This Valentine’s Day, I just want you to know one thing: I love you. Yes YOU!

But these words aren’t from me, Danny Raye. They’re from the King of Kings written in His blood in John 3:16:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”

– John 3:16

Jesus Loves You As You Are

If you’ve ever been told that you have to be a Christian or a saint for Jesus to love you, you’ve been lied to. Jesus loves everyone as they are at this moment in time. He never expects you to come to Him once you’re healed or once you’re sinless. He knows you can’t be healed or sanctified without Him (John 15:5). He wants you to come to Him as you are—broken, bruised, scared, lonely, ashamed, confused, guilty—because He wants to fix all your problems.

When I met Jesus, I was struggling to survive an abusive relationship. My mental state was in shambles, my emotional state was crumbling, my financial state was in the negative. I was contemplating suicide, scarring myself physically, and deteriorating inside. My entire life was being upheaved by my ex-husband’s sins and it was at that moment when my ex-husband was stepping out that Christ stepped in. Jesus was the Light that led me out of the darkness. He saved my life.

The thing is, Christ also saved my ex-husband’s. No longer addicted to drugs and in a dedicated relationship with the mother of his newborn baby, my ex-husband’s life has radically changed from who he was. Because Christ doesn’t just love Christians. He loves everyone. He came for me and my ex-husband that day.

Jesus loves you, too. No matter who you are. No matter what you’ve done. He loves you. You just need to let Him.

How Do I Let Jesus In?

• Prayer: Close your eyes. Open your heart. Breathe in deep. Breath out slowly. Call out His name. Now listen. Feel. If you’ve opened your heart and opened your mind to the possibility of Christ, you’ll feel something you’ve never felt this side of Heaven: relief and peace.
• Read Scripture: The Bible isn’t just a well-told story; it’s history. Documented and legitimized by historians and archaeologists. But the Bible is also God’s written voice. When you read the Word of God, you’re hearing the voice of God. The Father is speaking to you directly. And in verses beyond John 3:16, you can see Jesus expressing His love for you on every page. Here are some great love verses to read through: Galatians 2:20, Jeremiah 31:3, 1 John 3:10, 1 John 4:10, Romans 5:8, Romans 8:38-39.
• Come to Church: Intimidating, I know. Trust me, until February 2022 I was too afraid to step into a church. The previous ones I’d been to felt like cults and a bunch of rich folks judging me for being the poor girl. Until joining Abundant Life, I didn’t know what church was supposed to feel like. Now, every time I walk through those doors, I feel like I’m home. Those people are my brothers and sisters in Christ. Through them, I feel the love of Jesus. His compassion, His care, His welcoming embrace. Don’t let what you “think” church is like stop you from stepping foot in another church. You’d be sorely missing out on finding your spiritual family, on finding Christ.
• Watch “The Chosen”: The Chosen is a show that portrays the life of Jesus Christ as is written in the New Testament. The show is accurate to scripture. And because the show is 100% crowd-funded, it’s FREE to download on The Chosen app and it’s FREE to watch. No subscriptions. No hidden fees. Just Jesus.

You are not unloved this Valentine’s Day. There is One who has always loved you waiting at the door. Open up. Invite Him in. Let Him change your life. Valentine’s Day will never be the same. It’ll always be a reminder that you are loved by the one true King.