Has anyone ever tried to label you? Have they ever told you what you cannot do or what you cannot be? Sometimes we allow what people say hold us back. We allow words spoken to us or over us to keep us from fulfilling our potential and being who God made us to be.

Recently, the Lord revealed to me that I needed to let go of some negative words that a person spoke over me years ago. It was a well-meaning lady, but she spoke something negative about my future. I didn't realize I was still holding on to what she said, but God showed me how I had allowed it to affect my personal life. Without knowing it, I had let those words take root in me; they were always in the back of my mind. I didn't hold anything against that lady, but her words stuck with me for twenty years.

So I had to uproot those negative words just like a man named Jabez did in the Bible. Imagine your mother naming you Jabez because you cause sorrow, distress or pain? She named him that because she said, "I gave birth to you in pain." Every time she said his name, she was saying, "You make me sorrowful. I will never forget how much pain you caused me at birth." Maybe you thought your Mom was bad! It sounds like she had some serious issues, doesn't it? What mother doesn't have pain in childbirth! It seems to me that she was a bitter woman who projected her hurt and bitterness onto her son. And sadly, many times that happens in life. Maybe that's happened to you, but there is hope found in Jabez's story in which we can all greatly benefit.

I love what the Bible says about Jabez. His story is almost hidden in a long list of genealogy, a listing of the Hebrew tribes. I don't know about you, but I like to skip over those chapters when I'm reading my Bible. It's hard reading all those names!

For three whole chapters, there is name after name listed. But when you get to chapter 4, the author stops to tell a short story. For some reason, the author thought, "I have got to tell this story of Jabez. I can't just list his name." And I am glad he did!

1 Chron. 4:9-10 says, Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, "I gave birth to him in pain." Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let Your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." And God granted his request.

God granted his request! That tells me that there is nothing spoken over you, no matter how painful or horrible, that God can't reverse.

I have realized that just because some person speaks negative words over me does not mean that they are speaking the truth. The real truth is what God says about you and me in His Word. Choose to believe God's words of hope and blessing rather than any negative labels that someone tries to place on you.

No one can determine your destiny for you. They don't have that power unless you give it to them. And just like Jabez released the words that were spoken over him, I learned that I can release the words spoken over me, and you can, too.

Don't let anyone label you. Reach for who God has called you to be and do everything He's created you to do. Pray like Jabez: "God bless me and enlarge me! Help me to be all that you called me to be. Help me to fulfill my destiny!" As you do, God will surely grant your request!