Study #1

I am a Princess, A Daughter of the King

We are all daughters to someone, and though many of us have wounds from this experience, generally we know what it is like or at least supposed to be like, to be a daughter. But a Princess? How many of us really know what it is like to be a Princess, to have a title and all the privileges that come with it??

One of my most precious moments growing up was of a time I danced with my dad. He allowed me to stand on his feet as we danced around the room to an old Johnny Cash song. To me this was the epitome of being a daughter. My dad held me tight, I felt safe and protected. The love and joy for and from my dad at that moment was the best ever. Not only did I feel like a true daughter, like I belonged, in that moment but I felt like a Princess, beautiful, valuable and important.

This is how our Father in heaven regards us. He loves for us to stand on his feet, being protected by his most capable arms. Dancing through life as he guides our steps. Sometimes it's the Tango we are dancing and sometimes it's a Waltz. Regardless of the dance we are His Princess safe and protected.

Being a daughter means so many things. But the thing it means the most is belonging. If you have ever experienced what it is like to not belong or fit in then you also know what it is to belong. It means always, and I do mean always having someone on your side willing to fight for you and with you. It means being loved just because you are. It means having someone who believes you and believes in you, gives you the benefit of the doubt even when things get messy or it looks like you may be in the wrong. It means empathy, someone to always know how you feel, someone who feels what you feel, and someone who is willing to walk in your shoes so they can see things from your perspective. It also means accountability. Only when you belong can you truly be accountable. If you always feel like the outsider, who can hold you accountable? When held accountable for a wrong you have done, it is done in love, a love in fact that causes you to want to do right. It means being loved through the wrongs and the rights and always equally.

God our Father is just this. It is where we belong, where we are loved, where we are believed and believed in, where we are never alone in our battles, where we are held accountable lovingly, where He always knows just how we feel, where we are always loved just for who we are.

This is where I want to be. In this world that we live in so much of our time has been spent just trying to belong, wanting just to be believed; without proof. Wanting someone to be on our side no matter what, so that we are not alone. Wanting to be validated instead of put down for how we feel. To be held accountable in such a manner as we actual want to be a better person because of it. Wanting and needing to be loved just because I am.

What we need to remember ladies is: We are already there. We already belong and are already believed. We already have someone who will fight the fight for us and with us, never leaving us alone. He already knows how we feel, maybe even more than we do. We are already held accountable with such undeserved mercy it is hard not to turn from the wrong. We are loved and have been loved and will be loved just because we are, before the world was created, while we walk it and after we leave it. Then why do we feel so alone????

Lies of the enemy

Satan, the defeated ruler of this world as we know it would have us believe that we are not daughters of the King much less a Princess, and we belong nowhere. He uses every avenue from the time we are born to destroy who we truly are and convinces us that we are less than. John 10:10. - The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; (NIV) Verbal and mental abuse. Rape, incest, and negative self talk, self-defeating behavior, failures, criticism, lost dreams and our own bad choices, even generational sins. He uses all these things and many more to take away our value. We grow up thinking and feeling useless, worthless, stupid, fat, or whatever the lie is that he told you. The last thing he wants us to do is to stand on the truth, that we are Daughters/Princesses to the King of kings.

Receive the Truth, Pray

Father,

I come before You as your daughter, a person of value and importance to You, for You died for me, a broken and wounded little girl, yearning to be safe in my Father's arms. Scoop me up Father, pour your heart into mine, teach me the steps to take, I gladly follow your guiding steps sing to me of your great love.

Rest in this a moment, listen to his song for you, Feel his arms embrace you. Bask in his guidance. Hear his heart for you. For you are the reason he sent his Son.

Forgive me father when I wander off your feet to dance alone. Let your song for me beckon be back to your forgiving grace.

Father, I can hardly believe you love me so much. I receive your love, I receive your protection, I receive your guidance, and Father I receive the song you have put in my heart, your love song to me. Cause this to become the truth of who I am. Replace the lies of the enemy with your truth.

In Jesus' name, amen.

Learn to stand on the truth

Our Kingdom is at war (Eph 6:12). Ladies, we must take a stand and not let the enemy gain ground in our lives. The enemy will be quick to remind us of past failures and wounds. Do not ponder them for a moment. Take every thought captive 2 Corinthians10:5 - We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ, and your King will give you victory. (NIV) Psalm 44:7 - but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame. (NIV)

Remind the enemy of who you are. The Daughter of the King!!!!! Satan is already defeated.

Walk in the truth

Pray the above prayer morning and night.

Say out loud, morning and night 5 times in the mirror, look at yourself, and tell yourself the truth. Believe it.

