Unglued by Lysa TerKeurst

Ever tried to get the label off a bottle? I like to save my EVOO bottles and getting those labels off is a daunting process … sometimes it’s successful, and it’s always stressful! I’ve soaked them in soapy water, rubbing alcohol, fingernail polish remover, and the ever-popular “Goo-Gone” … Whatever I’ve used to remove the labels takes lots of time and effort. But the pristine bottle that results is worth the work!

While reading Lysa TerKeurst’s book, “Unglued” I was reminded that people have labels that need to be removed, too! I’m enjoying an online Bible study of “Unglued: Making Wise Choices In the Midst of Raw Emotions.” I’d read the book before, but now I’m reading it again in the context of this study. With daily inspirations and motivations based on the book, I’m getting new insights that I either missed or overlooked in my initial quick read-through.

This week’s focus is Chapter 3: The Prisoners. Lysa talks about how we are imprisoned by the labels that we are given or that we unconsciously accept for ourselves. Labels like:
• I am angry.
• I am frustrated.
• I am a screamer.
• I am a stuffer.
• I am just like my mother.
• I am a wreck.
• I am a people pleaser.
• I am a jerk.
• I am insecure.
• I am unglued.

As I read that list, I realized that I slap some of those ugly labels on myself and, not only do I wear them, I believe them! Yuck! God didn’t label me with this negativity … who am I to stick those lies to me! What’s even worse, sometimes I stick some of those ugly labels on other people, too.
• She’s so disorganized.
• She’s always late.
• He doesn’t even notice ____________.
• He doesn’t care about _____________.
• They’re hopeless!

But we’re not doomed to live life covered in sticky, nasty, label-lies! There’s hope! Look at some of the labels that scripture gives us in 1 Peter 2:4-5 & 9 (NIV):
• Chosen by God
• Precious to Him
• Living Stones, being built into a spiritual house
• Holy Priesthood
• Spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ
• Chosen People
• Royal Priesthood
• Holy Nation
• People belonging to God

But, just like removing those tough labels from the EVOO bottles, removing labels from ourselves can be difficult, too! Lots of hard work and determination are needed to change Satan’s lies to God’s truth. As Lysa says, we need to refuse the labels of our past and recognize that we are God’s workmanship. We must accept the grace that saves us and shapes us and prepares us to fulfill our calling. (Read Ephesians 2:8-10 to see how grace can clean those labels off of us.)

So even when we become unglued and mess up and fall short, God’s grace is there for us to embrace and erase the labels that would keep us discouraged, hopeless, and ineffective in God’s Kingdom. Here’s Lysa’s solution to letting grace change those label-lies into truth and reality.
1. Identify the label as a lie meant to tear me down.
2. Choose to view the circumstance as a call to action, not a call to beat myself up mentally.
3. Use the momentum of tackling one label to help me tackle more.

Pick up a copy of “Unglued” or join the online Bible study to completely unpack these ideas. Trust me, it’ll be worth the time and money!

Got some labels you need to unglue? This is one book that will help you identify and eliminate the sticky, messy, label-lies that keep you from making imperfect progress.