particularly helpful in reminding me how God sees me and who I am in Him. Perhaps take a few minutes to listen to them and be encouraged.

Hillsong ‘Who You say I am’ //www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcC1Bp13n_4

Bethel ‘No longer slaves to fear, I am a child of God’ //www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxkNj5hcy5E

God bless you

Love Caroline