"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope" (Romans 15:13).
“‘Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?’ Jesus replied, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment” (Matthew 22:36-38).
Loving God with all our soul is so important that Jesus stated it as the “first and greatest commandment.” It is difficult to comprehend that kind of all-encompassing love in our finite understanding, but we know we love Him fully with everything we have. Our love for God is our response to His LOVE for us, growing in our gratitude and joy for all He has given us. “We love because He first loved us” (I John 4:19).
Ecclesiastes 3:11 opens a window to our spirit for a closer look at our relationship with God as believers: “He has made everything beautiful and appropriate in its time. He has also planted eternity [a sense of divine purpose] in the human heart [a mysterious longing which nothing under the sun can satisfy, except God].” This explains our attempts to fill our hearts, minds, and souls with lesser things and never being satisfied. People will always search until they find their needs can only be filled by the loving arms of our forgiving and merciful Father.
Guiding Points:
Call to Action: Nothing is more valuable than our relationship with God, on good days, bad days, and everything in between! If you’ve been trying to fill the void in your life with someone or something else, turn to Him, and find what you’re looking for. He is waiting for you!
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15).
“Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life” (Jude 21).
Prayer: Father in Heaven, we LOVE You and praise Your holy name! You are the true love of our lives. We are grateful that You sent Your Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for our sins, raised from that death, giving us eternal life with You. Help us to put You first above everything else, loving You with all our hearts, souls, and minds. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen!
Final Thought: Make God the Lord of your life and love Him first— He is so worthy!
Loving God With Everything We Have
Focus on the Fruits! KINDNESS
“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8).
Responding to the Call: Embracing Jesus as Our King
“The righteous cry, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to them that are of a broken heart; and saves such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivers him out of them all” (Psalm 34:17-19).
Choosing a Soft Heart: Rekindling Your Hearts Compassion
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God" (Matthew 5:8).
Focus on the Fruits! PATIENCE
“But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).
God’s Shining Face: The Profound Impact on Our Lives
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you, the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace” (Numbers 6:24- 26).
Focus on the Fruits! PEACE
“Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all” (2 Thessalonians 3:16).
The Wisdom of Ecclesiastes: A Journey Towards Divine Purpose
“To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1).
Focus on the Fruits! JOY
“God will let you laugh again; you’ll raise the roof with shouts of joy” (Job 8:20).
Taking Up the Mantle: Your Role in Expanding God’s Kingdom
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).