How God Wants You to Love Him // The Right Direction [Part 1 of 4]

 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. Matthew 22:36-38

God Wants us to Love Him By:

Surrendering our Heart

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23 

And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26 ESV

Surrendering our Soul 

He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Psalm 23:3 ESV

 Surrendering our Mind 

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will.  Romans 12:2 

After we surrender in love we can then … 

Grow in our love for God

1. Put in the time 

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Ephesians 5:15- 17 ESV 

2. Put in the thought

 – Meditate on His Word 

I reach out for your commands, which I love, that I may meditate on your decrees. Psalms 119:48

 – Seek Him in prayer 

pray continually, 1 Thessalonians 5:17 

And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. Mark 1:35 ESV

 – Worship Him 

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. Colossians 3:16 

3. Put in the work by living out the Word 

Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart—they do no wrong but follow his ways. Psalm 119:1-3