I walk up to the throne and bow low
I feel The King’s eyes on me
I keep my gaze on the ground
I see Him stand and approach me,
His pure, white robe swishing as He walks


He kneels in front of me and lifts up my head
He stares into my eyes,
His radiant face beaming with love for me
Embarrassed, I look down at my sackcloth
Filthy from all the sins I have committed
Filthy from the world I have come from

He reaches out to put a hand on my shoulder, and I back away
Ashamed, I hang my head
“Please don’t touch me;
I am unfit to be touched
by Someone as holy and pure as You”

I hear a low chuckle, and instantly His arms are around me

Embracing the dirt
Embracing my filth
Embracing me

I lean into His embrace, feeling loved and safe
He bends down to my ear and whispers,
“Let me take your filth from you,
Let me take your sin,
Let me cover you with purity and righteousness”

I pull back and put a hand over my mouth
“You would do that for me?” I question, not sure I heard him correctly

He tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear and smiles,
“Darling, I would and I will”
Then He leans down and kisses my cheek
“You are forgiven,” He breathes

He stands up and offers me His hand
Tears streaming down my cheeks,
I stand up and grasp His hand
We walk through the palace

I gaze around me in awe
Golden walls with all kinds of gems
Angels singing,
“Hallelujah and glory to the King of Kings!”

I can’t help but feel I am home

He leads me to a tall, golden mirror
“Dear one, take a look”

I hesitate
He gently nudges me to look
I do
As I step in front of the mirror, I gasp
I am no longer wearing my sackcloth
I am no longer covered in filth
I am dressed in a glorious white gown
My hair is perfectly curled
I am beautiful
Not just on the outside,
but on the inside as well
I no longer feel ashamed
I no longer feel filled with sin

I feel free
I feel lovely, inside and out
I feel redeemed

In the reflection I see Him approach with a crown in His hand
He carefully places it on my head
“You are My daughter, a princess”

I study myself in the mirror
I hear Him tenderly whisper,
“When you only saw filth, I saw beauty,
When you saw sin, I saw forgiveness,
When you saw impurity, I saw purity,
When you saw unworthiness, I saw worthiness”

Tears fill my eyes as He speaks
I whirl around and throw my arms around His waist
I can hear His heartbeat
I lean back and peer into His eyes
“But why me?” I ask
“Why would you do that all for me?”

He smiles tenderly and replies,
“I would and did die for you not because you deserved it, but because I love you
I didn’t take away your sackcloth and ashes because you deserved it, I did it because I love you”

Tears of gratitude fill my eyes
I take His hand into mine and as I do, I glance at the nail scarred hands
His nail scarred hands

He tenderly covers His hand with mine and then spins me around
I giggle as my gorgeous dress billows out

As the angels sing above and as trumpets blow,
I dance with my King and my Father in the palace of gold
But not just a palace of gold—
A palace of love, forgiveness and trust

I gaze into my Father’s eyes, knowing that I am beautiful
Dress or no dress—sackcloth, filth and all
It doesn’t matter what I look like,
for I am always a princess in my Father’s eyes
He thinks and knows I’m beautiful, no matter what
He loves me even if I don’t feel like I deserve it
He calls me His daughter, His princess
I am His and He is mine

He will take ashes for beauty; pain for joy
He will turn mourning into dancing
Tears into laughter

He will show you just how lovely you are
Not just on the outside, but on the inside as well
You are His princess
Know that and keep it close to your heart
No matter how filthy you feel
No matter how guilty or ashamed—
He sees past that and sees our hearts
All we have to do is repent and watch Him do the rest

Will you let Him show you what’s on the inside?

Will you let Him take away your sackcloth?

Will you let Him come into your heart, sin and all?

Will you let Him transform you day by day?
Will you wear your princess crown with joy, knowing you don’t deserve it?

Will you take those nail scarred hands into yours and accept the love He has for you?

The choice is yours