Introduction
Eze:16;3-14
And say this is what the sovereign Lord says to Jerusalem. Your ancestry and birth were in the Lord of the Canaanites; your father was an Ammonites and your mother a Hittite. On the day you were born your cord was not cut nor where you washed with water to make you clean nor where you rubbed with salt or wrapped in clothes. No one looked on you with pity nor had compassion to do any of these things for you. Rather you were thrown out into the open field. For on the day you were born, you were despised. Then I pass by and saw you kicking about in your blood. And as you lay there in your blood I said to you LIVE! I made you grow like a plant of the field. You grew up and developed and become the most beautiful of jewels. Your breasts were formed and you have grew. You who were naked and bare. Later I passed by and when I looked at you and saw that you were old enough for love, I spread the corner of garment over you and covered your nakedness. I gave you my solemn oath and entered into a covenant with you declares the sovereign Lord and you become mine. I bathed you with water and washed the blood from you and put ointments on you. I clothed you with an embroided dress and put leather sandals on you. I dressed you in fine linen and covered you with costly garments. I adorned you with jewelry. I put bracelets on your arms and a necklace around your neck, and I put a ring on your nose, earrings on your ears and a beautiful crown on your head. So you were adorned with gold and silver. Your clothes were fine linen and costly fabrics and embroided clothes. Your food was fine flour, honey and olive oil. You became very beautiful and ROSE TO BE A QUEEN. And your fame spread among the nations on account of your beauty because the splendor I had given you made your beauty perfect declares the Lord.
Isn’t it just beautiful to experience God’s love at the point where we get to the end of ourselves, where we just can’t take it anymore? There our super power fails us and our capes are too worn-out to enable us save the day. Our eloquence, pretty dresses, designer perfumes and expensive make up are not enough to cover us.
Most importantly people, yes our very own turn their backs on us and leave us in an emotional valley. Though they are with us yet we are alone. They are beside us nevertheless we are abandoned. At arms lengths but we feel the heat, the cold and all that is between.
In life’s journey, I had come to this point. It was like I was just introduced to the planet. My cord wasn’t cut, I held unto my past hoping to step into my future but the cord hindered me. That was the year 2010, the year my dad passed. I was his princess. A strong cord held us together. I knew he loved me very much because he always showed it. I have fond memories of him always treating me special. My relationship with him drove my friends crazy. I talked about him like he was a new found friend I loved very much. He was the most handsome, hardworking and faithful man I knew. I looked up to him in so many ways. No matter what I did and how bad I behaved as a child, he never spoke negative words to me. When I had gone to the extreme and behaved really bad, he gently but firmly called me and spoke sense to me. He often left little notes in my diaries that said “you know what you are doing is not right”.
When he was forced to really discipline me, He never failed to spare the rod and spoil the child. And I knew exactly why I was beaten, he always made me know the reason. I clearly remember my last conversation with him before he passed. One statement stands out, “if I died today is this how you would live your life; always arguing, shouting and quarrelling?” I thought hard and long and decided to change, I did for a few weeks become gentle but then I just slipped back to being who I really was.
I felt misunderstood. I was the first child of my parents and everyone expected me to be a particular way. Many times, I tried to live up to their expectations and for as many times I tried, I failed. So I gave up trying and was always on the defensive if anybody tried to make me fit their idea of a perfect child, girlfriend or employee. It felt good to have high walls around because they protected me from getting hurt.
The year I lost my dad opened a new level of anger, bitterness and unforgiveness. Everywhere I went, I reeked of them. Before anyone got the chance to hurt me, my walls went up and I defended myself with harsh words. It worked all the time. As the years went by I became more unhappy, fearful and depressed.
February 2012, I heard Gods audible voice “when I’m done with you, you will come forth as gold” I didn’t quite understand what it meant but I kept it in my heart and went through so many ups and downs.
May 2015, I was completely broken, I got to the lowest state I could ever get to. Though I was born again, I was confused, I was sanctified yet dissatisfied, tongue talking but powerless. For a very short time, I had broken faith with God, in fact I was angry with Him. I had gone back on my commitment to Him and had started to live a life of compromise. I descended very low and made the worse mistake I had ever made in my life. My pride was gone. I felt weak and empty, I had indeed come to the end of myself.
What a state to be in, totally abandoned, completely devoid of the ability to help myself and wallowing in my vomit. Poor me! Kicking in my blood.
But I am eternally grateful I got here. No plan fantastic as it seemed as long as it was my plan for myself could ever compare with Gods ultimate plan for me. All I had been through the past years was part of the plan. So it was good the plan made me get to where I was. I am so glad I got here.
Here His grace found me, I got the attention of the lover of my soul, the Centre of my life, my Creator, my husband. He passed by and saw me in the worst state I could ever be with my weaknesses and frailties. In sickness, poverty and sin. I was down and out but thank God He passed by. I am grateful He saw me.
He passed by on purpose like He did when He had to go through Samaria to see the woman at the well. He saw me intentionally; His eyes running to and fro the earth to show himself strong on my behalf.
He saw me at my lowest point and commanded me to live.
I heard His voice, I sensed His presence and in my heart I saw Him. His presence enveloped me with so much love.
I sought for the negative emotions that had plagued my life for years but could not find them. They were not there anymore.
I had a new Daddy now. He had promised to be a father to the fatherless, here He was fulfilling that promise to me. He loved me so much and made me know how much He did. His presence and words made all the difference in my life. He had begun to work on my heart and the new me was emerging.
From then, I began to live life to the fullest. His ultimate plan for me was to make me rise up to be a queen. He lavished so much love on me, this brought back my confidence.
I was stronger than I had ever been. I was ready to take on the responsibility of the queen He had made me.
That’s what this book is about. The rise of a queen.
Through eleven great steps and the experiences of seven wonderful women, we explore how God makes every woman rise to her position as queen no matter how low she has sank.
Sit back and let us go on this Royal Ride. You will be glad you did. I guarantee that you also will rise to your position as queen!
