Today is the 1st day of Lent, a 40 day season of spiritual reflection, repentance, and renewal. During these 40 days we’ll explore the prayer life of Jesus, walking chronologically through every mention of Jesus’ prayer life and prayers in the Gospels.
Here is today’s prayer event: 21Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, 22and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” (Luke 3:21-22 ESV).
All four Gospels mention the baptism of Jesus (Matt 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; John 1:32-34 ). But only Luke tells us that the descent of the Spirit and the voice from heaven were preceded by the prayer of Jesus (verse 21). The anointing presence of God (the dove/Holy Spirit) and the loving affirmation of God (the voice) came in response to prayer. Jesus’ ministry-journey begins here, and as it begins, God speaks to Jesus through prayer: “I am with you; I love you.”
Spend a few moments in silence right now. Think of the day, month, or year ahead of you. Ask God to be with you. Listen for God’s voice: “I am with you.” And, ask God to affirm you. Listen for God’s voice: “I love you.”
SHARE WITH OTHER READERS BELOW WHICH OF THE TWO PHRASES MEANS THE MOST TO YOU AND WHY: “I AM WITH YOU” OR “I LOVE YOU”…
[image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/enggul/2203532783/]
“I accept you.” “I love you.” “I approve of you.”
I think these are three of the most basic statements of love and acceptance humans long to hear. A child needs to hear these in order to be confident and secure for his future in this world. Truth is, a well-adjusted adult needs to hear these phrases too. If those who are supposed to love us most do not speak these words into our life, we go trying to find that affirmation from others. Or we create a life that so overwhelms others that they cannot help but pour praise upon us. In any number of ways, we become a lesser version of what God intended us to be and operate from a disposition of insecurity and competition.
I find it amazing that this is how Jesus’ ministry begins. Can it be that even the Son of God made flesh needed to hear such affirmation? God has given his son the base of love and security upon which to build his life of sacrifice, devotion and service. Maybe the immense love of Christ is only possible when you are firmly aware of your own “belovedness,” as Henri Nouwen so often calls it.
This is a great encouragement to hear on the first day of Lent. Maybe this journey to the cross will be a bit easier knowing I am loved and approved by God. There is no person, no object, and no accomplishment that can provide the same love and security. That which I am giving up for these forty days cannot fulfill me as much as God’s love. These forty days of sacrifice, devotion and service are made easier with this reminder.
Chris, thank you for the reminder.
I can still remember the day my parents dropped me off at college. My first time away from home. Feeling excitement and anxiety about what was ahead. As I walked my parents to their car on that Sunday afternoon, I began to feel the tightening in my throat and the tears filling up in my eyes. When we reached the car, my dad turned me around to face him and said, “You are so ready for this! You’re going to do great! We love you so much and can’t wait to see and hear how you do! You can do this! We know you can!”.
Hearing his words, feeling his touch … I will never forget!
Until today, I’m not sure that I realized that Jesus may have needed that final reassurance to go to this new place.
God, help us provide this love and support to others!
Another thought that just hit me . . . God says he loves his Son even before Jesus has done anything in ministry. God’s love is never earned! Hallelujah!
I remember when the movie “The Last Temptation of Christ” was released and the controversy surrounding it. People were highly offended to think that Jesus could have really been tempted, as if his being human were somehow different from ours, that the very idea of a true temptation negated his sacrifice. I viewed it very differently. This made Jesus much more real to me and made his death so much more powerful, that he wasn’t just “following directions” but that he really and truly had a choice, that he could have chosen an earthly life but instead chose to give me life. We are sometimes blinded by his deity and forget that he was also human. The affirmation that Jesus received at his baptism and throughout his ministry kept him connected to God and to his purpose so that when he was tempted, he could say “Get away from me, Satan!”.
