When Valentine’s Day Hurts

Above all else,
guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.
~Proverbs 4:23 NIV

Valentine’s Day has the potential to be the most euphorically sweet or the most painfully hurtful day of the year.

What you’re experiencing today most likely felt in direct proportion to where you sit on the relationship spectrum. If you’re single, the day of love can conjure up questions deep inside your heart that can lead to self-doubt and loneliness. Widowed, and the self-pity can well up leaving you feeling blue. If you’re in an unhealthy marriage, or just experiencing a rough patch, Valentine’s can be downright painful making you feel rejected, unloved, and unwanted.

This one, emotionally charged day has the potential to feel like the best or worst day of your life. VDay can prime your emotions to euphoric love or drop to the depths of despair and then Valentine’s Day hurts… if you let it.

Above All Else, Guard Your Heart

Proverbs 4:23 is a crucial verse to memorize. There’s so much wisdom jam-packed into one little verse that can help guide, direct and protect you. The importance of guarding your heart is monumental to staying emotionally healthy. If you allow life’s circumstances and your relationships dictate the condition of your heart then Gurl, you’re in truuuuuubble! Whole lotta experience goes into that statement.

I’m joking to make this difficult issue palpable. I know this isn’t easy, but it is necessary. You have to allow your heart to feel emotions, but you have to know when to tell them to heave-ho and go!

A gate guarded by military personnel knows who to let in and who to keep out. Do you know who’s who? Well, let me help you know whose voice you definitely should let into your heart by showing you The Passion Translation’s version of Proverbs 4:23, the three verses before it and their footnote from the word “heart”. I hope the words I put in bold hit you like they wacked me upside the emotional head. 🙂

Proverbs 4:20-23 The Passion Translation (TPT)

Listen carefully, my dear child, to everything that I teach you, and pay attention to all that I have to say.Fill your thoughts with my words until they penetrate deep into your spirit.^a]”>[a] Then, as you unwrap my words,^b]”>[b] they will impart true life and radiant health into the very core of your being. So above all, guard the affections of your heart,^c]”>[c] for they affect all that you are. Pay attention to the welfare of your innermost being, for from there flows the wellspring of life.

(c) The Hebrew word levav is the most common word for “heart.” It includes our thoughts, our will, our discernment, and our affections.

Above all else, guard your heart because your emotions (from your heart) conjure up thoughts inside your mind that are turned into belief systems, inspiring your behaviours. Your heart is that important.

PRAYER

Father… I’m so thankful that your love is constant. I don’t need to fear that it will end or be taken away from me. Help me to live in the truth of Your Word and not the anxiety of my heart. I choose to guard my heart and let Your Words sink deep into my spirit. I am loved, I am valued, I am wanted. In Jesus Name…Amen

Jumped on Facebook to share about this and hope it encourages you!

If this devotion struck an emotional nerve and you have my book Water In The Desert, I encourage you to read Devotion #31 Who Are You Listening To For Your Worth? When I got to the end of writing this Soul H2O Devo I went to my book because the Study Guide section for that devo is filled with 8 pages of Scripture that you can look up to affirm you in God’s love for you and how He sees you. I’ve also created a few Tips on How To Help Your Lonely Heart Below.

TIPS ON HOW TO HELP YOUR LONELY HEART

Don’t fill the void of a wounded heart with unhealthy things, less than God’s best for you!
Know what God’s Word says about you.
- If you have my book Water In The Desert, I encourage you to read Devotion #31 Who Are You Listening To For Your Worth? And complete the study pages related with more verses.
- God loves you: Romans 5:8; John 3:16; 1 John 3:1
- God accepts you: Romans 15:7; Colossians 1:21-22
- God chose you: Ephesians 1:4; Romans 8:29-30; 1 Peter 2:9; John 15:16
- You are part of God’s family: Ephesians 1:5,11, 2:4-7; Romans 8:14; 1 John 3:1
- God says you belong: Psalm 100:3; Romans 14:8; 1 Corinthians 6:19; John 10:27-28; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22
- God made you in His Image: Genesis 1:27; Romans 8:29
- God thinks you’re wonderful: Psalms 139:13-14; Isaiah 43:1
- God delights in you: Zephaniah 3:17
- God created you for a purpose: Isaiah 43:7; 1 Peter 2:9; John 15:16; Jeremiah 29:11; 2 Corinthians 5:20
- God will not reject you: John 6:37; Psalm 147:11
- God won’t let anything take his love away from you: Romans 8:37-39
- God doesn’t forget about you or neglect you: Isaiah 49:15
- God wants you: Jeremiah 31:3; 1 Peter 1:18-19
- God sees you as valuable, worth everything: 1 Peter 1:18-19; 1 Corinthians 6:19
- God cares about your feelings: Psalm 56:8
- God understands you: Hebrews 4:15-16
Focus your thoughts on what God says about you.
Let the truth of God’s love toward you penetrate deep into your spirit.
Speak out over your life the truths mentioned above. It helps your brain to make those thoughts automatic over your negative neural pathways (thought patterns).
Listen to music that affirms God’s love and His thoughts towards you.
Don’t just listen to slow music, put on something that will make you Dance!
Do something special for yourself that doesn’t cost money, or much money. If you spend a bunch of money you may get an initial high followed by credit card bill dread!
Do something or just let yourself ‘have a day’, but only a day.