A couple years ago at Christmas, I found t-shirts that I purchased for my family. They were fun “elf” shirts that said things like “The Writer Elf” and “The Texas Elf.” At least I thought they were fun, but in reality, how often do we wear the labels that others give us? For years I wore “The Fat Elf” and “The Shy Elf” shirt because that’s either a label I gave myself or allowed others to give me. I actually had a whole wardrobe of elf shirts that I wore every day: “The Awkward Elf,” “The Unworthy Elf,” “The Bullied Elf,” “The Ugly Elf”…and the list goes on and on. So many things I believed about myself.

But Jesus.

When I finally stopped wearing the labels I believed about myself and started wearing the labels Jesus gave me, my entire wardrobe changed. And so did my face, my thoughts, my heart. Oh, my soul discovered what it means to love and be loved by God!

Which “elf shirt” or shirts are you wearing? Take off “The Shameful Elf,” “The Stealing Elf,” “The Adulterer Elf,” or “The Unwed Mom Elf” shirt. When God comes into your heart, he removes the labels we wear and gives us new ones: “The Beloved Elf,” “The Chosen Elf,” and most importantly, “This Is My Elf.” Isaiah 43:1 says, “But now, this is what the Lord, your creator, says, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel, ‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine!'”

What a precious discovery when you realize that God calls you “His child.” Stop listening to what others say about you and believe what God says about you!

This is my first post in my “Barefoot on Holy Ground” blog. Join me on my journey to find rest for our souls in the presence of Jesus. “The Captain of the Lord’s Army said, ‘Remove your sandals from your feet because the place where you are standing is holy.’ And Joshua did so” (Joshua 5:15 AMP).

Let’s take our shoes off and expect God’s presence to make this place holy.