We live in a society that labels everything. Some are good, like son, daughter, or friend; but many are unnecessary and hurtful.

What I'm here to tell you is that words do hurt, and not all of us realize that what we say can really change how a person views themselves. The bible tells us that the tongue has the power of life and death (Proverbs 18:21). Because there was only ever one perfect person, and we're not them, we've all made the mistake of saying something we wished we wouldn't have. But the good news is that we also have the power to speak words of life over people as well. I challenge you to really think about what you say before you say it; If it won't build the person up, then you probably shouldn't say it at all.

Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch of the door of my lips. Psalm 141:3

Because we're all human and make mistakes, we've all said something we probably shouldn't have. With that being said, we've also all experienced people speaking words of death over us. What we can do is forgive them, pray for them, and know what they've said about us are lies coming straight from the enemy. Remember that the enemy comes to steal kill and destroy, but Jesus has come so that we could have life abundantly (John 10:10).

If you were called unwanted, Jesus calls you loved.

If you were called worthless, Jesus calls you redeemed.

If you were called an addict, Jesus calls you free.

Other people aren't the only ones we have to worry about when it comes to speaking life and death. Did you know we can speak life and death over ourselves, too?

For some it may be easy to shake off what others have said about them, but it's harder to forget the labels you've put on yourself. You know all the broken and messed up parts of you, but Jesus knows them too- and He still loves you. You don't have to carry around the brokenness anymore. You can forget about what you've labeled yourself as and what other people have said about you. None of those things are true; they're lies from the enemy. It doesn't matter what you've done in the past or whether or not you think you deserve the labels. Jesus gives us grace, and grace covers us and gives us the blessings we don't deserve. Grace is bigger than the labels placed on you.

The next time someone places a label on you, I want you to ask yourself if they were speaking life or death over you. If they were speaking death, remember what Jesus says about you.

Jesus says you're:

a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17)

free from condemnation (Romans 8:1-2)

redeemed (Romans 3:24)

a citizen of Heaven (Philippians 3:20)

God's child (John 1:12)

God's treasured possession (Deuteronomy 7:6)

forgiven (Colossians 1:14)

loved (Jeremiah 31:3)