A Princess Story — Mahalia Fayth Bowles

So this is it… I’m finally beginning to type words that feel like they have burned in my heart since I was very young and insisted on wearing a dress every day! I’m not joking; pants were not an option for me when I was five years old. I believe that my insistence on dresses came from deep within my heart where my Heavenly Father, had creatively and lovingly fashioned my identity, my passions and unique personality. Just like a precious jewel shines brilliantly when light hits it, the importance of my wearing dresses was an expression of my subconscious understanding as a young girl that I had been gifted with a royal identity.

Now, I believe that God has gifted every human being with a royal identity and that it manifests in different ways in every person’s life, but my heart is to share this specifically with young women. Coming from a place of assurance of our value to God, I believe, empowers us as young women to pursue the passions and dreams God has for us, and to sit restfully in the centre of His will because we know to whom we belong and who has bestowed His crown on each of our heads. His crown on our heads represents the blessings and favour that He has for each of us as we live out His purposes and bless this world.

Let’s think about some common themes that often occur in the story of a princess…

A princess is born in to a royal family. In a perfect, ‘heaven on Earth’ world, she is anticipated joyfully and when she arrives there is much rejoicing. This is exactly what I can imagine happens in the heavenly realm when one of God’s exquisite designs – His daughters is born. Regardless of the circumstances of her birth, she is prized and irreplaceable to the King and Father that made her. Do you hear that gorgeous woman? That’s you! You are God’s precious design, a work of art, and all of heaven celebrates because of your presence on the Earth and the potential of what you and God will achieve in relationship together. No matter what the Earthly world says, you are completely worthy and your value knows no bounds because you are the creation of an unconditionally loving and powerful Father and King.

“For you created my inmost being: you knit me together in my mother’s womb, I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”
Psalm 139:13-16

Princess, you are…

1. PURSUED

2. ADORED

3. VALUED

4. CHERISHED

5. WANTED

6. BEAUTIFUL

7. LOVED

8. HOPED FOR

9. SUPPORTED

10. ENCOURAGED

11. ROYAL

12. CLEAN

13. PURE

As princesses grow, they are taught and educated on how to play their role in the kingdom their family leads. I am not speaking about being told they need to marry someone royal; in God’s kingdom that isn’t a requirement. I’m speaking about being equipped for their purposes. That is what God does for all of His princesses – that’s you and me! He grows us and invests in us and equips us with all that we need, including skills and favour, to do the work He has for us to do. How encouraging is that?!

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28

All good stories include challenge, and require the characters to actively overcome obstacles. I like the thought of my Heavenly Father refining me with His holy fire and partnering with me as I overcome difficulties in this imperfect world that God is in the process of saving us from. God doesn’t promise a life without the need for growth or suffering like He did and being challenged. He promises that He loves us and is with us no matter what, and is working His perfect plan in each of our lives as we submit to Him.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33

Take heart sweet princess! God loved us so much that He created us as whole humans with free will allowing us to choose to love Him and to do life and relationship intimately with Him. It’s a precious decision that we get the privilege of making.

“… But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
Isaiah 40:31

Another vital facet of the princess story is finding a prince. However, finding a prince to complete us is not part of God’s story for His princesses. He already completes us and sees us as a very precious and important part of His salvation story. Prince and princess, man and woman; we are equal in God’s eyes, but He created marriage to be the closest representation of how He loves us. Marriage is the closest form of intimacy that we can have with our life partner/prince and is a beautiful picture of the sacrifice and love of God if done how God designed it. Our stories don’t require a prince to complete us and do what we can’t. God’s design is for princes and princesses to join together in marriage and obey Him thus creating opportunities for worshipping God and transforming the world around us as we are partnered with another equal child of God. I’m still waiting to experience marriage as God intended it, with my own Prince Charming. It can be a very difficult wait and I often feel like I’m missing out and am discouraged. But dear princess sisters, we need to boldly fight the lies of the enemy that try to tell us that our worth and value is based on what a human man can give. That is not the case at all! Our worth and value is a given because of the God who made us. Finding our princes will be a huge blessing as we continue to live out God’s calling on our lives, but it is not the part of our life that completes us; God is.

“You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you.”
Song of Songs 4:7

“God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.”
Psalm 46:5

“She is worth far more than rubies.”
Proverbs 31:10

We are always being shaped by our loving creator!

And lastly dear one, you can look at any Disney Princess or Hans Christian Anderson story and you will see that princesses go on GREAT adventures! We were made for a purpose, we are deeply loved and we were made for ADVENTURE! There is nothing God wants more than to partner with His precious princess and to enable her in the calling and plans He has for her. The story of Esther in the bible shows how God prepared Esther to save an entire people group. Mary was a young teenage girl when she was told that she would carry and give birth to the Saviour of the world. God deals in great adventures with the women He created… for such a time as this.

“And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”
Esther 4:14

So be encouraged Princess and join me on this journey of being reminded of your identity and worth as a daughter of the King. The princess story that I just outlined is a picture of part of the plans that God has for you! My prayer is that you walk in His ways and calling and know how truly valued you are. You are royalty. I love you and God is for you!! AMEN!

Love Mahalia xxx :)

i am a princess. all girls are... even if they dress in rags, even if they aren't pretty or smart or young. they're still princesses.png

I'm Mahalia by the way. I love all things pink and sparkly, as well as Disney, musical theatre, Broadway, princesses, Jesus, fashion, summer fruit, tea, my family, my friends, being inspired, dreaming BIG and living and loving so LOUD and LARGE! Will you join me in being the woman God created you to be?