Treasured Ministries

Offering women a biblical solution for inner healing

Ephesians 2

Leaving Labels

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We live in a world made up of labels. We love them when they make everything feel tidy and organized. Labels are everywhere telling us what to expect and are indeed helpful in identifying things. But I am not talking about the labels that are on our cans of green beans or the labels that we put on our notebooks.

I am talking about the labels that other people might put on us.

It could be a nickname we were bullied with, or could be from something else in our past. Often these labels are lies that the enemy is feeding us. It changes the way that we live because of patterns that we have kept for a long time. Those are just some examples of where labels like I will always be this, or I will always be that come from.

They seem to stick, and we appear to let them because sometimes even we start to believe them. And with that comes the danger of losing who we are in Christ and the identity, or label, that he has given to us.

The truth about who you are can be found as you listen to and are led by
the Holy Spirit and wear the beautiful labels that he has for you.  

Living out Our Authentic Identity

When you and I live out of our authentic identity, we have confidence and direction to become all God created us to be. And when we know the truth about who God says we are it becomes harder and harder for the labels of the enemy to stick to us.

In Ephesians 2:11-3:6 we see Paul talking to the Gentile Christians. He is describing to them the unity that they have in Christ. He is explaining to them the gift of the Body of Christ, and that they are one in Christ. They are not outsiders anymore. We are brought into a family and called to unity as a result of that.

Ephesians 2:14-15 speaks of broken down walls and peace.

“For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us.”

Even within the Body labels were being used as weapons amongst believers. But Jesus came to break walls down not build them up.

So if labels are inevitable, what do we do when they are thrown at us?  

Remember RIC to help you leave your labels:

REMEMBER:
Remember that you cannot control what other people think or say about you. You cannot control if other people are operating under a legalistic mindset. You can’t control that, but you can control you.

IMAGINE:
Imagine labels like a ball somebody throws to you. If someone tosses a label on you, if they make a judgment about you, visualize it as a ball and catch it in your hand. Then examine that label and say “Does this label line up with the truth of who God says I am?” The way you handle labels when you are met with one makes all the difference. Does what someone is saying line up with what God says about you? No? Then it has no place in your life.

CHOOSE:
Choose your own labels and find liberty in them! The thing is, we really don’t have control of what other people say about us. We don’t. We do have control over which labels we are going to allow to define us. There is power in claiming our identity in Christ.

You and I want to live out of the labels that we receive from Christ. The key to doing that is choosing your own labels. In doing this, you walk under God’s power instead of giving power to the labels others place on you.

Nourish Scripture: Ephesians 2:11-3:6

Blog written by Aliene Thompson. Aliene Thompson is the founder of Treasured Ministries and the Author of the Nourish Bible Study Series. © 2019 Treasured Ministries.

The Storm of Emotional Strongholds

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Like a strong unforgiving riptide, emotions can carry us in a direction we don’t want to go. Yesterday I faced challenge after challenge.

I felt frustrated.

I felt overwhelmed.

The wheels came off the bus…I cried! My whirling emotions distracted me and resulted in a most unproductive day.

Can you relate?

Feelings Can Steal Our Godly Girl Power

Sometimes feelings are not kind friends. They can steal away our godly girl power if we are driven by our desires instead of directed by the Holy Spirit. 

Nothing makes me feel more powerless than when I face an emotional stronghold. A strong force of emotions welling up in us stirs up a commotion.

  • Fear.
  • Anxiety.
  • Anger.
  • Frustration.

Think about those moments when you lose your temper or respond unkindly to someone.

I want to be a wise woman that walks not under the power of my emotions but by the power of the Holy Spirit. If my emotions are in the driver’s seat, how can I be led by the Holy Spirit?

But let’s get honest. Strong emotions are impossible to avoid, aren’t they? Emotions aren’t bad. You’ll always have them. They make us human. God gave us emotions. They are a part of our soul. God had emotions also. But when our emotions become strongholds in our life, when they are in the driver’s seat of our decisions – that’s when they can create problems. 

The Enemy Creates Emotional Strongholds

Emotions alert us to needs within our soul, but they are never a reliable source of truth.

You see, we serve a God who loves us and wants us to be led by the Holy Spirit so we can fulfill the God–given purpose he planned for us long ago. But we also have an enemy that would love nothing more than to distract us and derail us from doing what God wants us to do. And he loves to create emotional strongholds in our life by using just the right lies to create that current to pull you away from your purpose. I know this. I’ve been there.

The world thinks of power and freedom as the strength to do whatever we want. But in God’s economy, power and freedom come from walking in obedience to God for his glory. Freedom is not following our desires and doing whatever we want to do. It is being a wise woman and being led by the Holy Spirit.

I want to be wise – don’t you? 

The truth is, brave heart, we are not going to stop feeling those emotions—and that is not our goal. Our goal is to find ways we can face those emotions and remain steadfast to do what God has called us to do. The big choice is this: Who will be in the driver’s seat,my feelings or the Holy Spirit? 

Bring Your Emotions to God

You don’t have to hide your emotions and try to handle them on your own. Bring them to God, brave heart, and gain his perspective to walk in the truth. Let’s get wise by learning and choosing God’s way to walk in your God-given destiny and make a difference.

One look into the book of Psalms and we see how David was not afraid to pour out his emotions. He got angry, depressed, overwhelmed, frustrated; all of that and more.

The book of Psalms reminds me that God can handle my emotions. He can help me sort through that strong force and get God’s perspective. I am not alone when that storm hits my soul. The Psalms also remind me that God does not condemn me when I have negative emotions or desires. He wants me to bring them to him so I can get his help instead of hiding them or trying to handle them on my own.

Brave heart, don’t let the enemy steal one bit of that godly girl power. When a strong current of emotions hits your heart, reach out to Jesus for clear direction to stay steady on the path of your purpose.

ONWARD!

Nourish Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10

Blog written by Aliene Thompson. Aliene Thompson is the founder of Treasured Ministries and the Author of the Nourish Bible Study Series. © 2019 Treasured Ministries.