Born to Be a King
Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.
Born to Be a King
Perhaps once in a lifetime, you will hear a story that impacts you like nothing else ever will.
It will become part of your life. Not a day will pass without reflecting on it.
That story will strike you so powerfully, you’ll want to share it with anyone who will listen to you.
But when you attempt to share it, your words feel will weak and feeble compared to the message itself.
That story for me happened 22 years ago… on a rainy evening, in a quiet apartment in a small city in Belgium, while serving as a missionary for my Church.
It was in an old paperback book with a worn and ragged cover. It had been left behind by another missionary many months – perhaps years – before it found it’s way into my hands.
I can’t remember the name of the book… yet the short story within it was forged into my heart forever.
On that damp, cold night years ago, this brief story lit a fire inside me that refuses to go out… even to this day.
Here is that story… Born to be a King.
Born to Be a King…
Many years ago, I heard the story of the son of King Louis the XVI of France.
King Louis had been taken from his throne and imprisoned. His young son, the Prince, was taken by those who dethroned the King.
They thought that inasmuch as the King’s son was Heir to the throne, if they could destroy him morally, he would never realize the great and grand destiny that life had bestowed upon him.
They took him to a community far away… and there they exposed the lad to every filthy and vile thing that life could offer.
They exposed him to foods, the richness of which would quickly make him a slave to his appetite.
They used vile language around him constantly. They exposed him to immorality… to lewd and lusting men and women.
They exposed him to dishonor and distrust.
For over 6 months he was encompassed in this environment… but yet not once did the young lad give into the temptations.
Finally, after intensive, prolonged pressure, his frustrated and stunned captors questioned him…
Why had he not submitted himself to these things? These things were desirable… they would provide him with pleasure… they would satisfy his lusts and appetites. They were all his…!
The young prince calmly responded…
I cannot do what you ask… for I was born to be a King.
I have said ye are Gods; and all of ye are Children of the Most High… – Psalms 82:6
Born to Be a King… a Divine Heritage
If you could envision the type of person that God intended you to become, you would rise up and never be the same again… Author Unknown
My wife and I have 3 young kids- ages 11, 6 and 4. We love them beyond words.
If I could leave them with one lesson, it would be this…
Remember who you are…
When we understand and feel who we really are and what we can become, we look at life differently.
We make better choices. We refuse to settle for mediocrity.
We elevate our thoughts, our feelings… and as a result our actions and results are elevated.
…and so is our community and our world.
To my children- You were born to be a King… or Queen.
From the very first night they came into this world, I’ve whispered into their ears each night before putting them to bed…
You’re a son of God… born to be a King.
or,
You’re a daughter of God… born to be a Queen.
I knew they wouldn’t necessarily understand me at first… but their hearts would comprehend completely.
As they grew older, the pattern changed slightly. Now each night, it goes something like this with our oldest child, our only daughter…
Jalen, remember who you are…
And she responds…,
I’m a daughter of God, born to be a Queen.
With our 2 sons,
Grayson, Krew, remember who you are…
…and I wait for the response,
I’m a son of God, born to be a King.
Sometimes, it takes a little ‘encouragement’ (in the form of merciless tickling…) to get it out of them…
Yet I take great comfort in that this is the last thought that goes through their mind each night.
Born to Be a King…
Remember who you are…
…then act and live accordingly.
