Valentine/Freedom/Our King

The King wants to be your Valentine. Do you believe this? Do you accept His love? Let me chat with you for a minute.

Valentine’s Day can be full of so many different emotions for people in all walks of life. For me, it was never really a thing. I always called it the “Hallmark Holiday”. I figured if your significant other loved you then it was shown, and reciprocated, all year long. But as with everything else in my life, those thoughts have been flipped completely upside down after enduring my postpartum journey.

Valentine’s Day 2020 was my discharge day from the psychiatric hospital in North Carolina. Valentine’s Day became a day of freedom. And that fostered a deeper love and appreciation for my family who endured this all with me. But it has also made me really consider what that means over the last two years. What does freedom mean? How is such deep love possible?

It always points back to God. He carried me and my family through those 16 days. He provided a way when there was none. He made Himself known to me in a way that was absolutely undeniable. He worked miracles. All because He loves us.

“We love because He first loved us.” 

-1 John 4:19 NIV

We are so beloved to Him. He knows us intimately as he “made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb” (Psalms 139:13). He knows every detail about us and loves us unconditionally regardless of our acts. Nothing on earth can compare to His agape love! Consider these two verses of God’s love and protection:

“How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.” 

– Psalm 36:7 ESV

“But you, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to anger, and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.” -Psalm 86:15 NLT

Because of His endless love, He protects us; and even in our mistakes, He continues to do so, showing compassion and mercy, gently guiding by His love. These attributes are what saved my life. And truthfully, save us all as He sacrificed Jesus for us out of an abundance of love. We are His children and our Father calls us His own (1 John 3:1).

God truly wants your heart. What better day to recognize that love and desire from our Savior, than Valentine’s Day? Our freedom, our true freedom comes from knowing God and His love.

“For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. He will renew you with his love. He will rejoice in you with joyful songs.” -Zephariah 3:17 NLT

What a beautiful thought. What a beautiful truth. God is with us. He is our Savior. He delights in us and is glad about His children. His love is renewing as He rejoices in us with joyful songs! We are mere humans, and though we might try, we will never be capable of fully loving in this way while on earth. And it is such a gift to receive God’s love. He has it for each of us; we just have to accept it and come to know Him. Because whether you know it or not, there is nothing that can take away the love God has for each of us.

“For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor demons, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:38-39 NKJV

God is our first love. He is our forever love. Love in the world might disappear. It might be painful. It might be damaging. It might be harmful. That is not God’s desire for love, nor His perfect example of love. He is always there with you, loving you. I encourage you to lean in and receive it. When the world seems to have failed you, God is there. Imagine how those difficult times would feel less hurtful if you knew you were loved by the King unconditionally? All other things pale in comparison. Make Him your first love and the foundation for all other love.

I’m including a link to “First Love” by Kari Jobe. This song is so incredibly beautiful and is, to me, the perfect Valentine’s Day song to our Father.

The lyrics are as follows:

I’m returning to the secret place

Just an altar and a flame

Love is found here in our sacred space

I hear your voice, I see Your face

You’re still my first love

You’re still my only one

You’re still my first love

You’re still my only one

There’s a table just for You and me

Break the bread and pour the wine

Perfect union, nothing in between

I am Yours and You are mine

You’re still my first love

You’re still my only one

You’re still my first love

You’re still my only one

I feel my heart beating out of my chest

I wanna stay forever like this

May the flame of my heart always be lit

I wanna burn forever like this

I feel my heart beating out of my chest

I wanna stay forever like this

May the flame of my heart always be lit

I wanna burn forever like this

You’re still my first love

You’re still my only one

(Repeat x3)

I feel my heart beating out of my chest

I wanna stay forever like this

May the flame of my heart always be lit

I wanna burn forever like this

Oh, forever like this

Forever, forever, forever like this

Forever like this, forever like this, woah

Oh, Your love for me is great

Oh, Your love for me is great

Your love, Your love

Your love, Your love

Your love is wild

Your love is wild for me

Your love is wild

Your love is wild for me

(Repeat x11)
I feel my heart beating out of my chest

I wanna stay forever like this

May the flame of my heart always be lit

I wanna burn forever like this