It seems that we have labels or tags for everything.  While some can be benign, and perhaps even desirable, such as designer labels, luxury brands, or labels of status and achievement, others can be insulting and even threaten to limit the realm of possibilities for the ones so tagged.

With all the labeling that goes on, it’s important that we don’t allow others to label us–define us–but instead that we label and determine and decree who we are for ourselves.  And according to God’s beautiful plan for us.  Why is this so important?  Because the world is fickle and whimsical and always changing its mind and opinions.  One day it’ll label you as the greatest thing happening only to drop you flat the next.  With those ups and downs come the potential for instability, disillusionment and a host of other unhealthy byproducts.  But with God, there’s truth, constancy and stability.

You would think that this is unique to our generation, but it’s not.  It dates back to bible days and likely the history of mankind as a whole.  A prime example from the Word of God shows how others labeled one woman, only to have that label shredded to pieces, as she trusted God and embraced her greatness instead:

“What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age!  People used to say she was barren [label], but she’s already in her sixth month.  For nothing is impossible with God.” (Luke 1:36, 37, NLT.)

Elizabeth–nor God–allowed what others had to say about her, the “barren” label they had placed on her, to determine who and what she ultimately became in life–the mother of one of the greatest prophets, John the Baptist!  Surely she was aware of what they were saying all those years that passed without her conceiving, but she didn’t let that keep her from God’s beautiful plan for her life.  She kept her focus on the limitless power of God and allowed that to define her, her expectations and ultimately her destiny.

Let’s do the same and shed any labels that go against who we truly are or aspire to be, what we desire and what God has designed for us.  Let’s refuse to accept any other labels but His.