I am a daughter of the King.
I am the King's Princess
I am a Princess

You are who God Says you are

• 2 Corinthians 6:18 - I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. (NIV) He is my Daddy.
• Ephesians 1:4 - For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love. (NIV) In the beginning we were chosen to be perfect and shameless, because He loves us.
• *Ephesians 1:11 - In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, (NIV) You were chosen from the beginning, a purpose has been planned for you by the creator of the universe.
• 1 Thessalonians 1:4 - For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you. (NIV) I am important and valuable
• James 2:5 - Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? (NIV) Though I am wounded and broken God has chosen to give me an inheritance in His Kingdom.
• Psalm 33:4 - For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. (NIV) For your word is true, You are faithful in all you do.
• Psalm 145:13 - Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made. (NIV) Your kingdom is forever enduring through all generations. You are faithful in everything and loving towards me.
• Psalm 145:13 - Your kingdom is a kingdom eternal; you never get voted out of office. GOD always does what he says, and is gracious in everything he does. (MSG)
• 1 Corinthians 10:13 - No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it. (MSG) I am not alone, others have been here, and God will never allow anything to overwhelm me. I will always have a way out. A place to be safe.
• 1 Peter 1:2 - who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance. God knew He would choose me to obey Him and that He would pour out His grace and peace on me.
• 1 Peter 2:4 - As you come to him, the living Stone -- rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him (NIV) Though the world has rejected me my God has chosen me.
• 2 Thessalonians 2:13 - But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. God choose me to save me.
• 2 Thes 3:3 - But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. (NIV) - But the Master never lets us down. He'll stick by you and protect you from evil. (MSG) You are faithful to me always strengthening me and protecting me from the evil one.
• 2 Timothy 2:13 - If we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself. (NIV) - If we give up on him, he does not give up -- for there's no way he can be false to himself. (MSG) I am part God and God is part of me. He cannot desert Himself.
• John 10:10 - The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (NIV) - A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of. (MSG)

Small Group Discussion Questions

1. Of the previous mentioned scriptures. Which one best suits how you feel, which one resonates? Why? (Maybe you already have a scripture that you connect with, share it and tell us why)
2. When was the first time you felt out of place, a third wheel or just didn?t fit in?
3. What was it about that time that made you feel like that?
4. Was there any truth in that situation? Separate or distinguish the truth from the lies.
5. Tell the story with the truth in it.
6. Tell of a time when you felt like you most belonged.
7. What was it about that time that made you feel like you belonged?
8. When speaking about belonging, do you relate that with your relationship with Christ?
9. Why or why not.
10. What is it about you that God loves so much?

Daily Study & Journal

I am a Princess, The Daughter of the King

 2 Corinthians 6:18 - I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. (NIV)

 Pray

Father,

I know that I am your daughter but there are times when I do not feel this way. There are times when I wonder why you even made me. I know that I am yours and you are mine that I am in you and you in me, but honestly there are times when I feel so alone.

Lord, align my emotions to your order, tell me the truth, and teach me the truth. Show me I belong, be real in my life. Thank you for loving me so much, for wanting relationship with me. I am yours and you are mine.

In Jesus name. Amen

Self Discovery

Pick verse for the day, pray it out loud 3 times in the morning afternoon and evening. Take it with you to refer to for the day.

Journal:

Ask the Lord to reveal a time when you did not feel like a daughter. (Write down situation and people involved) Who, what, where, when & why.

Forgiveness is one of the main keys, if not the main key, to healing and to really knowing who we are in Christ. When we know who we are we are free to forgive those who have hurt us or failed us. It is important to remember that forgiving the person who has hurts us does not let them off the hook. It lets us off the hook. They will be accountable for their actions to the Lord just as we will be. God knows best how to discipline His children. Leave that part to Him. Your job is to learn who you are and walk in that.

My Father in Heaven,

Thank you for loving me so much that you sent your son to die for ME. Thank you for forgiving me and washing me clean of all my sin. In return Lord I give freely what was given to me freely.

(Eph.4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. NIV) (Col.3:13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. NIV)

I forgive _________________________ for ______________________________.
I release them to your care. Father, forgive me for passing judgment on this person. I send ______________ blessings.

I break the spirit of victimization. I am no longer a victim to this person or this sin I am now a victor and have victory in You.

Lord, remove from me any hooks Satan may use against me in regards to this. Cause me to immediately bring them to the cross. Cause my mouth to speak blessings and not curses.

In Jesus' name. Amen

Journal. (Short in the morning) How are you feeling today? Like a Loner? Out of place? Why?

Share in your own words what it is like being a daughter to the King and belonging in the family of God.

Journal. Feelings of the day, obstacles and freedoms. Successes and failures. The good the bad and the ugly.

Remember God created you and He loves you in the successes as well as the failures. Pray a prayer of thanksgiving. Sit with your Father and let Him love you.

Intimate Group Discussion Questions

1. What was it like being the daughter to your birth parents?
2. Did you ever feel like you did not belong?
3. What about brothers and sisters? Did you feel like part of them? Leader or follower?
4. How about school. Did you have a large or small group of friends? Did you always struggle to fit in? Or were you one of the "Cool" kids?
5. Do you have bad memories associated with home or school life when it comes to belonging?
6. Considering what God's word says about who you are and to whom you belong, does that change how you feel about belonging?
7. Do you feel valuable to God?
8. Do you know beyond a shadow of a doubt, that you are loved by God?
9. How does that make you feel? What about when those old feelings of not belonging come up?
10. Give a testimony of God's choosing you?