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"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God" Ephesians 3:16-19

"...we were made to crave --- long for, want greatly, desire eagerly, and beg for --- God. Only God" (Lysa TerKeurst, Made to Crave).

We long to be romanced (courted, wooed, pursued, chased). Enemy distractions may tempt us into believing the wordly idea that somehow the perfect poetic verse or love note, pounds of chocolate, a fancy restaurant, dozens of flowers and/or some other token of love will leave us satiated this Valentine's Day. Our misplaced hopes may leave us restless and mired in dissatisfaction craving more; searching for more.

"Trying to boost our self-esteem by trying to live up to our own standards or someone else’s is a trap. It is not an answer" (Tim Keller, The Freedom of Self Forgetfulness).

These intense yearnings emanate from a soul tuned to God; crying out for Him (Psalm 84:2); already in possession of THE ultimate gift freely given; our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ through whom the Holy Spirit was poured out upon us; streaming with God's love (Romans 5:5, Titus 3:6), we are drawn in (John 6:44).

"Look at God and understand who He is and what He's done and when you've forgotten about yourself and it's all about Him, it is then that you have great pleasure; the greatest joy...the glory of God" (Pastor Burris, "The World at War Against Your Soul).

God pursues us, revealing His presence is a thousand little ways like love notes to us His children, beckoning us to the cross. If only we would take notice! We need Him, only Him...desperately (Philippians 4:19)!

"Do not underestimate the power of desperation to do good for your soul" (Jon Bloom, The Merciful Gift of Desperation).

A Prayer on Valentine’s Day (Excerpt) by Scotty Smith

Dear Lord Jesus, it’s Valentine’s Day—the day in our culture in which red hearts, overpriced cards, dark chocolates, and cut flowers abound. For some, it’s a day of incredible kindness, sweetness, and gratitude. For others, it’s a day in which brokenness, loneliness, and emptiness are magnified. For all of us, it should be a day in which our deepest longings for intimacy and connection find their way home to you...

My heart is fickle and fragile—still capable of being sucker-punched by sin within, and susceptible to whisperings without. Most of the time I believe you greatly love, desire, and delight in me; but then I also have moments when I can be blindsided by unbelief, temptation and discontent.

Those are the times when I place unrealistic demands on other relationships, including marriage. Instead of living as a grateful servant, I can act like a grace-less orphan—over-expecting from others and under-believing of you. Forgive me and free me from all such nonsense...

Read in entirety here: A Prayer on Valentine’s Day – Heavenward by Scotty Smith.