Thank you Chris for reminding us that God gives us this same affirmation if we can slow down and be quiet enough to listen for it. This is one reason why I love the season of Lent: although we pray, study, fast, and practice other spiritual disciplines throughout the year, it is a blessing to slow down for a period of time and just listen, to simplify and declutter not only our physical, outer lives, but our spiritual, inner lives as well. Listening to God’s still and quiet voice, and learning how to obey what He tells us, accepting His affirmation and love; these blessings will also give us the strength to say “Get away from me, Satan!” when he tempts us. And we will be tempted. But God loves us and is always with us. I can think of no greater comfort on this day of “bright sadness.”
What marvelous thoughts and comments! Thank you so much for sharing these stories and insights! Jason, you need to be writing these posts, not me. Your wisdom and perspective are priceless. Michelle, I remember a similar time when I left my Dad’s home in Cloudcroft, NM to move to Memphis. Painful goodbye’s. Cathlyn, thank you for pointing to the real love which drove Christ to the cross.
I must admit that I am especially deeply moved by the thought of our Father saying to me, “This is my beloved son. I am pleased with him.” When it comes down to it, affirmation has long been a deep hunger of mine. What an amazing thing to hear–our Father loves and accepts and is pleased with us!
I started my season of lent last night on my way home from work (12:30 am) by not turning on the radio and just listening to my thoughts and the road noise, trying to hear God’s voice. In the morning, at the church fitness center I frequent (when it is open) I did not take my walkman with me (as is my custom) and chose instead to walk and workout with just my thoughts, and again trying to hear God’s prompting. The TVs were distracting and beckoned me to a world of anxiety. I resisted. Later at home I felt the pull to get on facebook, surf the internet or turn in the TV, but again succesfully resisted the temptation to do so. And yet again, on my way to work I chose not turn on the radio.
I made it to work and again was tempted to surf the internet, but resisted ithis as well. Then my first page came and I found myself in the middle of a rather huge and ugly family conflict. I had an encounter with a patient (and her fiance) who was being greatly upset by her mother’s selfish behavior. As I tried to reason with the mother I was flabergasted, frustrated and just plain amazed at how selfish one individual could be. While her daughter sat in bed with injuries that may not allow her to walk ever again, all her mother could think about was herself and how her daughter had hurt her feelings and how she did not feel heard by her daughter. It was all about “Me! Me! Me!”
Finally after excusing myself I came to my office and read today’s meditation. Several thoughts came to mind. Just how many things have I allowed to distract me and not hear God’s voice? Just how many times have I, as a parent, not listened to my children as they expressed their needs? How many times have I made it all about “Me!” ? And how many times have I not given my children a simple yet profound affirmation such as “I’m pround of you,” or “You’re amazing!”
Praise to God who loves us in spite of our shortcomings and our excessive need to be entertained at every turn and “in control” of every little detail.
I am with you. Just really needed to be reminded of that today. Thank you for reminding me to 1. Listen. & 2. Start everything with prayer. I look forwRd to the next 39 days
Thanks to all for sharing these wonderful insights. Thanks, Chris, for leading these 40 days. How encouraging it is to think about Jesus’ needing the Father’s validation! How wonderful to be still and hear the Father’s reminder that we are valued and that he is with us! It’s an awesome and humbling thought–that the Creator of the universe loves and approves of us. I am grateful for this direction at the beginning of Lent.
I’m a day late arriving here…Wonderful thoughts and expressions from all of you. Chris, I share your need for affirmation and am still learning to “live loved”. Cathlyn, I share your impression of “The Last Temptation” and rejoice in a Savior who struggled as we do with the desires of this world — even possibly the desire to simply live a “normal” life. Kevin, I share your desire to fill the empty spaces in these 40 days with God rather than radio, internet, etc., and was moved to tears in knowing how I too have made it all about ME and missed so many opportunities with my family, my children and the people around me.
I suppose the first day of Lent, Ash Wednesday, for me was about repentance after all. It was good to have that come with a reminder that I am loved by the Father.
Thank you, God, for your presence on this journey and for these brothers and sisters traveling with me.
Welcome to Kevin, Ashley, Melanie and Jay. Thanks for adding such great comments. May these 40 days bring you closer to the Father than you’ve ever been.
fantastic post. I will add it as favorite! Thanks
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