THE BELOVED
And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.”
Matthew 3:17 (NIV)
Imagine standing on the riverbank the day Jesus was baptized, the air buzzing with anticipation. As Jesus stepped into the water, something extraordinary happened. Scripture says:
“…heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on Him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.’”
Matthew 3:16-17 (NIV)
These words from the Father reveal a profound truth about our identity in Christ. God didn’t call Jesus servant or warrior but Loved Son. This title speaks of intimacy, joy, and affection—far beyond religious performance or duty. God loved Jesus, and Jesus believed Him.
Immediately after this declaration, Jesus was led into the wilderness for 40 days of testing. Without food or drink, He resisted Satan’s attempts to distort His identity and confidence in God’s Word. How? Jesus believed the truth spoken over Him: He was not a servant or orphan but the Beloved Son of God. That truth affirmed at the river fortified Him through the trials.
The Father’s declaration over Jesus that day in the river extends to us, offering direct access to His love. At our core, we are beloved sons and daughters. The enemy wants to steal that confidence, just like he tried to do to Jesus in the desert. He tries to bully us out of belief and confidence in our belovedness, wanting us to doubt or dismiss just how great God's love is for us. But we get to stand firm in the Truth: we are God’s Beloved. The belief that we are God’s Beloved is our greatest weapon against the enemy’s lies.
APPLICATION: We often need reminders that we are God’s Beloved. Undoing lies that have taken root in our hearts and minds takes time. Today, as you go about your day, practice this short, breath prayer:
As you inhale, say - I am your Beloved. As you exhale, say - And You are mine. Through breath prayers, focus on His love, letting it calm stress, fear or pain. Meditating on His love cultivates belief, replacing lies with truth, and empowers us to face life’s challenges.
PRAYER: Father, Your love is everything. It is who You are, and it is my hope. I ask that You teach me about Your love and replace any fear with the confidence that can only come from You. You’re worth it all, and I am thankful to be called Your Beloved. In your beautiful name. Amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?