On Valentine’s Day it is appropriate to think about love and marriage. What about some ideas on how to maintain a “Valentine’s Day” atmosphere in your relationship with your special someone throughout the rest of the year as well? 

Let’s look at these ideas from a biblical point of view. 

It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3…

1. Pray

2. Together

3. Out Loud

4. Every Day

5. Hold Hands

6. Compliment and encourage each other.

7. Use phrases like - Thank you, I’m sorry, You’re right. I never thought of it that way, Pardon me…

8. Kiss each other at least once a day.

My wife and I have been married nearly sixty years; she is “My Special Valentine”, and I am hers. I’d like to comment further on each of these eight thoughts.

PRAY - First of all, when you pray, do so from the heart - earnestly, and vulnerably…and be specific. Remember, your prayer is directed to God; in the Lord’s Prayer Jesus taught us to whom we should pray. He said OUR FATHER (emphasis is mine). “Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.” Matthew 6:9 and Luke 11:2.

TOGETHER - Jesus said that if two or more are gathered in My name, He is there also. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus encouraged us to pray corporately…“For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.” Matthew 18:20 NLT  Of course, God always hears us when we pray alone as well. An example of this is when Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane the night He was betrayed.

OUT LOUD - When Jesus was hanging on the cross He called out loud and said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34 NASB  When we pray out loud it helps us to express our feelings and needs more clearly, with genuine emotion and clarity of thought.

EVERY DAY- The power of prayer is so great it defeats the devil and his power over us. Satan wants to destroy us, but God wants to bring us closer to Him. Prayer is our tool to win that battle. Frequent prayer gives us the strength and the faith to finish the race victorious. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Philippians 4:6 NLT

HOLDING HANDS - Do this whenever you pray together. Praying together brings a couple closer together. If one of you is out of town or away from home, use the telephone and pray together over the phone, or send prayer texts. Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. (Colossians 4:2) NIV

COMPLIMENT AND ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER - When you give sincere encouragement and compliments to your “Valentine”, several things happen. His/her self-confidence increases, as well as your own self-worth. A compliment to your “Valentine” demonstrates your appreciation and makes him/her feel cherished and valued. So encourage each other and build each other up… 1 Thessalonians 5:11 NLT 

USE PHRASES LIKE…Thank you, I’m sorry, You’re right, I never thought of it that way, Pardon me, etc. These are gentle and soft words and will prevent hurt and misunderstandings before they start. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:31-32 ESV A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.  Proverbs 15:1 NLT

KISS EACH OTHER AT LEAST ONCE EACH DAY - Kiss…not just on the forehead or cheek. but on the lips and say, “I Love You” and mean it. If you are apart and cannot do this in person, call and say it over the phone. A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:34-35 ESV

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Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 NLT

Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love. I Corinthians 13:13 NLT

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If you have a story that you think might bless others, I invite you to send it by email to me (Kenneth Kersey) at godsotherways@me.com.

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