Devotional Archives--Queen

February 13, 2006 —

Servant Queen

Last week, stress hit from every side and new hassles piled on top of each other. One night, exhausted, I fell asleep begging God for help. As I slept, He gave me songs.

Most of them were about how nothing was too difficult for Him to handle. These were comforting. But one of the last songs, given in the early hours of the morning, confused me. It was a prayer of servanthood.

To be honest, I wasn’t too happy about that song. I felt burned out, tired of pushing through the obstacles. I wanted to be protected as God’s child, doted upon as His princess daughter, and romanced as Christ’s bride.

I wanted God to alleviate the pain and pressure, not remind me to serve Him. Wasn’t I already working hard enough?

But as I processed the experience, that song became precious. God had wooed me in the night, gently encouraging me to be faithful. I hummed the song for the rest of the week.

In recent devotionals, we’ve discussed our position as children of God. As daughters of the King, we can wear our tiaras with confidence, for we are His princesses*. (By the way, I know, despite the pink, flowery website, I have a few brave, male readers—I hope you can transfer these thoughts to the masculine, princely side of things!)

We’ve also explored the idea of being the bride of Christ**. The key point of this analogy is intimacy. We aren’t joined with Christ and then ignored. He offers Himself to us in genuine, ever deepening, long-term relationship.

First a princess, then a bride, now a queen! One of my readers, Karla, was way ahead of me on this one. During the Princess series she wrote:

“I want to be a Princess, but I don't want to stay a Princess.  I want to be a Queen.  A princess is royalty because of her royal father-okay that has lots of spiritual implications.  But, I’m now a queen.

A queen is a princess who has been chosen for life by her prince. A queen is a representative of her kingdom; she has responsibilities that she executes with dignity. A queen has special rights and is an asset to the king . . . I think I'll keep the tiara and ADD a royal scepter.”

Karla captured the meaning of the song God gave me—the vision of serving well. But, she didn’t give up her royal privileges as she embraced servanthood.

That night when God asked me to serve Him despite the difficulties, He did it while promising the rights He’d given me as part of His royal family. He wasn’t asking me to “gut it out.” He simply asked me to persevere while resting in His presence.

In Karla’s email, she joyfully embraced servanthood while remembering her position—one of influence and meaningful contributions to the King’s domain. The rest of her email gave specifics for her duties as queen—things like caring for her children and home.

For Karla, a wife and homeschooling mom, the primary focus of her service is to her family. It is her own little kingdom, one dedicated to God’s glory.

Servanthood may happen in the home, workplace, school, church, or place of recreation. But, no matter where we serve, we serve with the benefits and authority of our position as queen.

“Father, help me to embrace servanthood this week, but not in a legalistic, hard headed way. I want to serve you knowing I have the promise of your strength, the intimacy of your Person, and the privileges of your household.”

*To read this five part series visit http://www.soulscents.us/princess.htm

** To read this five part series visit http://www.soulscents.us/bride.htm

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February 20, 2006 —

Best Friends With the King

"No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.” John 15:15 NASB

My husband and I are planning to cash in a gift certificate and enjoy a dinner out. I can’t wait. Even better than my not having to cook is the fact that we’ll get to talk uninterrupted and hopefully our conversation will move past the kids schedules and stories of our work.

But we don’t wait until we have a free meal coming to connect. We often lay awake at night or cuddle in bed first thing in the morning to share our hearts. And we take a walk together whenever we can sneak away.

My husband is usually the first person I call when I have a great story or big news to share. He’s also the one I tell when I’m hurting. He is my best friend—humanly speaking.

I have another Best Friend who is always with me. His name is Jesus. I have whispered conversations with Him throughout every day. I don’t even have to speak aloud because He knows my every thought, feeling, and experience. There is never a minute He is not there.

In the previous devotional, we learned that as the bride of Christ we serve God’s kingdom from our position as queen. Too often the thought of being a queen brings to mind a loveless marriage based on assets and pedigree. King Henry the VIII beheaded how many queens?

But, the wonderful thing about being Christ’s queen is that when we accept our royal position we aren’t only offered a title, we are embraced as a friend. Being a part of God’s royal family is never distant or self-serving.

It isn’t a place where the royal brothers are fighting over the throne or where the king cares more about acquiring wealth and power than the meeting the needs of his people. God’s kingdom was built on love and sacrifice. Jesus, more royal than the bluest blood in England, chose to give up all heavenly splendor for the good of His kingdom.

