While Esther was still getting used to wearing a crown, the king gave his buddy Haman a promotion. Have you ever seen someone receive a position of leadership and start acting differently? This guy started acting crazy, walking around and demanding, “Kiss my ring. I’ve got plans. I’m next to the king.” Haman just started acting the fool. (This is the Oneka paraphrase, of course.)
But Mordecai, who worked in the palace, said, “I’m not bowing down. I’m not bowing down to anyone.”
Then Haman got mad. “You know what I’m going to do? I’m going to annihilate all the Jews. I’m going to have the king sign this little edict, and before you know it, the Jews are going to be gone.”
Mordecai ripped his clothes in grief, put on burlap rags, and started doing the ugly cry outside the palace. Word got to Esther. People told her, “Your relative is breaking down.” Doesn’t this sound like a movie?
Esther sent her assistant to Mordecai to ask what happened, and Mordecai explained the situation: “Our people are going to be killed, and you, Esther, need to do something about it. You need to talk to that king who thinks you’re the most beautiful woman in the world. You need to use his favor to rescue us. You are an appointed royal daughter.”
Esther said, “If I go talk to the king, I might be executed because you can talk to the king only when you’ve been invited into his court. I haven’t received an invitation in thirty days.”
Mordecai then reminded her of her calling: “You have been chosen as a royal daughter for such a time as this.”
Isn’t calling a good word? You’ve been called to your job. You’ve been called to your family. You’ve been called to your school to raise up girls for such a time as this.
In my imagination, I see Esther get a little gangster. She tilted her crown and said, “If I die, I die” (Esther 4:16, MSG). And that part’s not paraphrased. She went from “I can’t approach the king, because I could lose my life” to “If I die, I die.”
That fight was in her.
Esther put on her royal robe and walked into the throne room, and the king extended his scepter and said, “What do you want, girl? You can have up to half the kingdom.” Esther soon set a clever plan in motion and saved her people. Now that’s what I call a royal daughter. She trusted God, had confidence in her calling, and advocated for others.
Then there’s another royal daughter who was a little bit of a hot mess.
In Mark 6:17–28, we read the story of John the Baptist. He had told the ruler Herod, “It’s against God’s will for you to marry your brother’s wife, Herodias.” Herodias was married, then left her husband for his brother. Because of John’s stance, Herodias wanted to kill him. She thought, How can John tell me that my marriage isn’t right?
She was offended and nurtured a grudge. Women are nurturers by nature, and we can sometimes nurture the wrong things. That’s what Herodias did—she nurtured that grudge until she birthed the idea to have John the Baptist killed. But without Herod’s approval, she was powerless. Herod respected and feared John, a holy man, so he was stuck in inaction.
Mark tells us, “Herodias’s chance finally came on Herod’s birthday. He gave a party for his high government officials, army officers, and the leading citizens of Galilee” (verse 21). Herodias, the queen, told her daughter, “I want you to dance for your stepdad.” Salome[2] performed a dance, maybe something like a dance from Beyoncé’s Renaissance tour, and Herod was so pleased that, just like the king in Esther’s story, he said, “Ask me for anything. You can have anything you like.” That was her moment of truth. It was just like when the king offered Esther half his kingdom. Esther then used that power to save her people. I thought it was so fascinating that both royal women were given the same opportunity.
Salome asked her mother, “Mom, what should I ask for?” Because Herodias was holding a grudge, she said, “Ask for the head of John the Baptist!” (verse 24). So Salome hurried back to Herod and told him, “I want the head of John the Baptist, right now, on a tray!” (verse 25). John the Baptist—this man who was setting the course for Jesus, baptizing people, and embracing the Spirit of God—his life was suddenly taken because someone bore a grudge, using her royal position for evil. The king regretted his pledge, but because he had made it in front of his party guests, he couldn’t say no. So he sent an executioner to John the Baptist’s cell, and his head was placed on a platter.
Two royal daughters—one who used her platform and crown to set captives free and one who used her crown for destruction and annihilation. One royal daughter tried to protect others, and the other tried to protect herself.
God has given us crowns in the Spirit, and we can use them to build one another up, to build marriages, to build families, and to build our careers, or we can use them to tear down and bring destruction. If we’re honest, many of us have used our platforms or voices to manipulate and bring about situations that serve only ourselves. I want you to know that God is a redeemer and He can take you from a Herodias or Salome to an Esther in a second.
Herodias was called to be a hero. It’s right in her name.[3] She came from a priestly family, but she didn’t live her calling to be a royal daughter. Her daughter’s name, Salome, means “peace.”[4] She was supposed to bring peace to every situation. So you have this mother-daughter duo who had unparalleled potential to be heroes and peace-givers for the kingdom, but instead they brought destruction.
