28 Jun A Princess. A Priestess. A Warrior.

“I’m a princess, mama!”

“Yes you are, sweet girl. Do you know why you’re a princess?”

“Because God is a King!”

“That’s right. God is your Dada in heaven and he is a King! You are his daughter so that makes you a princess.”

“I’m a princess!”

“Yes, darling girl. Yes, you are.”

A Princess

We are in princess mode all day every day and I love it. Sometimes she even wears a tiara. Frequently, she wears all the princess dresses at once (see below). I wish I could wear a princess dress every day, it’s like prom, playing dress up, and wearing a wedding dress all in one. If you spot matching princesses walking down the street one day, yes, that’s us.

I remember the exact moment we entered princess territory. We arrived at a friend’s house for a playdate and her three-year old daughter was wearing a Frozen dress. Penny pointed to her dress and said, “I want one.” Sweet Annabelle dug out her well-loved Snow White dress and my tiny princess was born.

Our girl has gobs of super cute matching outfits but all she ever wants to wear is a princess dress, the rattier the better. In fact, I’m pretty sure the weird rash on her legs a few weeks ago was from constant polyester contact in summer temperatures (I wash them, I promise). Occasionally, I try to hide them because she’s growing out of some seriously adorable clothes and I want her to wear them, just once, because I wish I could wear a tiny lacy romper and look as awesome as she does in it. Apparently, the tiny romper is not to be. It’s princess dresses all day every day, so we figure we might as well embrace it.

Since Penny has never seen a Disney princess movie, and I’m not yet ready to have conversations about gender norms and how women are strong and capable and don’t always need to be rescued by men, we are taking a theological approach to this delightfully sequined season. When we talk about princesses, we talk about how each one of us is a princess in the Kingdom of God.

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1).

I love this verse because John is just as fond as exclamation marks as I am! Aside from the excellent punctuation, how beautiful and noble is this concept that we are truly children of the King of the Universe? It is an honor beyond human comprehension, yet it is God’s truth, his gift to us. He calls us his children, his dearly beloved people, his sons and daughters. As such, we are redeemed royalty. Romans 8:17 says, “If we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”

Jesus Christ, the savior of the world, covered us with his blood so that we could take on his righteousness, the righteousness of Christ, and be elevated to walk as sons and daughters of God. This is a high calling, so we must hold our heads high with regal dignity and teach our daughters to do the same. The world may disdain us, exalting its folly and false gods, “Be prettier, be skinnier, be smarter, be nicer, be better.” But the pursuits of the world mean nothing, they are simply a chasing after the wind and a tool the enemy uses to distract us from our true purpose. (“I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind” (Ecclesiastes 1:14)).

You are a princess because your father is a King. May we, like Mary, choose to sit at the feet of Jesus and bask in his presence, “Few things are needed—indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:42).

You are a princess. BASK in his presence.

A Priestess

Not only are you a princess, you are also a priestess. Remember, at the beginning of the year, when I said I was reading With Christ in the School of Prayer by Andrew Murray? Well, six months later, I am finally on the last chapter (people, this is not a long book). The second to last chapter is a beautiful exposition of the ministry of intercession with an emphasis on our role as priests in the priesthood of all believers.

“You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5).

Expanding on this wonderful identity that is ours through Christ, Murray says this:

Like every son of Aaron, every member of Jesus’ body has a right to the priesthood … it is the highest privilege of a child of God, the mark of greatest nearness and likeness to him who “always live to make intercession” … Priests are thus people who do not live for themselves. They live with God and for God. Their work as God’s servants is to care for his house, his honor, and his worship, making known to people his love and his will. They live with people and for people … This is the high calling of every believer. They have been redeemed with one purpose of being God’s priests in the midst of the perishing millions around them. In conformity to Jesus, the great High Priest, they are to be the ministers and stewards of the grace of God.

At the end of the chapter he leaves us with this exhortation, “Be a priest, only a priest, and all priest. Walk before the Lord in the full consciousness that you have been set apart for the holy ministry of intercession. This is the true blessedness of conformity to the image of God’s Son.”

You are a priestess. PRAY.

A Warrior

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” Ephesians 6:10-18.

You are a warrior. In this world, we do not fight against flesh and blood, although our obstacles are often very real and physical. No, we are a fighting a battle that has raged since the beginning of time between good and evil, darkness and light. As daughters of the King, we are called to be warriors. We wage war in the spiritual realms through prayer. We stand firm in the faith. We impart that faith to our children. Daily, we are called to put on the protection of his armor, the weapons of truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and the Word of God. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged, and do not shirk away from the fight. The enemy loves nothing more than to leave us defeated in despair. Why do you think this passage says, “and after you done everything, to stand. Stand firm then…” God knows it’s hard for us to stand firm so he told us twice, and then he gave us the very best weapons in his heavenly arsenal with which to do it.

Arm yourselves with truth. Protect yourselves with faith (ask the Lord for it!). And be prepared to fight with the Word of God. Speak and pray Scripture over yourself and your family. Take his Word deep into your heart. When you are wearing the armor of God you will be able to face your foe unafraid.

Beloved daughter, you are a princess, a priestess, and a warrior. I want you to BASK. I want you to PRAY. And I want you to FIGHT.

May you dwell in the richness of your identity in Christ this week and ever after. The dignity bestowed upon you cannot be taken away. Although the Enemy of our souls will try his hardest to rob you of your true worth and your privileged position, do not let him. Declare the truth of God’s Word over yourself and your families, particularly your daughters. Their father in heaven is the King. And nobody messes with his children.