How We Can Love God
In this post, we will learn how we can love God with our whole hearts and souls through studying the Scripture.
Thank goodness for Facetime! I can see my grandbabies every day even though I don’t live close by. At the end of the conversation, I often say, “I love you this much,” as I hold hands out to each side as wide as they will go! I love them with my heart and soul! Did you know we are to love God this much, too?
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LOVE THE LORD WITH ALL OF YOUR HEART AND WITH ALL OF YOUR SOUL AND WITH ALL OF YOUR STRENGTH AND WITH ALL OF YOUR MIND. Luke 10:27
The Shema
This scripture was part of a prayer that Jesus would have prayed every day.
Probably in the morning and evening. It is part of a bigger prayer called the Shema (pronounced shmah). The Shema is the most essential prayer for the Jewish people.
The Shema is a prayer to understand and take to heart as it gives voice to the commitment to follow the Lord.
Jesus prayed these words and taught on them and called them the ‘greatest commandment”.
Loving Go With Your Soul
But what does it mean to “love God with all of our soul’?
If Jesus said the Shema was the greatest commandment, isn’t it important to know, really know what it means?
We can have a deeper understanding of this scripture if we look at the meaning of the word soul in this scripture. The word soul in Hebrew is nephesh.
This word, when boiled down to its basic core, means LIFE!
Moment By Moment
“Love the Lord with your whole soul” means we should love the Lord with our lives! Moment by moment for our whole lives.
Not just on Sundays during church, not just on Christmas and Easter, not just when we feel like it! Loving the Lord on good days and on bad days and on all days in between.
It means having an eternal love affair with Him because of his extravagant love for us! Loving God with all our life is not a wishy-washy love. It is not controlled by feelings. It is a love born out of a decision. It is a choice and a commitment to do life with God!
Jesus is calling us to love God with our lives! Every moment! Every day! And in every circumstance! Isn’t that just what Jesus did? He loved God and us with His whole life!
I can’t imagine any day or any circumstance not loving my grandbabies. I’m always seeking their good! And no matter what my day brings, they are the delight of my life!
It is my desire to love God the same way! With my life and with my words, I want my Great Father to know, “I love you this much”!
A Little Book With A Powerful Message
Decades ago, when I was a young Christian, a friend of mine suggested I read Practicing The Presence Of God by Brother Lawrence. It has been a favorite that I have read over and over again! In this book, Brother Lawrence, a French monk, discussed how, in every moment of his life how he can be in communion with God. It’s a beautiful and helpful book.
Bible Verse To Think About
This week’s bible verse to think about…
LOVE THE LORD WITH ALL OF YOUR HEART AND WITH ALL OF YOUR SOUL AND WITH ALL OF YOUR STRENGTH AND WITH ALL OF YOUR MIND. Luke 10:27
Have a blessed Sunday, Friend!
I read your weekly Bible insight during my devotional time. What a wonderful, loving Savior we have. Your website with decorating ideas and recipes are a blessing also.
I’m so pleased you are using the Sunday Scriptures as a devotional.
I want you to know that I am so grateful you are using your influence to praise God. I know he is so proud of what you do in this crazy world we live in.
Happy Sunday!
Praise God! He blesses our lives~!
One of the benefits of technology is to be able to facetime with our kids and grandkids. Even though they are far away, we can still share God’s truths with them. Thank you for reminding us that we are to LOVE the LORD with all our HEART, STRENGTH, SOUL, and MIND.
You are welcome, Mary!
Thank you so much for your help with understanding what it means to love GOD with your heart and soul. I have always been confused about this. I now understand. Again thank you. Sandy
I’m so glad you have a better understanding now.
Absolutely! The LORD wants to be our first love like we were when we first fell in love with our spouse. Not everyone is married but it is like the love we have for our child, or that precious puppy or kitten when we first loved it or that best friend we enjoy so much. He wants our love to be complete and to love Him with our whole heart not a part of it or only when it is convenient. He wants to be our #1. We can pray and ask the Holy Spirit to fill us and help us to live the life the LORD wants for us.
Beautiful, Donna!
Thank you, Yvonne. Yours is truly the gift of exhortation. God is so good, and has blessed us with a son and daughter, and 11 wonderful grandchildren. Such a joy and pleasure to share Jesus with them.
Thank you, Yvonne, for being such a blessing! Your devotionals on Sunday are wonderful! They always give us something to think about and how we can improve our relationship with God. I always look forward to these. You put a lot of work into these devos and I thank you. May God continue to bless you as you share Him with us!
God bless you Mary Ann!
I love this beautiful message it touched my heart and a deeper desire to Love God in a more loving way. Thank you for the reminder that he first loved me the moment her created me.
What a beautiful reminder, Wanda.
My memory isn’t what it used to be, but I don’t recall ever hearing the definition of soul is life. I love that! Thank you!
Me too!
Thank you for this beautiful reminder!
I appreciate your boldness in the great commission.
Blessings to you as you share the Gospel.
Oh, Linda! thank you!
Thank you, Yvonne. This is one of my favorite Verses. Have a Blessed Week.✝️? Cathey Jo
You are welcome, praise God!
You are so inspirational! I look forward to your post every week! Thank you.
God bless you, Teri!