Beloved Before the Wilderness

Scripture: Matthew 3:16–17Jesus, when he was baptized, went up directly from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming on him. Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”Today’s ReflectionBefore Jesus enters the wilderness, He first hears the Father’s voice at the water: “You are my beloved Son.” His identity is declared before He performs a single miracle or preaches a single sermon. The blessing comes before the testing, and relationship comes before résumé. Lent begins here for us as well—not striving to earn God’s love, but resting in it. If we walk into the wilderness as the beloved, it becomes not a performance, but a journey with the One who already delights in us.A Prayer of PresenceFather,Before I try to fix myself or prove myself, let me hear You. Speak Your love over me in Christ. Root my heart so deeply in Your love for me that everything I do in this season of Lent grows from that grace. – AmenA Prayer to Carry With YouBeloved already... I rest in YouGo Deeper (If You’d Like)This episode begins Day 1 of Love in the Wilderness, a 40-day devotional during the season of Lent exploring how God meets us in seasons we would never choose.You can:• Read the full written devotion at PowerLoveandMiracles.com• Subscribe for free to receive reflections by email• Explore related teachings on The Bible Unplugged podcastEverything is available at:PowerLoveandMiracles.comSustain the WorkIf these reflections strengthen your faith, you can help sustain this work through a voluntary contribution. Every gift supports future writing, audio, and teaching. Get full access to Power Love & Miracles at www.powerloveandmiracles.com/subscribe