“I LOVE YOU WITH ALL MY HEART!”

Valentine’s Day is soon approaching and many men will purchase for their wives or girlfriends tokens of their love such as cards, boxes of heart shaped candy or even flowers!  Such a tradition is good in that it allows men to back up their statements of “I love you!” with tangible expressions of love to the one they care for deeply.  While a woman likes to be told by her man that he loves her (and she likes to be told a lot by the way), she also likes to be shown that love as well.  A wise man is one who backs up his words with his actions!  Valentine’s Day is just one of many opportunities to demonstrate such love.

While Valentine’s Day seems to primarily bring to mind thoughts of romantic love, it does not have to be limited to that.  This holiday season I would like us to also think about our love for God.  Do you love God?  You may quickly say, “Yes I love God!  He sent His only begotten Son to die for my sins, of course I love Him!”  Such expressions of love to God are all well and good, but how do we express that love?  What are tangible ways that we show God that we love Him?

As we grow in our faith our love for God grows as well.  It is a great gift of God when as the years go by, we grow to love Him more.  But such love flows from a heart that is changing; that is being made more like the Lord Jesus Christ.  Let me ask you, what is the condition of your heart?  Don Cousins gives Ten Signs of a Healthy Heart; a heart or life that demonstrates its love to God:

1.      A tongue that blesses.  An unhealthy heart is a tongue that is vile, negative, and cursing.  The words we speak say a lot about the condition of our heart.  Matthew 12:34—“For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.”

2.      Thoughts that are pure.  When your mind is free to wander, what are you thinking about?  Matthew 15:19—“For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.”

3.      Thankfulness…in all things.  I Thessalonians 5:16-18—Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 

4.      A peace-filled spirit.  Ephesians 4:31-32—Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”   Colossians 3:15—Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.”  How is your anger level these days?  How are your irritations these days?

5.      A desire to worship God.  Psalm 96:9—“Worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness.”  Is worship filling your heart?  The more you pray, the more you pray.  The more you worship, the more you worship.          

6.      Contentment in all circumstances.  Philippians 4:11—“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content in all circumstances.”    Are you satisfied with what God has given you?

7.      A hunger for God’s Word.    Psalm 119:9—“How can a young person live a pure life?  By obeying your Word.”  

8.      Demonstrated humility.  James 4:6—But he gives us more grace.  That is why Scripture says:  ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’”   How much of your life starts with self?

9.      A commitment to personal holiness.  II Timothy 2:22—Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”  True holiness is to walk in faith. 

10.   Whole-hearted devotedness to the Lord.  I John 5:21—Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.”  Anything you have to add to Jesus is an idol.  What threatens your devotion to the Lord?

Of course all these 10 signs could easily be summarized by Jesus’ statement in John 14:15 which says, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments”.   This Valentine’s Day season let us respond to God’s great love for us by loving Him back with all our heart and soul and mind and strength (Mark 12:30)!