No More Playing Princess

​My children are growing up faster than I’d care to admit. The diaper days are long behind us; I now shop for my oldest in the men’s section. Gasp.
 
This past weekend, I deep cleaned my daughter’s room (in a way only moms can) while she was away. I worked my way through doll clothes, artwork and too-small clothes. I re-folded seemingly everything in her dresser... until I came to the bottom drawer.
 
There, in bright pinks, yellows, and purples were all her princess costumes, worn and tattered from years of love. At that moment I was faced with the reality that I hadn’t seen her wear one in a while... a long while. Another milestone had passed without me even recognizing it: my girl had exchanged her pretend dresses and jewelry for the real ones.

​If I’m honest, I haven’t completely quit playing dress-up...
 
I put on a sheer covering of joy, in an attempt to hide the depression underneath.
I smear superficial admiration on my lips to hide my secret jealousy.
I don too-tight shoes I was never meant to fill to boast my capacity.
I try so hard to be the princess I feel like God wants me to be.
 
I don’t think I’m the only one who struggles in this area. Do you, too, feel like an imposter sometimes?
 
In Romans, this week, Paul takes us deep into some important spiritual truths. While it can be easy to get tied up in one small portion, it’s imperative that we zoom out to see the bigger picture here.
 
At the start of Romans, Paul lays out a strong case against all mankind: we are all guilty of sin, no matter how “good” we seem in our own eyes. Fortunately for us, he follows it up with some really good news: we are “justified freely by His grace... apart from the work of the law.” (3:24, 28)
 
Paul ushers us into the reality of the life lived in faith— peace with God, unlimited access, unshakable hope, and righteousness, to name a few.
 
“For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin” (Romans 6:6).
 
For we know...
But Paul, do we know? I mean, I say I know that... but do I live like I know it is true?
 
Our old self was crucified...
Dead. Buried. Gone. That’s the reality of what happened to our old self the moment we called on Jesus as our Lord. God’s Word says sinful me with the addiction, the hatred, the envy, the impurity, and the idolatry is simply no more.
 
“How can anyone who died to sin still live in it?” Paul asks. The obvious answer is we can’t. So then how come we still struggle with our flesh? Because we forget we’re no longer slaves to it.
 
We are not just sinners playing dress-up to look righteous. The Bible makes it clear: we have a completely brand new identity— Daughter of the King.
 
Ladies, it’s about time we stop pretending to be God’s princesses, and live out of the reality that we truly are. It’s time to grow up and put away our pretentious garb of dead religion, and clothe ourselves with Christ alone.
 
I can embrace suffering because I know it is transforming me into His likeness.
I can speak genuine words of kindness to others because I have received His love, first.
I can embrace the unique roles God has invited me to fill.
I can rest in the truth that Jesus was perfect for me.
 
Life lived in the Spirit leads to life and peace, not condemnation and striving. We don’t have to fix ourselves up to look the part— as Paul puts it in his letter to the Corinthians, “...the old has gone, the new is [already] here” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
 
This week, every time that old flesh comes knocking, seeking its own way, remind it where it belongs— in the grave. Then allow the gentle whisper of God’s spirit to lead you in His ways.

Memory Verse: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV

About the Author

Hi, I’m Katie Gibson! My incredible husband Craig and I have been married for 13 years and live in North Atlanta with our three children, ages 12, 11, and 7. I'm a writer, author, and speaker. My favorite things include black coffee, small group, date nights, and the Atlanta Braves. I love using the power of story and the unchanging truth of the Word of God to encourage women to grow in their faith. Connect with Katie at www.katiegibsonwrites.com

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