A man was telling me one time how he overheard his junior high teacher telling his mother that he was a slow learner. For 30 years, he wore that label around. He never had a good job, never had real success. He just kind of floundered through life believing that he would always be slow. I talked to him about the importance of removing labels—that what others say about you cannot negate what God says about you unless you choose to believe it. Either you will accept what others say as the truth or you accept what God says as the truth. That teacher may have been sincere. She may have made an assessment based on where he was at the time, but this is a new day. She doesn't know what God has placed in you. I said to the man, "If you're going to reach your highest potential, you've got to say, 'No, thanks. I am not wearing that slow-learner label anymore. That may have been her opinion, but I have another opinion. It's from my Creator, and He says I have the mind of Christ; that I am full of wisdom; that I can fulfill my destiny.'"
Today I'm saying the same to you. It doesn't matter what people have said about you in the past. You can't let negative labels hold you back. I talked to a high school student one time. She was about to take her final exams. She said, "Joel, will you pray that God will help me to make C's on these tests?" I said, "Why do we want to pray for C's and not A's?" She said, "Oh no, Joel. My high school counselor told me I'm just a C student." She really didn't know any better. Somebody stuck a label on her, and she was wearing it around like it was the truth. Have you ever thought about the fact that the same God who can help you make a "C" can help you make an "A"? Why don't you remove that label? The same God that can help you get by in life can help you excel in life. The same God that can give you an apartment can give you the desires of your heart. Are there labels that are holding you back today? Is the label "divorced" telling you, "You'll never meet anyone new?" Is the label "overweight" telling you, "You'll never get into shape?" Is the label "addicted" telling you, "You'll never break these bad habits?" Friend, whatever label you choose to wear is what you will become. Why don't you change those negative labels to be what God says about you? God says, "You are free." "You are clean." "You are healthy and whole." Don't go the next 20 years wearing the wrong label. Put some new labels on today. Believe that God is at work in your life and move forward to embrace the freedom and victory He has in store for you! "…Let it be to me according to your word…" (Luke 1:38, NKJV) Isaiah 46:11
'What I have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that I will do.' - The purposes and plans of God will prevail. - He will fulfill every word that He has spoken. - What are you trusting for and what promises do you have? - Grab hold of them and remind yourself that HE will do it. PRAYER: Lord, I reaffirm the promises and words that I have received from You. I will continue to believe and have confidence in You. Amen. When I was helpless, he saved me. Psalm 116:6
As youngsters, we neighborhood kids would play street football. The minute we got home from school we'd drop the books and hit the pavement. The kid across the street had a dad with a great arm and a strong addiction to football. As soon as he'd pull in the driveway from work we'd start yelling for him to come and play ball. He couldn't resist. Out of fairness he'd always ask, "Which team is losing?" Then he would join that team, which often seemed to be mine. His appearance in the huddle changed the whole ball game. He was confident, strong, and most of all, he had a plan. We'd circle around him, and he'd look at us and say, "OK boys, here is what we are going to do." The other side was groaning before we left the huddle. You see, we not only had a new plan, we had a new leader. He brought new life to our team. God does precisely the same. We didn't need a new play; we needed a new plan. We didn't need to trade positions; we needed a new player. That player is Jesus Christ, God's firstborn Son. In the Grip of Grace (Max Lucado) Isaiah 30:18
'The Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore He will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for Him!' - The Lord is waiting to show you His mercy. - The Lord is waiting to be kind to you. - The Lord is ready to show you His favour. - See Him as He rises up to show you His compassion. PRAYER: Lord, I receive Your mercy, Your kindness, Your favour and Your compassion in my life today. Amen. There was a blind girl who hated herself because she was blind.
She hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her. She told her boyfriend, 'If I could only see the world, I will marry you.' One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her. When the bandages came off, she was able to see everything, including her boyfriend. He asked her,’ Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?' The girl looked at her boyfriend and saw that he was blind. The sight of his closed eyelids shocked her. She hadn't expected that. The thought of looking at them the rest of her life led her to refuse to marry him. Her boyfriend left her in tears and days later wrote a note to her saying: 'Take good care of your eyes, my dear, for before they were yours, they were mine.' This is how the human brain often works when our status changes. Only a very few remember what life was like before, and who was always by their side in the most painful situations. Life Is a Gift Today before you say an unkind word - Think of someone who can't speak. Before you complain about the taste of your food - Think of someone who has nothing to eat. Before you complain about your husband or wife - Think of someone who's crying out to GOD for a companion. Today before you complain about life - Think of someone who died too young. Before you complain about your children - Think of someone who desires children but they're barren. Before you argue about your dirty house someone didn't clean or sweep - Think of the people who are living in the streets. Before whining about the distance you drive Think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet. And when you are tired and complain about your job - Think of the unemployed, the disabled, and those who wish they had your job. But before you think of pointing the finger or condemning another - Remember that not one of us is without sin and we all answer to one MAKER. And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down - Put a smile on your face and thank GOD you're alive and still around. God Bless You |
Ana & Andre Schoonbee God uses us to motivate and encourage the body. Authors
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