As queen and friend, we learn of the King’s heart and plans because He wants to share His secrets with us. Jesus said in John 15:15 that He calls us friends and tells us all God the Father tells Him.

When we are given the position of queen in this spiritual kingdom, we are not asked to serve from the outside, away from the inner courts. Rather, we are seated in the heavenlies with our King (Ephesians 2:6), close enough to hold His hand.

I don’t know about you, but too often I work slavishly, serving my King from a distance, out of duty. Before I understood grace I served because it was the “right” thing to do. Sometimes, I served to feel good about myself, impress others, or prove my loyalty to God. I felt obligated and driven to perform. On occasion, I fall back into those old patterns, but life is so much better when I don’t.

As queen and friend of the Most High King, I have nothing to prove. I can be gracious and give out of the love I’ve been given. I can serve my little kingdom out of the abundance of my position in Christ. I am no longer a slave. I am queen.

Father God, help me to recognize my new identity as a queen, and even more, as your friend. Teach me to serve out of the joy of our relationship. Empower me to follow your plans for the kingdom you’ve placed in my care.

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February 27, 2006 —

A Woman of Destiny

I realize that much will be asked of me, yet I am resolved to accept it as a great and splendid task.   ~Beatrix, Queen of the Netherlands

As the bride of Christ, we are his queen. Our destiny lies before—to reign beside our Lord for eternity—and our destiny began the day we chose to accept our Groom’s hand.

Thinking toward eternity we can joyfully embrace our destiny as Queen of a peaceful world, worshipping God and enjoying our Groom’s love in a kingdom where righteousness and all that is good and whole and beautiful is our every moment’s experience.

But we also reign today. In this fallen world, we still act as our Lord’s queen. As the Queen of the Netherlands said, much will be asked of us in this kingdom that has not yet been subdued. We will face hardship, disappointment, weariness, and struggles. Yet, like Beatrix, we can be resolved to face this great and splendid task.

From infancy, royalty are groomed for their position of authority. They are given instruction in everything from matters of the state to matters of dress. They are taught to speak with authority and grace. Though much is expected of them, much is also given to them to help them be prepared to rule.

The same is true in our situation. The minute we are joined with Christ, all the rights of the kingdom and all the power of the Godhead is given to us. The same power that raised Christ from the dead is now at work within our souls. (Ephesians 2:17-22). The Holy Spirit begins to refine and teach us. From the inside out He changes us, preparing us to live as the royalty we are.

For each of His children, there is a destiny. The first, most glorious destiny is a life of loving and being loved by the Groom. When He enters, the Holy Spirit probes our parched hearts and begins to reveal to us the devotion of our Groom.

The joy of our service and the strength to fulfill our expanded destiny balances upon this experience. For us to rise to the challenges the Father has planned for our reign as His child, we must be immersed in the love of Jesus.

Out of the love relationship with our Groom, the King of Kings, comes the courage to pursue our earthly destiny—to develop the skills and live the passions He has placed within us. Out of the foundation of love we gain the courage to take risks, walk through changes, and follow the leadership of our Lord.

Have you asked the Lord about your destiny lately? What passions has He placed within you? What skills are begging to be developed? What character is the Lord shaping so you are equipped to step into your destiny as His queen?

The Lord rarely shows us the complete picture. We don’t know today what tasks He will give us tomorrow. But, we can surrender to His scepter and step onto the pathway of our destiny.

You will keep on guiding me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny.
   Psalm 73:24 (NLT)

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March 6, 2006 —

Embracing the Destiny

“So he will do for me all he has planned. He controls my destiny.” Job 23:14 (NLT)

Every woman (and man) has a destiny. As the queen, joined to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, our destiny has eternal impact.

For some of us, our destiny includes the shaping of little Princes and Princesses. Some of you have written about your experiences as Queen Mother. Often this task stretches you beyond anything else you’ve done. May I encourage you to catch a far-reaching vision for this calling?

As you love each child, the Father is pouring into her the ability to receive His love. As you pray over your child, those prayers are a fragrance reaching to heaven, calling forth heavenly assistance and blessing into his life. And every day you speak destiny into that child as you encourage his gifts, tell her of Jesus, and reveal to him his worth as God’s own prince.

It is within this destiny that generations are shaped. It is from this seed that grandchildren and great-grandchildren will be born and nurtured. The Queen Mother shapes the future of the world.

The season of Queen Mother never ends for those called to it. Though someday it will require less focus and time, it will never require less love or fewer prayers.

Embrace your destiny as Queen Mother. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you and show you how to serve in this most honored position. Let Him give you rest and rejuvenation when the task seems too big.

