Treasured Ministries

Offering women a biblical solution for inner healing

The Crown

by

The weight of the historic golden crown ordained with jewels settled on her head but seemed to reach into her soul. At age twenty-five, Elizabeth of Windsor would never be the same. The crown not only rested on her head but also embraced the core of her being. The princess became a queen. With this new identity, the crown would not only grace her head but would also guide her every step . . . and her destiny.

The Weight of the Crown

And as I watched the series The Crown on Netflix, I was fascinated with how the crown impacted Elizabeth’s life and decisions—it carried greater weight than even her family. One scene caught my attention in particular. After her father’s early death, as Elizabeth faced the magnitude of becoming queen at age twenty-five, her grandmother wrote these words of wisdom to her:

While you mourn your father, you must also mourn someone else. Elizabeth Mountbatten. For she has now been replaced by another person. Elizabeth Regina (Regina is Latin for queen). The two Elizabeth’s will frequently be in conflict with each other. The fact is the crown must win. Must always win. (Episode 2, Season 1, The Crown, Netflix)

Let that statement just settle in your heart a bit. The crown must win. Your new identity as queen must win. Embracing who you are over who you were must lead the way.

Elizabeth would need to intentionally embrace this new reality and let the crown reign through her choices. Reign over her desires. Reign over her feelings. Reign over her inadequacies. Reign over her past and future. Reign over her purpose. She no longer lived for herself. The crown—her new identity—reigned in her heart.

How the Crown Relates to Our Identity

This is the very essence involved in embracing our authentic core identity, a process that is at the heart of the Christian life.

You see, brave heart, the death of Jesus Christ allows him to reign in you. When you accepted his offer of salvation, you became a queen crowned with far greater treasure than Elizabeth’s earthly crown. You are crowned with Jesus’ righteousness for a purpose beyond yourself.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:9 NIV)

And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. (Romans 8:17 NLT)

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! (2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT)

For Christ to reign in our life, his crown must reign in the core of our being. This is not selfishness or pride. This is embracing the reality of who we are in Christ.

For years, I struggled with my identity, a struggle that gave way to some unhealthy choices. Things began to improve when I understood more about authentic core identity. You too can make this shift by allowing the crown to win in your thoughts and faith and in the core of who you are.

The Battle between Our Identities

Much as the two Elizabeths would wrestle, our old and new identities battle in our heart. But Jesus fights for our heart and the battle is won as we surrender to the crown that is rightfully ours by embracing the words he writes on our heart through faith.

This is why we incorporate authentic core identity into the Respond step of the Nourish Bible Study Method.

Embracing Our Authentic Core Identity

So, what do I mean by embracing authentic core identity?

Embracing authentic core identity is agreeing in your heart by faith with God’s blueprint for your life and how he sees you.

Only by seeking your Creator can you uncover your true identity. Finding your core identity is not about frantically striving to be someone, but surrendering to God by allowing his Word to define the purpose for which you were created.

This is a precious treasure to guard by faith against outside influences…

  • What others say
  • Your circumstances
  • Your actions
  • Your past
  • Your feelings
  • How others treat you
  • Worldly standards

…so you can truly give to others by embracing all God has created you to be.

Part of your authentic core identity is who you are as God’s child with your life hidden in Christ. It is also the specific purpose your heavenly Father designed for you before you were born to bring him glory (Ephesians 2:10). Embracing the unique way he has made you and the spiritual gifts he has given you to support your purpose is also a part of embracing your authentic God-given identity (Romans 12:1–8; Psalm 139:13–14).

Authentic core identity is a deep topic and one I will discuss in greater detail in our podcast and video teaching message this week. Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes to listen and our YouTube channel to watch.

And today, may you remember the treasure you are. Whatever happens, brave heart—hold your head high. Carry the crown in the core of your being as you embrace your identity in Christ.

ONWARD!

Nourish Scripture: Romans 8:1-17 

Take the next step by downloading Nourishing Your Heart to discover the key to connecting with God’s Word in a way that transforms your life. 

Blog written by Aliene Thompson. Aliene Thompson is the founder of Treasured Ministries and the Author of the Nourish Bible Study Series. © 2019 Treasured Ministries.