I am my beloved’s, and his desire is for me.Song of Sol. 7:10
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—the quintessential lover.
We each have our own stories of love gained and lost, of love being alive, and love being tested, strained and fractured. I’ve experienced seasons of incredible joy, connection and intimacy in my marriage—moments when I wondered how heaven itself could be any richer, grander or fuller.
But (thankfully, as has my spouse) I’ve also discovered time and again, that no one human being (or any number of them), no human romance story, no torrid love affair can possibly fill the vacuum in my soul that’s uniquely Jesus shaped. Even the best marriage is made of two broken people, two redeemed sinners who will ultimately not be enough for the other.
Lord Jesus, “grace” me with a deeper, richer current experience of belonging to you. You are the ultimate Spouse—the One we’ve always longed for. I believe this theologically, and I want to “know” it more experientially.
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.
Lord Jesus, increasingly, I want to love you (and others) as you love me, until the Day our betrothal to you becomes the Day of great banqueting forever—the Day we crave more than any other—the wedding feast of the Lamb. You are more than enough. So very Amen I pray, in your tender and tenacious name.
Scotty Smith is the founding pastor of Christ Community Church in Franklin, Tennessee. You can follow him on Twitter.
FAQs
Open my heart to a greater sense of your love for me.
Loving God, in you I find my truest and best self, as one created in your triune, relational image. Thank you for your grace, and thank you for your love. In Jesus' name, Amen.
What are the prayers of the faithful for Valentine's Day? ›
Father God, as I celebrate Valentine's Day, I bring before you my longing for a soulmate. I trust in your perfect plan for my life and know that you have someone special in store for me. Grant me patience and perseverance as I wait for the right person to come into my life.
How do you thank God for Valentine's Day? ›
Lord, thank you for creating love. We know from your Word that You are LOVE. I am so undeserving, yet your grace and love for me is unbelievable. Thank you for loving me and thank you for putting others on this earth to show me an example of your love.
What is the best Bible verse for Valentine's Day? ›
1 John 4:8: Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 1 Peter 4:8: Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Colossians 3:14: And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
What is a good love prayer? ›
May this relationship be a burst of light. May it be a fount of love and wisdom for us, for our family, for our community, for our world. May this bond be a channel for Your love and healing, a vehicle of Your grace and power. As lessons come and challenges grow, let us not be tempted to forsake each other.
What is the daily prayer for Feb 14? ›
We thank you for helping us, and with your help we want to be faithful to you. Then when hardships come, we can be certain of your presence. We know and trust you. We know and trust the Savior, and we know and trust the Holy Spirit, in whom we can have community and be strengthened to serve your glory.
What is the psalm for Valentine's Day? ›
On Valentine's Day morning she read Psalm 16 to me, saying it is perfect for Valentine's Day. She read the whole Psalm, including verse 11: “You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
What is the love Prayer of the Faithful? ›
CELEBRANT: God of all goodness, your love has brought all things into being. Open our hearts to welcome your love and share it without reserve. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
What is Valentine's Day biblically? ›
Valentine's Day celebrated on the 14th of February every year is a day to celebrate love and affection. The day has roots in the Roman festival of Lupercalia, which honored the god Lupercus. The day is also linked to the Feast of St. Valentine, a Christian feast day that honors a third-century saint.
How do you pray and say thank you to God? ›
A Simple Prayer of Gratitude
Thank you, Lord, for the blessings you have bestowed on my life. You have provided me with more than I could ever have imagined. You have surrounded me with people who always look out for me. You have given me family and friends who bless me every day with kind words and actions.
Even in the darkest of times, we can praise God for his love, his sovereignty, and his promise to be near us when we call (Psalm 145:18). Thank you, Lord, for your peace that transcends understanding and your love that endures forever. Amen!
What is the Valentine prayer to Jesus? ›
Help me to “love one another deeply, from the heart” (1 Peter 1:22), and to be a beacon of Your love in a world that so desperately needs it. Thank You, Father, for the precious gift of love. May my life be a living testimony to Your boundless love, now and always. In Jesus' name, Amen.
What is the prayer message for Valentine's Day? ›
Valentine's Day Prayer for Support and Encouragement
In our journey together, let us be each other's support and cheer. Inspire us to uplift each other in times of need, And celebrate together in times of joy. May our relationship be a source of strength and encouragement.
What is a powerful Valentine quote? ›
“When you're lucky enough to meet your one person, then life takes a turn for the best. It can't get better than that.”
What is the February blessing prayer? ›
Heavenly Father, In the chill of February, I find warmth in the countless blessings You bestow upon me. I thank You for the gift of life, for the love of family and friends, and for the daily provisions that sustain me.
What is the short prayer to St. Valentine? ›
God of love, you give us St. Valentine as an example of love. As we gather to celebrate the feast of this loving and caring saint we ask you to bless our friendships. May the love and affection we share with each other, always come from a sense of care and respect.
