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How Do You Love God With All of Your Heart?

Do you ever think that sometimes we make being a follower of the Lord too difficult? 

We complicate it.

We create long lists of things to do and not do.

It’s not a bad thing to know them, but following Christ is all about attitude and dedication, rather than checklists and complications.

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Do you ever think that sometimes we make being a follower of the Lord too difficult? Share on X 

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How Do You Love God With All of Your Heart?

“Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”

Deuteronomy 6:5

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When our heart and mind are right, we will know when we are pleasing God, and when we are not. 

Whenever we exceed His boundaries, we will know it in our hearts and will not have to review some mental checklists.

In Deuteronomy, we are given a simple command to love the Lord with our entire being. It makes sense, doesn’t it? 

When we love someone, we are prepared to do anything for them.

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When we love someone, we are prepared to do anything for them. Share on X

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God Doesn’t Need Our Help 

God doesn’t need our ‘help’, but He does want our dedication and availability. 

Why?  

Because He wants us to carry forward what Jesus started when He walked the earth in human form. God wants us to be participants in His mission and not just spectators.

Love also means we are willing to sacrifice our desires to do things for others. For instance, if we have plans and someone needs our assistance, we will forego whatever we had planned so that we can be there for them. 

Today, there are some Christians who intentionally make plans that they know will replace spending time with the Lord and His people.

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Today, there are some Christians who intentionally make plans which they know will replace spending time with the Lord and His people. Share on X

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Consider the Example of Moses 

Moses had just given the people of Israel the Ten Commandments he had received from God, and now he was impressing on them the importance of changing their hearts and attitudes. 

Look at how he emphasized the priority they should give to what he had told them.

“These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home when you walk along the road, when you lie down, and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the door frames of your houses and your gates.” 

Deuteronomy 6:6-9

Moses wanted them (and us) to realize that this was information from God Himself and not just something he had concocted on his own. 

We can imagine that he also did not want them to miss out on developing a close relationship with the Lord.

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Making This Practical

Being a follower of the Lord is not something passive, but an opportunity to be actively involved in pleasing Him, and pointing others to His Son. 

As Christians, we have become His disciples with the capability of being witnesses of our faith in the Lord, through our lifestyle and attitudes. 

• Do you love the Lord with all your heart, soul, and strength? 
• Can others easily see the love you have for Him? 
• What changes do you need to make to give the Lord top priority in your life? 

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How to Begin to Love God With All of Your Heart

First… Pray about this.

Invite God to give you a white-hot, passionate heart to know Him and to love Him as you never have before.

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Invite God to give you a white-hot, passionate heart to know Him and to love Him as you never have before. Share on X

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Ask Him to set your soul on fire for Him.

Also, invite Him to expand your prayer life.

For more on prayer, here are some posts you can read:

Simple Tips on How to Pray

Effective Praying to Change Your Life

5 Secrets to Prayers That Get Answered

Keys to Answered Prayer

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Second… Get a good Bible and start reading it.

If you aren’t sure where to begin, you can start reading one chapter in Psalms and one chapter in Proverbs every day.

Also, here are some great articles to encourage your Bible study time:

10 Ways to Make Your Bible Study More Interesting

How to Study the Bible as a Beginner

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Third… Get plugged into a good church – online or in person.

Right now is a great time to connect with a church community.

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Right now is a great time to connect with a church community. Share on X

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There are so many wonderful online options. And, many churches are starting to meet in person again.

For more on why we need to be involved in church, check out this post called, “I Invite You to Church.”

And, if you were previously hurt in a church, this post might encourage you: “An Apology Letter for How You Were Hurt in Church.”

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Finally… Ask God to show you anything that is blocking or holding back your love for Him.

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Here are a few things that may be hurting your relationship with God:

Question – Is there sin in your life that you are knowingly holding onto? Will you let it go?

Consider Psalm 66:18:

“If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.”

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Question – Is there a relationship you need to make right or repair?

If so, will you do it?

Consider Matthew 5:23-24:

“This is how I want you to conduct yourself in these matters. If you enter your place of worship and, are about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend, and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God.”

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Question – Is there something you need to obey?

Has God prompted you to do something, and you have procrastinated?

Maybe He has impressed on you to start tithing?

Perhaps He is leading you to launch out and try something new.

Whatever it is, obey! Just do what He asks!

Once you do, you will begin to grow exponentially in your love for the Lord.

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It’s true—total surrender to the Lord Jesus leads to the sweetest fellowship you will ever have with Him.

The words of Oswald Chambers seem so appropriate here:

“The reason some of us are such poor specimens of Christianity is that we have no Almighty Christ. We have Christian attributes and experiences, but there is no abandonment of Jesus Christ.”

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The reason some of us are such poor specimens of Christianity is that we have no Almighty Christ. We have Christian attributes and experiences, but there is no abandonment of Jesus Christ. Oswald Chambers Share on X

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About the Author:

Don has been teaching Bible classes for over 40 years and a Christian blogger for the last 7 years.

He has been married to Debbie for 50 years and has two children and seven grandchildren. He is overwhelmed and humbled daily by the Lord’s presence.

You can check out Don’s blog at https://utvolwoody.wordpress.com/

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