document.open();
  document.writeln("<style type=\"text/css\"><!--");
  document.writeln("@import url(http://www.actsweb.org/style.css);");
  document.writeln("@import url(http://www.actsweb.org/syndicated.css);");
  document.writeln("--></style>");

  document.writeln("<span class=\"body\"><b><span class=\"headings2\"><span class=\"actsititle\">Starting the Year with New Labels </span></span></b><br>");
  document.writeln("<span class=\"actsilinks\"><a href=\"#\" onclick=\"window.print()\">Print this page</a></span>");document.writeln("<br><div id='actsartcl1'>");document.writeln("<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%\"><i>Therefore,");
document.writeln("as God\'€™s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness,");
document.writeln("humility, gentleness, and patience.<sup>1</sup></i><o:p></o:p></span></p>");
document.writeln("<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%\">Every new");
document.writeln("year, without fail, we are surrounded with advertisements for the newest weight");
document.writeln("loss fad, and tips on how to become a \'€œnew you\'€. We are encouraged to set goals");
document.writeln("to better ourselves to keep up with what society thinks we should be. If we do not meet these unrealistic expectations, we are assigned labels that only make us");
document.writeln("doubt our self-worth and question our identity. <o:p></o:p></span></p>");
document.writeln("<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%\">No one likes");
document.writeln("labels. Perhaps it is because most labels are negative and focus on our worst");
document.writeln("qualities. Many of these labels do not leave room for growth or our differences.");
document.writeln("They provide an inaccurate representation of who we really are. <o:p></o:p></span></p>");
document.writeln("<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%\">What if this");
document.writeln("year we reinvented ourselves, not based on the view the world has of us, but based on the truth about us? If you were to Google \'€œverses about who I am in Christ?\'€,");
document.writeln("there are numerous verses to remind you of who God says you are. You are made");
document.writeln("new in Christ, you are loved, forgiven, worthy, beautiful, accepted, and");
document.writeln("capable to fulfill the purpose for which God created you. In times where those");
document.writeln("negative voices around us try to discourage us, remind yourself that God did");
document.writeln("not give you a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.<sup>2</sup>");
document.writeln("<o:p></o:p></span></p>");
document.writeln("<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%\">Your age,");
document.writeln("circumstances, your struggles, or your past do not define who you are. Those");
document.writeln("labels simply describe a season through which you have come. If we allow God to");
document.writeln("walk with us through these seasons, he will help us learn, grow, and will");
document.writeln("refine us to be more like him. This should be our ultimate goal. <o:p></o:p></span></p>");
document.writeln("<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%\">Take a moment");
document.writeln("to think of the labels you have taken on over the years. Are these labels a");
document.writeln("reflection of who God says you are? If not, I encourage you to spend some time");
document.writeln("with God in prayer and reading His Word. Let go of all the labels that are");
document.writeln("weighing you down and accept your new identity in Christ! <o:p></o:p></span></p>");
document.writeln("<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%\">Suggested");
document.writeln("prayer: Dear God, please show me what labels I have allowed in my life that are");
document.writeln("only holding me back. I give them to you and ask that you help me replace them");
document.writeln("with who you say I am. As I learn to embrace my identity in You, I ask that you");
document.writeln("help me be an encouragement to others who also need to find freedom in you.&nbsp; In the name of Jesus, amen. <o:p></o:p></span></p>");
document.writeln("<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%\"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>");
document.writeln("<p class=\"MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst\" style=\"text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1\"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;");
document.writeln("mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin\"><span style=\"mso-list:Ignore\">1.<span style=\"font:7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%\">Colossians 3:12 (<i>CSB</i>). <o:p></o:p></span></p>");
document.writeln("<p class=\"MsoListParagraphCxSpLast\" style=\"text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1\"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;");
document.writeln("mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin\"><span style=\"mso-list:Ignore\">2.<span style=\"font:7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%\">2 Timothy 1:7. <o:p></o:p></span></p>");
document.writeln("<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%\">Today\'€™s");
document.writeln("Encounter was written by: Crystal B.<o:p></o:p></span></p>");
document.writeln("<br></div>");  document.writeln("</div><hr /><span class=\"body\"><p class=\"actsicopyright\"> </p>");
  document.writeln("<p style=\"font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size: 10pt;\">This and other devotionals by Richard (Dick) Innes <a href=\"http://www.actsweb.org/archives.php\" target=\"_blank\">can be read online</a>.<br><br>Copyright &copy; 1990 - 2026<br /><a href=\"http://www.actsweb.org/\" target=\"_blank\">ACTS International</a></p>");
  document.writeln("</span>");
  document.close();