The Baptism of the Lord (Jan. 11) arrives in early January like a soft declaration over your new year:
You belong.
You are loved.
You are chosen.
You are sealed.
Before Jesus performed a single miracle…
before He preached…
before He healed…
before He taught…
The Father spoke over Him:
“You are my beloved Son. With You I am well pleased.”
(Mark 1:11)
Identity comes before mission.
Belovedness comes before accomplishment.
Grace comes before effort.
And God speaks the same words over you.
January can stir up insecurity, self-doubt, fear, sadness, and a sense of failure — but the Church begins the year by restoring you to your identity:
You are a baptized daughter of the King.
That is your foundation.
That is your healing.
That is your oxygen.
Identity Before Everything Else
Your baptism means:
• Your past does not define you.
• Your mistakes do not own you.
• Your symptoms are not your identity.
• Your trauma is not your name.
• Your waiting (even for annulment and convalidation) is not wasted.
• Your exhaustion does not disqualify you from God’s pleasure.
• You are marked as His forever.
You are not starting January from scratch.
You are starting January from sacrament.
Every new beginning rests on an ancient truth:
You belong to God, and He delights in you.
Mental Health Practice #1: Baptismal Identity Statements
Write these in your journal or pray them aloud:
“I am beloved, not burdensome.”
“God is pleased with me before I accomplish anything.”
“My identity is secure even when my emotions are not.”
“Jesus enters my wounds, not just my strengths.”
“I am held, claimed, chosen, sealed.”
These statements regulate the nervous system by grounding your mind in a stable spiritual truth.
Mental Health Practice #2: A Shame-Releasing Breath Prayer
Shame, regret, and “should-haves” weigh heavily in January.
Try this gentle breath:
- Inhale 4 seconds:“Jesus, You delight in me.”
- Exhale 6 seconds:“I release what is not mine to carry.”
Repeat 5–10 times.
This softens the inner critic and invites Christ into the places where shame festers.
Mental Health Practice #3: Water Witnessing Ritual
Water regulates the nervous system — and baptismal water regulates the soul.
When washing your hands, showering, or making tea, quietly pray:
“Wash me, Jesus. Renew me.”
This anchors ordinary life in sacramental remembrance.
Herbal Companion: Holy Basil + Lemon Verbena + Mint Tea
A bright, uplifting, heart-opening blend perfect for January’s emotional weight.
Ingredients:
- 1 tsp Holy Basil (Tulsi) – emotional resilience, stress lowering
- 1 tsp Lemon Verbena – uplifting, brightening
- ½ tsp Peppermint – mental clarity, gentle energy
Steep 10 minutes.
Sip while praying or journaling.
This blend feels like spiritual fresh air.
Aromatherapy Companion: Frankincense + Lime
Perfect for grounding identity and lifting winter-blues heaviness.
Diffuse:
- 2 drops frankincense – spiritual root, grounding, prayerful
- 3 drops lime – mood-lifting, bright, invigorating
It’s the scent of renewal.
Nourishing Recipe: White Bean & Rosemary Soup
Warm, gentle, protein-rich, and deeply comforting.
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 cans white beans, rinsed
- 3 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 tsp fresh or dried rosemary
- Salt & pepper
- Optional: handful of spinach
Instructions:
- Sauté onion + garlic in oil until soft.
- Add beans, broth, and rosemary.
- Simmer 10 minutes.
- Blend half (optional) for creaminess.
- Add salt, pepper, and greens if using.
This bowl feels like warmth, gentleness, and grounding — perfect for identity work.
Closing Prayer
Beloved Jesus,
remind me who I am.
Not who the world says,
not who my wounds say,
not who my fears say —
but who You say I am.
Wash me in the truth of my baptism.
Renew my heart.
Steady my emotions.
Calm my nervous system.
Heal every place that has forgotten its belovedness.
I am Yours,
and You are pleased with me.
Amen.
From my Grace Filled Lemons Heart to yours,
Laura
Grace Filled Lemons 
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