Labels

I’ve decided to become a ring girl.

It’s a silly little thing that really doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things, but it resembles something much bigger that I’ve decided to start working on. I’ve come to realize that I put myself in a box a lot. I pick up labels from my family and friends, from the world, from the enemy, and from myself. Some of these labels are good and true, but others are twisted with lies and insecurity. I’ve wasted so much of my life limiting myself because of some label I picked up and I’m done living that way.

For months now I’ve been telling Claudia how much I loved her rings and I wish that I could be a ring girl like her. “Why don’t you?” would be her reply every time. I would always come back with excuses that my fingers were too short and fat and it just wasn’t me and blah blah blah. It wasn’t until last month in Romania that I realized how stupid this thinking was.

I took some time to reflect on how I often thought about myself in these limiting ways – approaching everything with these preconceived labels which I let define me. I’m not a ring girl. I’m not a hat girl. I’m not a sporty girl. Says who? I’ve been keeping myself from trying things I wanted to just because I decided years ago that I just wasn’t that kind of girl.

This thinking goes a lot deeper than just clothes I wear or activities I do. It bleeds into all areas of my life, chipping away at my perception of my worth and value. I’m done living with these random labels and limits. I’m ready to embrace the new and find joy in trying things. But most importantly, I’m ready to be labeled and named by the only One who truly has a say in who I am – Jesus. He is the only One who gets to define me and tell me who I am. And He calls me so many beautiful names: *

Beloved

“I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” – Jeremiah 31:3

A Child of God

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” – 1 John 3:1

A Delight

“The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in His love He will no longer rebuke you but will rejoice over you with singing.” – Zephaniah 3:17

Forgiven

“He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed.” – 1 Peter 2:24

Washed Clean

“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” – Isaiah 1:18

Free

“It is from freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and so not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” – Galatians 5:1

A Temple of the Holy Spirit

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?” – 1 Corinthians 6:19

Adopted into God’s Family

“The Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by Him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’” – Romans 8:15

Co-heirs with Christ

“Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.” – Romans 8:17

Righteous

“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” – 2 Corinthians 5:21

New

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation: the old has gone, the new has come!” – 2 Corinthians 5:17

A Saint

“You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” – 1 Corinthians 6:11

An Ambassador of Christ

“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us.” – 2 Corinthians 5:20

Holding a Secure Future

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” – Jeremiah 29:11

Whole in Christ

“In Christ you have been brought to fullness.” – Colossians 2:10

Wonderfully Made

“I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” – Psalm 130:14

Set Apart

“You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession.” – 1 Peter 2:9

A Co-laborer

“For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.” – 1 Corinthians 3:9

A Sweet Aroma

“For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.” – 2 Corinthians 2:15

Never Alone

“The LORD Himself goes out before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.” – Deuteronomy 31:8

A Masterpiece

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.” – Ephesians 2:10

Bold

“Since we have such a hope, we are very bold.” – 2 Corinthians 3:12

Victorious

“You have given me your shield of victory. Your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great.” – Psalm 18:35

I want to encourage each of you to take some time to consider what labels you’ve been claiming and where they come from. Weed out the lies from the truth whether it’s something tiny like “I’m not a ring girl” or something huge like “I’m unlovable.” Pick one of the names Jesus calls you and claim it as your own. Memorize it and let it transform your thinking. Let God, your Creator and Father, be the One to define you.

*Names and verses taken from Beauty for Ashes “My Identity in Jesus” exercise