There was no clear event that had brought the princess to this place of darkness. No misfortune that she could point to and say, "That is when the unhappiness began." Yet sadness was an unwelcome companion who dogged her steps. "How long can I do this?" thought the young princess? Oh, she had tried, and failed, to get back to normal life. "Just stick to the routine," she told herself. But no matter her effort, despair and loneliness shadowed her every thought. It was as though her entire life was falling apart. "Go to the Father," the quiet voice spoke to her. She considered the advice but doubts crept in swirling over her mind like a shroud. "The King is too busy with important matters of state," she reasoned, "He is too busy to see me," and in the deepest part of her, fear lay like a stone and the fear was not silent. The fear told her that she was not worthy to see the King and that even if He did see her He would not help. The fear told her that there was no comfort for her in the presence of the King. Despair threatened to engulf her until out of desperation she turned toward the great hallway that led to the throne room. She took little notice of the deference paid her by the King's servants. Her typically gracious demeanor swallowed up by worry.
Soon she was standing at the great doors to the throne room. Instinctively she knew she could approach her Father with confidence, yet still, doubt nagged at her compelling her to remain outside. The golden doors to the great hall rose above her, an imposing barrier to her Father within. Pushing aside doubt, she gathered her courage and nudged the door open. It swung easily on its hinges and opened upon a magnificent room lined on either side by great marble pillars which reached high to the vaulted ceiling. Flame from the free standing torches flickered playfully against the golden walls, beckoning the young girl forward. Still, despair clutched at the heart of the princess and she nearly turned to leave but once again she gathered herself and padded forward, her slippers barely making a sound on the smooth surface of the marble floor.
Her Father was surrounded by a group of men conferring on important matters of state. Suddenly the group parted and the King turned His gaze to His daughter. How He knew of her presence she could not tell. She had not been announced but yet He knew she was there. She stopped, breathless as she gazed into His eyes. And it seemed that within that moment her fears melted away and she remembered how much she loved Him, how much she trusted Him. He left his group and hurried to her His face full of love and concern. He gathered her in His arms and held her. For a long time they remained there Father and daughter. It was as if the King made pause of time for her, just for her and the princess cried out her pain and fear releasing them to Him.
"Daughter," The word was softly spoken but the strength of it bore away her doubt and fear. She felt her burden lifted until it was gone leaving peace behind. The King guided his precious daughter outside to the garden where they walked and the daughter of the King poured out her heart.
"Why did you not come to me?" The Father asked not unkindly.
"I was afraid to come to you," She admitted.
"My Daughter," He said, "Why did you doubt?"
"I am really not sure," she responded as they sat on a bench in the garden, "Being here now makes me wonder what made me wait so long to come to you. Sometimes," she confessed, "I am afraid that you will be silent, that you won't answer me. I am afraid that I will be alone. But being here with you I realize that sometimes you allow me to go through things that are hard but you will never leave me during those times." The princess lay her head on the King's shoulder and felt His sigh of compassion even as her tears overflowed onto his sleeve. "I'm so sorry," she whispered, "I am sorry that I doubted you."
The King turned His daughter's face to Him and said "My daughter, I love you with an everlasting love. My love for you is higher than the heavens above the earth, and I remember your wrongdoing no more they are as far as the east is from the west. You are forgiven dearest, such is my love for you." The King smiled and pulled her to her feet.
"Now, lets hear what has you so upset, tell me everything." So the daughter of the King recounted for her Father the things on her heart and mind. And they walked in the garden until the shadows grew long and afternoon passed into the cool of evening.
My dear sisters do you see yourself in the life of this young princess? Do you believe that just as you are right this minute that God loves you? Do you believe that God loves you as a Father loves a beloved daughter? This week we will be looking at who we are before an almighty God. Because of the work that Jesus did for us we have the ability to become children of God. What an amazing gift!
Day 28
Journal writing. Can you relate to the young princess above? She is like so many of us isn't she? The longer we wait to run to the Father the more we sink in to doubt and fear. Sometimes it is very difficult to approach the Father because of all the junk that we are carrying around. It is time my friends to turn to the Father and allow Him to do a work. Lets take a look at some scripture that will help us to get there. The Father made a way for us to come to Him by way of Jesus His Son.
Read Romans 10:9-13 The word "Confess" in verse 9 is the Greek word homologeō which means to assent, that is to covenant, acknowledge
Have you acknowledged with your mouth that Jesus is Lord?
Do you believe that God will save you from the junk in your life?
Just like our princess we have to actually make a decision to turn away from our pain and open the door which leads to the Father. It begins with taking these steps and trusting Him for the results.
Day 29
Read Ephesians 1:4-13 Read through these verses and in your journal list all that you can see about what God has done for us as His children. Spend some time in prayer over each of the truths that you found about God in this passage. My prayer for you my dear sisters is verse 18 of that same chapter, "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his people."
Day 30
I believe that we struggle so much with our own insecurities and doubts that we miss the amazing truth of God's Word. Here is what we know from the passage from yesterday about our identity in Christ:
These truths are about you dear sisters that God loved us from the foundations of the earth and because of that great love you can say the following based on His Word:
1. I am chosen
2. I am blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ
3. I am chosen to be holy and blameless
4. I am adopted
5. I am redeemed
6. I am forgiven
7. I am a recipient of His grace
8. I am sealed
9. I am blessed
What an amazing gift. Take a few moments to take in the truths of His Word and spend some time in prayer thanking Him for all that He has given you.
Day 31
How can we come before the Father? His Words says that because of the work that Jesus did on the cross that we can come boldly before the very throne of God.
Read Hebrews 4:14-16
The richness of this passage is beyond measure so lets take our time and discover what God would have us learn about how we approach the King.
1. Who is Jesus according to verse 14?
According to Jewish tradition a high priest would stand between God and the sins of the people. He would make a blood sacrifice to atone or pay for the sin of the people. God in His great love for us (Jews and non-Jews or Gentiles) sent his Son to stand in that place for us to shed his blood to pay for the sins of the people. And because of that we are free to approach God.
2. According to verse 15 why is it that we can trust Jesus with all the junk that we carry and all the temptations that we experience every day?
3. What is the differernce between us and Jesus as it relates to temptation according to verse 15?
My friends, Jesus did it all for us and now we are able to push on those throne room doors and enter the very throne room of God our Father. We are princesses of the King.
Day 32
Read Hebrews 4:14-16 again and write in your journal what speaks most to you. Let the Word speak truth into the inner most parts of your heart. Now read verse 16 aloud and imagine yourself entering into the very presence of the God of the universe. He loves you so dear sisters. He longs to walk with you and talk with you.
1. How does verse 16 say that we can approach the throne of grace?
2. And what does it say will happen if we approach?
3. What areas of your life do you need God's mercy, His grace?
4. What would you say right now is your time of need?
Bring these areas before God right now and imaging yourself walking with him in the cool of the day. What does he say to you?
Challenge We are still working hard on losing that weight and being consistent in our exercise choices. This week I want you to get out the scale and weigh yourself. Then in your journal I want you to give that weight to God. Come before the throne of grace sisters, and confess what needs confessing. Receive that God loves you just as you are! Then in your journal I want you to set a goal. What would you like to weigh and what do you need to do to get there. Come up with a plan and follow it. You have been through a lot these last few weeks. It is time to trust in God for all the results. The next week we are going to wrap up this study and you will be ready to hit it hard with the goals that you have set. You can do it!
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