READ: PSALM 103:2-5, ROMANS 8:14-17, EPHESIANS 2:19

In the murky pre-dawn light, Linota led her dappled mare along the ocean’s shore. Her cloak was torn, and her bare feet blistered. A golden crown lay on her tangled hair. White foam curled around her ankles as she waded into the water. Hands shaking, she lifted the crown from her head and flung it into the ocean. Her heart felt like ice as she watched it sink beneath the waves. Closing her eyes, she remembered how the hooded figures had stolen into the castle, set fire to her home, and imprisoned her family. She had fled, galloping into the black night with only the clothes on her back—forced to leave everything she’d ever known.

A princess without a kingdom is no princess at all, she thought bitterly.

Her mare snorted and tugged on the reins in Linota’s hand. She opened her eyes. Golden beams of light burst from the horizon. Yet the light did not come from the sun, but from a figure walking on the waves toward her. Linota watched transfixed as the man reached into the ocean and pulled out her golden crown. He approached till he stood right before her, the crown in his right hand.

“I can’t take it back,” she said, “I am not a princess anymore.”

“A princess is not defined by what she does or does not have,” the man said, “She is a princess simply because of the blood running through her veins.”

He knelt and placed the crown on her forehead. “And your veins, dear child, run with the blood of kings.”

She felt something cold and hard inside her crack, like ice breaking off the surface of the river at spring thaw. She bowed deeply before the man. When she rose, he was gone.

Her mare whinnied beside her. Waves crashed in the distance. A salty ocean breeze tugged at her hair. Linota felt the weight of the crown encircling her head, but this time she did not take it off. Instead, she lifted her head high and smiled into the rising sun. • Margaret Bellers

• Today’s allegorical story echoes the story of David. After God said David would be king, people tried to kill him. David had to fleefor his life more than once. Yet, even when David was hiding out in the wilderness, he was still God’s chosen ruler—and God was always with him (Psalm 139). If we know Jesus, we have been adopted into His family. Because Jesus shed His blood on the cross for us and rose again, His royal blood now runs in our veins. Yet, we all have times when we feel like anything but royalty. As we wait for Jesus to return and give us our full inheritance, it can be easy to let things in our life determine how we see ourselves—such as what we do or don’t have, our circumstances, or what we’ve done. What are some things in your life that you have allowed to define you? Do these things line up with what God says about you in the Bible?

• How might knowing that you are part of God’s royal family, created and loved by Him, forever forgiven and cleansed, change the way you view yourself? Like a crown, you can wear these truths proudly, knowing that who you are is dependent on God and His love for you, and not on anything else. What are some practical ways you can remind yourself of your true identity? Do you have any favorite Bible passages that reveal who you are? Are there any trusted Christians in your life who can remind you of how God sees you?

• If you want to dig deeper, read Psalms 3:3; 34:5; 37:1-40; Ezekiel 36:26-28; John 1:12-13; Ephesians 1:5; 2:1-20; 1 Peter 1:1-9; 2:9-17; Revelation 21:1-6.

All that is within me, praise his holy name!…who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies. Psalm 103:1-4 (WEB)

READ: GENESIS 18:10-14; JEREMIAH 32:26-27, 36-41; LUKE 1:26-38

Sometimes, I need to hear things more than once before it “clicks.” Whether it’s a process at work or the day’s schedule or a recipe that I just keep forgetting (how long does it need to bake in the oven again?). I just need it explained one more time, because it didn’t sink in the first time. Because I still don’t get it.

Thankfully, God is very aware of our limitations. He knows that sometimes we just don’t hear Him, or we forget, or we get distracted or confused about what He’s told us. Personally, I believe that’s why the Bible is written down—so we can reference it again when we just aren’t sure. God even repeats Himself throughout Scripture. Like a parent who tells their child every day, “I love you,” God is constantly reminding us of His love, His gifts, and His good ways.

Recently, while I was reading my Bible, I noticed a few verses from very different places that all have the same message. Coincidence? I think not. Luke 1:37 has always been a favorite of mine. When the angel Gabriel told Mary she would give birth to Jesus even though she was still a virgin, the angel said, “Nothing will be impossible with God.”

Then in Genesis 18, I read about God’s prophecy that Abraham and his wife Sarah would have a son, and how Sarah laughed, knowing it wasn’t possible in her aging body. But the Lord responded, “Is anything impossible for the LORD?” (verse 14).

Then there’s Jeremiah 32:27, which contains the exact same message, but this time for a people defeated and discouraged by the consequences of their sins. Even in their failure, God told them to be alert for the wonderful things He would do in their future. He is a God for whom nothing is impossible. No matter how much we fail. No matter how young or inexperienced or unqualified we feel. God is always capable of doing more than we can imagine (Ephesians 3:20). • Abigail Aswegen

• God knows that we need lots of reminders of His love and promises, and He patiently provides these for us. He also invites us to patiently repeat His message to people around us—as often as they need to hear it. How could you do this today?

• Are there truths in the Word that you struggle with? Who are trusted Christians in your life who could help you find other places in the Bible that communicate the same thing, but maybe from a different angle? How does the gospel help us understand the whole Bible? (See our "Know Jesus" page.)

“Look, I am the LORD, the God over every creature. Is anything too difficult for me?” Jeremiah 32:27 (CSB)

READ: GENESIS 1:11-31; 2:15-22; ROMANS 8:18-30; REVELATION 21:1-7

We often think that God made animals for us. It’s true, right? Because Adam named them, and God says that we have dominion over them? A problem with this way of thinking is that it can be used to justify the misuse of God’s creation. But actually, God created everything out of the overflow of His love. And when He created humans, He gave us the responsibility to care well for animals and all of creation. In Genesis 1:26, God says, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” Some Bible translations say that God gave us “dominion over” all these creatures.

If you notice, humans are made after the rest of creation, and then put in charge of the animals and plants. We are the stewards of creation. This means that we are called to take care of it for God, and we can enjoy it, but it doesn’t ultimately belong to us. Creation belongs to God. This really shows that God loves us—He invites us to enjoy His creation, cultivate it, and use it in countless creative ways. But because it’s His, we need to treat it with respect, and love.

Sadly, our relationship with nature has been corrupted because of our sin. Ever since humans first rejected God and His good ways at the fall in Genesis 3, sin has been in the world, and this is the cause of all the death, sadness, and toil that we experience today. But, God has promised to make all things new. When Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave, He defeated sin and death. And when Jesus comes back, He will restore the heavens and the earth—He will make a perfect creation with no more death and suffering. Then all the people who have put their trust in Jesus will rule over this new creation with perfect love. Until that day, He helps us learn to act as good stewards of all He created. • Elijah Walsh

• How have you seen God’s love for you in His creation?

• We live after the fall, so creation is not as it was meant to be. And the sinful choices of people continue to take a toll on plants, animals, and ecosystems. How have you seen the corrupting effects of sin on nature? Consider taking a moment to bring any concerns you have to God. He cares about His creation, including people, and He provides forgiveness and restoration through Jesus. You can also ask Him to help you notice practical ways you can care for His world.

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule…over all the creatures…” Genesis 1:26 (NIV)