Kingly Heart

Psalm 161:1-2 -- "My heart is not proud, O Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have stilled and quieted my soul."

Through a dense early morning fog, the massive and formidable Spanish Armada pulled into the frigid waters off Tillbury, England. The fiery red hair of Queen Elizabeth I was neatly pinned up as the timid sunshine bounced off of her highly polished armor.

The morning dawned at the pinnacle of what would be known as the "Golden Age" and history was about to come down to the sturdiness of two rulers: King Phillip II of Spain and Queen Elizabeth I of England.

Far from hiding within the thick palace walls in safety as advised, Queen Elizabeth placed herself right in the middle of her troops as they prepared for a battle that none of them had any hope to win. She looked them in the eyes and gave them these words:

"I know I have but the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and a king of England, too; and think foul scorn that Parma or Spain, or any prince of Europe should dare invade the boarders of  my realm; to which, rather than any dishonor should grow by me, I myself  will take up arms..."

She wasn't about to go down without a fight. And let me tell you - that woman could throw quite the royal "punch". When the smoke cleared and the sea ran red with the blood of the Spanish, it was England that stood victorious. That's right! England! Against the entire Spanish Armada! [you'll have to look up the info on the infamous Spanish Armada when you get the chance, it was amazing].

It could be said of Queen Elizabeth I - that she was one of the most loved rulers in England's fine history. She had spine, no one could doubt that. But she had a great deal of heart, too. She never forgot to take into account the well-being of her people. What other ruler would bother to stand in the middle of the nation's military troops and look them each square in the eye so he could wish them God Speed in battle?

But of everything I love about Queen Elizabeth I - it's her humility that makes my chest fill with pride.

At the end of her reign, she said: "Though God has raised me high, yet this I count the glory of my crown: that I have reigned with your love."

THAT is what she cared about the most. That she did a good job as a ruler. It wasn't the power, the money, or the hobnobbing with royalty around the world - it was that she was a just and right ruler for the country that stood behind her.

When it came time to make the big decisions - the ones that mattered - the ones that hurt to make - she made them with calm resolve. She didn't ASK to be born into a royal blood-line. But she was determined to be the very best ruler she possibly could. It was not an easy thing for her to do. Not only is ruling a nation a difficult thing - but she did it as a woman WAY before women's rights were even thought about.

We are princes, you and I. We have been given the most precious gift of God's grace and the shed blood of His only Son, Jesus Christ. We COULD be proud. We know what Elizabeth didn't know standing on that grassy hill top at Tillbury - we KNOW we've already won the battle. We KNOW we've been given crowns --

But we should also look out through the eyes of humility. We should rally the troops with passion and love - just like Queen Elizabeth I of England.