Valentine’s day has come and gone. Some people are smiling, some others are still wailing. Some people received multiple gifts, while others waited till midnight, yet got no gift. Now, you know exactly where you stand.
Some people had their innocence taken away, while some gave it out cheaply. Now that the adrenaline rush is over, and you are back to reality, let us talk.
Now is the time to take an inventory of whatever happened to you on Valentine’s Day, and make some decsisions.
If you feel you messed up, don’t stay there. Don’t sit down, sulk, and cry over what has happened.
Hos 6:1 [NIV] Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds.
Rise up from your pain and regret. It is not the end of the world. Mistakes have been made, but they do not define you. What defines you is what you choose to do next. Rather than sit in self-pity, rise, learn, and move forward.
For those who feel used, unappreciated, or broken, take a step back and reflect. What led you to this point? Were you too trusting? Did you ignore the red flags, I am sure they were there. You must answer these questions to prevent a repetition of what just happened.
For those who had a wonderful Valentine’s Day, filled with love, gifts, and attention -be grateful. However, do not let one day of affection blind you to the reality of your relationship. Is your relationship built on a firm foundation? Will the love last beyond the chocolates and roses? Feelings are fickle, they do not last, so ensure your love is rooted in something deeper and more meaningful – in Christ.
No matter what your Valentine’s Day looked like, today is a new day. Pick yourself up. Make wiser choices. Seek healing, and most importantly, like the prodigal son, return to the One who loves you unconditionally. His love is not seasonal, it does not waver, and it will never leave you empty.
The Bible warns us not to conform for a reason—it’s because conforming is easier. The pressure to fit in is constant. There’s pressure to get married, have kids, build a career, start a business, travel the world, and so on.
But God has given us a way out: the renewal of our minds.
Romans 12:2 (AMP) And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].
One of the key ways to experience transformation is by growing spiritually. If you’re still struggling with the basics—fasting, tithing, praying, meditating—how will you stand firm when the pressure comes?
Spiritual maturity doesn’t happen overnight, but it’s a journey worth taking. The more you grow in your walk with God, the less pressure the world will have over you. Instead of being swayed by expectations, you’ll stand firm in God’s will for your life.
Battles are won through strategies. No military man would go to war without a strategy in mind. Things may change on the battlefield, but he would never go there with a blank mind.
Joshua had a strategy.
Jos 7:2-3 [NIV] Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth Aven to the east of Bethel, and told them, “Go up and spy out the region.” So the men went up and spied out Ai. When they returned to Joshua, they said, “Not all the army will have to go up against Ai. Send two or three thousand men to take it and do not weary the whole army, for only a few people live there.”
Gideon had one too.
Jud 7:17-18 [NIV] “Watch me,” he told them. “Follow my lead. When I get to the edge of the camp, do exactly as I do. When I and all who are with me blow our trumpets, then from all around the camp blow yours and shout, ‘For the Lord and for Gideon.’”
David, Samson, and every other war veteran in the bible had a strategy they used.
Strategies are meant to be improved over time. You don’t stick to the same old plan you’ve been using. Even if it works for you, there is always room for improvement.
You’ve approached that marriage with the same strategy for years. Yes, you might have had some results, but there are still more grounds to conquer.
You’ve approached that ‘babe’ with the same game plan over the years. This Valentine’s Day, why don’t you change your strategy?
That business hasn’t yielded as expected. It’s time to try something new.
The Israelites had a winning strategy I would love to recommend to us this morning. It can be applied anywhere – business, family, career, finance, and so on.
Jdg 20:18 [ERV] And the children of Israel arose, and went up to Beth-el, and asked counsel of God; and they said, Who shall go up for us first to battle against the children of Benjamin? And the LORD said, Judah shall go up first.
In all you do, let praise take the lead. I know you are a prayer warrior. I know you are a master strategist, with a doctorate in strategic planning. Let Judah go up first. Read through the scriptures, anywhere they applied this strategy, it worked.
Ps 149:6 [CEV] Praise God with songs on your lips and a sword in your hand.
When you allow praise to take the lead, it translates to a sword in your hand.
Most of the time, our immediate actions have futuristic consequences, which is why we have to be careful about what we do or what we don’t do. Our choices – whether good or bad, transcend us.
David, for example, chose to go for another man’s wife after murdering him. One would think God’s silence on the matter for over a year meant He approved David’s actions. Well, his choices threw his family into problems as the sword never departed from his house.
What about Abraham, the father of faith? He wanted a permanent solution to his issue of childlessness as the supposed promise of God was taking too long to manifest. Of course, we know he eventually had to send Ishmael away.
I could also talk about Samson, Joseph, Gehazi, Saul, and a host of others whose choices outlived them.
What is my point this morning? It doesn’t end with you. That 5 minutes of pleasure doesn’t end there. That subtle text doesn’t end there. Yes, it is taking longer than you thought but compromising has never solved any problem beforehand. Ask everyone who has compromised in one way or another. It never ended there. More often than not, the moment you are done compromising, then the issues begin.
Jos 24:15 [NKJV] And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
Before you take that decision, think about your children. Think about your assignment. Think about your purpose. Jesus could have easily turned the stones into bread. He not only had the power, he was hungry, but he knew better. He knew his work on earth was more than bread.
Like we say in Nigeria; the food you do not have plans to put in your mouth, do not bring it close to your nose.
I have learnt over time, that there are certain blessings you don’t have to pray for. The scriptures rightly tell us what to do if we want these blessings activated in our lives, finances, and relationships. One of such blessings is the blessing of longevity.
Long life comes from honoring one’s parents.
Eph 6:1-3 [NLT] Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise:If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.”
So rather than praying for a long life, focus on honoring your parents- biological and spiritual.
Likewise, the blessing of favor has an instruction attached.
Ps 5:12 [ESV] For you bless the righteous, O LORD; you cover him with favor as with a shield.
This simply means for you to be favored, you have to be righteous. It’s as simple as that. You cannot be living in sin and expect the favor of God to rest upon you.
Let’s see how this verse is explained in another translation
Ps 5:12 [AMPC] For You, Lord, will bless the [uncompromisingly] righteous [him who is upright and in right standing with You]; as with a shield You will surround him with goodwill (pleasure and favor).
A life of compromise cannot attract the favor of God.
Look at Joseph. What made him favored in the prison? It was his life of righteousness that God saw and decided to show him favor.
Gen 39:21 [KJV] But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
While it is good to pray for the favor of God, it is better to lead a life of righteousness.
