Why "Keep It Royal"???

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

1 Peter 2:9

When I learned the depths of this scripture, my whole life shifted. Growing up in church, I’d been taught quite a bit about what it meant to be holy, chosen, and even peculiar (especially during those middle/high school years!). But it wasn’t until much later that the word “royal” jumped out at me. I realized that I didn’t really know what it meant for God to describe me as royal. No one had ever taught me, and it wasn’t a big discussion topic in my spiritual teachings. I was curious, and so I researched and studied. The more I learned, the more I wanted to know…and the more excited I became! The bible explains that the reason we have all of these attributes (chosen, royal, holy, and peculiar) is for a very specific reason: to prove that God has always intended for us to live in light and is always powerful enough to pull us out of any darkness that we could ever experience.

Being chosen is about God’s decision concerning you. Holiness is about a mindset that influences behaviors and decision-making. Being peculiar is an explanation of the resistance that you might experience as you live for God and in His unique purpose and plans for you. But being royal is about your identity and position as it relates to God. Royalty is about who you are at your core simply because of God’s intention, His choice, and your willingness to accept it. Understanding this royal identity changed the way I viewed everything about my existence. And no matter what I experience, what I face, or how I feel, it doesn’t change a thing about who I am. “Keep it royal” is a reminder of that. It’s a charge to always hold my position, no matter the circumstances, no matter the external oppositions, and especially against any internal thoughts that oppose who I am according to God.

That may sometimes mean that I can’t be so easily offended. Sure, things may bother me. Yes, some words are hurtful. Truthfully, I do care what people think of me. Of course, some things make me angry to the point of wanting to retaliate. But absolutely nothing can change a thing about my royal identity and who I am according to my Creator. So I hold my position.

Sometimes, keeping it royal means that I do nothing, except continue and endure in my purpose, ignoring any voices that are trying to be louder than the voice of God in my ear, my heart, and my mind. Other times, keeping it royal may mean that I do whatever it takes to defend my position. This is especially true when it comes to those inner battles that take place in my mind. Some situations can be difficult, but they remain an external fight. But when situations cause you to feel differently about yourself, that’s when you have to respond with a Keep It Royal Mentality, understanding that how you feel is not who you are.

Keeping it royal is about living a life that displays the excellence of God, even in the face of less than excellent conditions. It’s about embracing all of your uniqueness, peculiarities, and idiosyncrasies as part of God’s choice when He created you. I named my blog “Keep It Royal” to highlight, celebrate, vent, and write through my experiences in living this royal life, and hopefully encourage a few others to do the same. (Also, I’ve been using the hashtag #KeepItRoyal on my social media for years now…you guys deserve a formal explanation, LOL.) This space is for all of us. It’s about living the life that God intended for us to live, in all the crazy, dope ways that we can live it! Feel free to share your stories and experiences with me. We're in this life together. From me to you, every day and in all things, always keep it royal!

Royally yours,

~Audrey