Those words can bring joy, sadness, hope, or even fear, depending on a person’s experience, expectations, or situation. But we can choose to make it a happy day, regardless of where we are in life. How?

1. We can choose to put our hope in God instead of people. Realizing people sometimes disappoint us, we rely on God’s promises. As the psalmist said, My flesh and heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever (Psalm 73:26, ESV). Note: that doesn’t mean we tolerate abuse. If you’re in an abusive relationship, get help from a pastor, counselor, or other professional. Your life has infinite worth! Ephesians 2:10 describes you as God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
2. Find someone you can encourage instead of waiting for someone to encourage you. Take flowers to a nursing home, call a friend you haven’t talked with in years, spend time in prayer for someone in need. You’ll feel better when you’re doing something for others!
3. Look at life through the lens of God’s Word instead of the marketing plan of a card company or chocolate manufacturer. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (AMP) describes authentic love: Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it… It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]. Love never fails…

There are times when all of us fail to love the way God describes! But we can ask Him to change us and pour His unfailing love through us.

Please join me to continue exploring God’s love on my YouTube channel. For the next twelve weeks, we’re considering how to strengthen the core of our beings. As we do that, we can truly enjoy not only Valentine’s Day but every day, in His unfailing love!

"Strengthening Your Core" - Week Two now available on my YouTube Channel!