God has given you a platform and a calling. He wants you to use all your influence, your hard work, and your words for good and for His glory. I just want you to know that even if you feel overwhelmed by mistakes you’ve made or if you’ve been nurturing a grudge, God can restore your life in a second.
Years ago, when I was in college the first time around—yes, I went to college twice. Hey, what? I went to undergrad for seven years. I was a hot mess the first go-around. I started partying and craving boys’ attention. I made a lot of very bad choices with men. After living this life for a while, I said, “You know what? I’m going to give my life to Christ.” The Bible says, “Old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17, NKJV). Something new came over me, and I began believing, I’m valuable. I’m worth more than this. God has someone special for me. I wish I could’ve just been patient and not tried to pick out my husband by myself, because my only criteria were that he be handsome and believe in God, but that’s a wide range. I got myself into trouble with men that were handsome and just believed in God a little. I finally realized who I was in Christ and said to myself, I’m not going to settle. I’m going to be single as long as it takes.
I was using my crown negatively, but then I learned my value in Christ. And I ended up meeting my husband, Earl, who is my very best friend and, besides Jesus, the best thing that has ever happened to me. I’ve never met another human like him. I can start crying talking about him.
I met Earl when we were in college. One day he finally asked me out. We were just talking and hit it off. We became best friends; then we started dating, our relationship got serious, and we started sharing our stories.
Earl gave his life to the Lord at seven years old. His mother is awesome, and he was raised in a Christian home. He wasn’t perfect, but he basically walked the straight and narrow. When he met me, I was just three years into living for Christ. But because God’s light was shining through me and He had redeemed me, old things were passed away and Earl didn’t see my past. I’m glad he didn’t. I’m glad social media wasn’t present back then, because he would’ve looked me up and run.
One morning we went to breakfast in our school cafeteria and just started telling each other our stories. I was dreading this part, because when you fall in love with someone, you don’t want to have a past anymore. When I was out there just being my own woman and doing what I wanted, hanging out with who I wanted, and making all those poor choices, there was a rush. I thought, I’m independent. I’m in control. My body is mine, and I can do what I want. But when I looked into the eyes of the person that I’d prayed for, who for so long I didn’t even think I deserved, I wished that I didn’t have a past. Earl saved himself for marriage, so I felt like he needed to know my story. After I told him, I left breakfast thinking, I wonder what he thinks about me. I wonder if he’s still going to value me. Even though he’s a Christian, I just wonder what he’s thinking.
The next morning, we met again for breakfast and he brought me a white rose. I’ll never forget that. Earl said, “I want you to know that you’re the purest girl I know and the purest girl I’ve ever met in my life.”
I just want to tell you, girl—there is power and redemption in the blood of Jesus Christ. God used Earl to tell me that He saw me as pure, just as He sees you as pure. Whether you’ve lived like Esther and know how to rock your crown or you’ve lived like Herodias and Salome and didn’t have pure motives, I want you to know that God is a redeemer and a restorer. God sees you as His royal, beautiful, spotless daughter.
God sees you as His royal, beautiful, spotless daughter.
No matter how many mistakes you’ve made, no matter the fears that plague your mind, God says, “Even in the midst of your mess, I’m bigger than it all. I want you to see Me through My blood that I shed for you on the cross. I want you to see yourself as free. I want you to see yourself as whole. I want you to see yourself as redeemed and restored, and complete. I want you to see yourself standing strong like a tower, wearing your crown, walking with authority, walking with boldness, walking with My presence, and walking with purpose.”
“The King’s daughter is all glorious within” (Psalm 45:13, NASB).
God is making you glorious within. He’s renewing you. He’s restoring you. Right now, God is saying, “You are My royal daughter. You are My princess. You are from a royal priesthood, a chosen generation.[5] I have a plan and a purpose for your life. I will not abandon you like others have in the past. You’re not rejected.[6] You’re accepted. I bought you with a price.[7] I shed My blood to remind you that you have dignity, that you have courage, that you are brave, that you are strong, and that you are being perfected.” Let’s make this our confession and prayer:
As royal daughters, we build up; we don’t break down.
We plant; we don’t uproot.
We speak life, not death.
We see the best, not the worst.
We put back together; we don’t tear apart.
Lord, may we walk in the integrity of our place as royal daughters today and every day.
Let’s Pray
Dear Jesus, help me see myself the way You see me. Thank You for reminding me that I am Your daughter. Thank You that I’m adopted by You and clothed in royal garments. Help me not settle or see myself the way the world sees me. May I be defined by Your love and the strength, grace, and honor that You have bestowed on me. May I walk into every room, meeting, and encounter standing tall, knowing You walk with me and before me. I’m called, chosen, and set apart by You. Thank You for calling me for such a time as this.
5 Birthright of Peace