And never, ever forget that this destiny is one of great worth to the King. This is one of His most favored positions, for He, Himself compares His love to that of a mother, promising to care for us as a mother cares for her nursing baby.

Many of you who receive this devotional have embraced a destiny as Royal Scribe. It is not an easy task, for the words of the King must be shaped according to His will and given to others in His way and time. If He has poured that passion within you, embrace it with abandon.

Do not be deterred by rejection letters, harsh critiques, or naysayers. Write from your passion. Write the unique truth the Lord has given you. He has called you and chosen you for this position.

But remember, the King is charge. Be putty in His hand. Let His scepter point the way on the journey. If He asks you to refocus your attention to something He wants written, do it! If He wants to refine your character instead of sending you a paycheck, let Him! If He chooses to use a different scribe to share the message you wanted to share, rejoice that His message goes forth! 

Ask the Holy Spirit to make you resilient and alive. Don’t let the struggle or the disappointments shut down your heart. Write. Feel. Live your destiny as a Royal Scribe!

Other destinies include Royal Teacher, Royal Chef, Manager of Accounts, Shepherd, Assembler, Artist, Banker, Checker . . . the list is as endless as the ways in which you serve. Serve well. Let those with whom your life intersects experience the love of Jesus.

Serve in kindness and integrity. Ask the Lord to empower you to act like royalty when the customer is a jerk, the boss is a fraud or the children whine. Let the Holy Spirit refine you and blossom you that you may make the world a better place by your contributions.

Many destinies have nothing to do with job or position. He’s asking some of you to embrace your destiny of Loving Spouse to a wounded husband or wife, while others are called to sit at the feet of the Groom and worship, taking your eyes off of your responsibilities and simply discovering His love. 

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March 13, 2006 —

Queen's Journey

 “‘I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

A year ago the Lord gave me several surprises. One of them included an empty box. * It still sits, open and empty, on my desk The elegant blue and silver container came swathed in tissue paper and resting in an adorable gift bag with glittering snowflakes. It bore the words “sterling silver,” which made my heart pitter-patter.

 I still chuckle when I remember shaking out the tissue paper, turning the gift bag upside, and trying to find the present the box should have contained. But no matter how hard I looked for the present, all I could find was an empty box.

For some of us, that’s how we feel about our future. Talking about our destiny causes a roll of our eyes instead of a leap of our heart. We thought we knew where God was taking us. He gave us a vision for the future and we followed His leading with anticipation.

But instead of the red carpet rolling before us as we stepped into our Royal Destiny, we found ourselves stumbling over rocks, climbing high mountains, getting our feet all muddy in the bog and mire of disappointment and hardship.

Does that mean we aren’t living our destiny? That we heard wrong and the passion we felt inside was a ruse?

If you remember the story of the empty box from last year, you know that there was a gift waiting for me. My friend had forgotten to put the beautiful silver bracelet back in its box after she took it out to cut off the price tag.

My gift was purchased. It was chosen just for me. I just had to wait a little longer for it. He wanted me to live with an expectant heart, to believe that His gifts were on the way.

There were several gifts I waited for in that season. One of them was to go further in what I saw as my destiny as a Royal Scribe. When He taught me the lesson of the empty box, I wanted to believe there was a book contract just around the corner—that part of my destiny included being a published author. But that has not yet materialized.

It’s a constant temptation to doubt my destiny—to give up on the passion inside. But, the Lord is asking me to persevere and to use my writing gift where HE opens the door for it.

Is there a part of your destiny that you doubt? Maybe you’ve worked for many years and the promotion is always just around the corner. Or the business you’ve worked to build is struggling.

Perhaps infertility or broken relationships make you doubt your destiny as parent—or a tall wall causes you to doubt your place as spouse or friend. Maybe the ministry God gave you such a passion for has not yet materialized.

Right now your destiny might seem far away or like it doesn’t exist. Perhaps in this season the King is asking you to allow Him to shape your character. Maybe He wants to bring you first into the greatest destiny—loving and enjoying Him—before sending you into the next part of your future.

The years Joseph (in the Bible) spent serving in prison built his character and honed his skills, preparing him to be the second in command of all Egypt. His hard years seemed to belie the vision the Lord had given him of being a leader. Instead, they shaped him for the task.

Be encouraged, my friend. God knows what He is doing. He says, I have it all planned out--plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. Jeremiah 29:11 The Message

*You can read these stories at http://www.soulscents.us/ExpectantLiving.htm

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