How to Live for God With All Your Heart
Monday, September 9, 2024 by Melissa McLaughlin

A sigh slipped through my lips. I was snuggled together with the kids for bedtime stories. One of our favorite family activities to close out the day.

But that night, I was bone-tired. Gravity pulled my eyelids. The book weighed down my arms. Though groggy-minded, I pushed through.

Normally, I read with gusto inserting animal sounds and character voices while reading aloud. With a book and our voices, bedtime tales carried us to faraway places where we battled ferocious foes and won exhilarating victories. Our kids’ shining eyes provided the reward.

That night, however, I attempted to just get it over with. I tried to summarize the words on the page and skip the special sound effects.

“Mommy, you didn’t sound like the sneaky wolf when you said that. And you missed the huffing and puffing.”

The kids detected my half-hearted effort. Their earnest pleas inspired fresh zeal to begin the story again.

With Your Whole Heart

Sometimes, we struggle to bring the full measure of our hearts to the task at hand. Maybe we’re worn out. Perhaps we feel withered from accumulated stress or inadequate times of refreshment.

However, the heart behind our actions matters. The heart we put into things trickles into everything else. Even a child can discern this.

Recognizing the heart’s impact leads us to look for God’s perspective. What does God say?

God Values the Heart

God places high value on our hearts. In 1 Samuel 16:7 God’s focus on the heart is made plain. “For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart” (ESV).

That takes my breath away. How about you?

Imagine God peering into our hearts, past outward appearances. He discerns pretenses, hidden pride, and self-protection. He recognizes selfish motivations and spiritual blind spots.

All the while, God loves us with an everlasting love. How wonderful is the heart of God!

If God esteems the heart, we might wonder how “heart” is defined in the Bible.

What is the Biblical Definition of the Heart?

The Bible refers to our hearts as the core of our being—including thoughts, emotions, desires, and will. The center or essence of our innermost person.

Consequently, God’s Word reminds us the heart plays a critical role in our lives. Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it (Proverbs 4:23 NIV).

Additionally, God instructs us to employ our whole hearts.

With All Your Heart

Recently, I noticed three Bible verses directing us to live for God “with all your heart.”

Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength (Mark 12:30 ESV).
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths (Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV).
You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:13 ESV).

Love the LORD with all your heart.
Trust the LORD with all your heart.
Seek the LORD with all your heart.

These Scriptures leave no room for a half-hearted disciple of Jesus.

God Wants Our Hearts

Why does God desire my whole heart? God knows everything we do flows from the heart.

Out of love, Jesus surrendered His whole being to atone for our sins and bring us to heaven. How can we then offer a lackluster response to the One who poured out everything for us?

God is a God of passion. He calls us to deny everything, take up our cross, and follow Him. No lukewarm faith will take us there.

However, these Scriptures sound impossible. How can we do anything for God with all our hearts?

This one command—to love the LORD your God with all your heart—reveals that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

Given this reality, how do we attempt to live whole-heartedly for God?

How to Live For God With All Your Heart

It begins with surrender. We turn to Him in our weakness and ask for His strength. We put the full weight of ourselves upon Him knowing that we love Him because He first loved us (1 John 4:19 KJV).

We need Jesus for salvation. Likewise, we need the Spirit to help us live out heartfelt devotion for the Lord.

To do this, first, we ask Him to help us remember.

Remember Jesus’ sacrificial love for us poured out in blood.
Remember God’s love for us as a son or daughter, which enables us to love Him back as our Abba Father.
Remember the Spirit fills us with love we could never manufacture.
Remember His Word, which revives our souls.
Remember, He brings us from one degree of glory to the next.
Remember, He’s not finished with us until we take our last breath.

Second, we ask God to show us one thing that hinders us from loving Him with all our hearts.

Finally, we ask God to help us engage our hearts when we read the Bible, pray, and worship Him.

May God grow our hearts to be more like Jesus, so we can:

Love the LORD with all our heart.
Trust the LORD with all our heart.
Seek the LORD with all our heart.

Would you pray with me?

Heavenly Father, thank you for your steadfast love which endures forever. We surrender ourselves to you again today. Revive our hearts with your love. Help us engage our hearts as we look to you. Remind us of your abiding love flowing ever toward us. Show us one thing today that is hindering our heartfelt devotion to you and help us lay that down. Holy Spirit, help us to love, trust, and seek the LORD with all our hearts. May our lives tell the wondrous story of Christ’s redemption and love. In His name. Amen.

Spiritual Life

Join author and teacher, Melissa McLaughlin, and grow in Truthful Grace as we ignite the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit in our hearts, minds, prayers and lives. Grow in Christ, grow in the knowledge of His Word, the Bible, grow the passion in your prayers.

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