Daughters of the King

Jul 8

Written By Amanda Windham

“For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”

— Romans 8 :15-17

Adopted for a purpose

The world has no problem telling you what it thinks you should be. Highly altered and carefully selected images of earthly beauty and achievement continuously attack our self esteem, telling us we’re not what we should be. We hear that we’re unworthy, unloveable. This battle for our hearts isn’t anything new. Even the famous apostle Paul said he wished he could be a better man in Romans 7:13-25. Everything from the date of your birth, dress size, skin tone, occupation, physical and mental health, education, and economic status, to your religious affiliation affects how the world perceives you and shapes your experiences. Neither the world’s opinions nor your experiences have the authority to define who you truly are. Regardless of what some may call mistakes or flaws, all parts of you are worthy when they are covered in the love and the blood of Christ (Romans 6:4-5, 22-23, 2 Corinthians 3:5). God makes real people, not accidents, or perfect plastic dolls. You are a unique masterpiece “fearfully and wonderfully made” by the Lord our God (Psalm 139:14, Ephesians 2:10). In fact, the very parts of you and your life which stand out as difficult or different are essential ingredients in God’s good plans and His purpose for your life (Romans 8:28, Jeremiah 29:11, 1 Corinthians 12:12-26). While God doesn’t cause our suffering, He ensures nothing in our lives is wasted or unredeemed if we turn our burdens over to Him (James 1:17, Romans 8:28, 1 Peter 4:19, 5:7). In this fallen world where suffering is unavoidable and even our fellow Christians are bound to disappoint us, God alone remains faithful (Romans 3:23, 2 Timothy 2:13). He promises us that nothing will ever separate us from His love as long as we in turn remain faithful to Him (Romans 8:38-39). As the one who created you and the Father who loves you, God is the only one with the power to tell you who and what you really are. The truth is you are His princess. We are the adopted daughters of the King of Kings. You are his precious child, priceless, beautiful, and beloved (Romans 8:15-17).

Because of the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross, this is one time when our dreams do come true. In your ordinary life, you may not literally deal with dragons, poisoned apples, or being locked in a tower, but there’s a reason why these stories have resonated in children’s hearts across the centuries and sparked unnumbered fantasies of escaping the confines of our current reality. The fairy tale princess is a symbol of eternally derived hope and beauty beyond the grip of the world’s daily cares because of the security found in the unlimited power and justice of her father the King. It’s not her own worth that makes a princess, but who her Father is. Maybe your present circumstances leave you feeling more like Cinderella sweeping up the ashes than being swept away by the prince at the ball, but think for a moment. Does the Bible say that our circumstances, degree of talent, appearance, age, health, or intelligence alters God’s love? No. Jesus didn’t let popular opinions or mankind’s definition of who was acceptable determine who received God’s love (John 4:7-30, John 8:1-11, John 15:12, Mark 1:40-42, Luke 10:25-37). As His disciples following in His footsteps we can’t do any less, whether it’s our neighbors or ourselves who are in need of love and grace (Mark 10:43-45, Psalm 103:8, Ephesians 2:4-10)

Being a princess isn’t merely a position of honor; it’s a responsibility. Looking at the real lives of royal families, it’s evident that a princess’s life is dictated by her obligation to the will of her father the King. Rather than thinking of her own momentary desires, a princess considers how her choices affect those in her sphere of influence and whether her decisions will please the King. Likewise, we as Christians have a duty to cling to God whatever we’re feeling for now and to help each other toward heaven (Colossians 1:9-14, Romans 6:12-14, 17-18, 22-23).

Being a princess isn’t about tiaras and ball gowns. It’s about tending the gardens of our hearts. Earthly beauty and comforts are temporary. What matters eternally is the beauty we cultivate in our own hearts and the hearts of our loved ones by guarding against sin and nourishing what is godly. This means more than abstaining from obvious sins, going to church twice a week, and keeping up with Bible class lessons. We’re responsible for loving our enemies, forgiving those who betray us, searching our hearts to root out all worldly prejudices, false beliefs, and attitudes that could cause us or our fellow Christians to stumble. It requires constant vigilance when choosing entertainment, dedication to wisely managing time and money, and above all renewing our souls through daily Bible study and prayer (Matthew 5:44, Philippians 4:8, Proverbs 31:10-31, 2 Corinthians 13:5, 2 Timothy 2:15). Such weighty efforts may not sound like as much fun as twirling around in a tiara, but when something that matters is hard, the eternal reward certainly is more than worth the investment (Romans 8:18&37).