Bible Verse
‘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.
Have you ever noticed how our world seems obsessed with finding ourselves, loving ourselves, and putting ourselves first? It's like we're all carrying empty cups, desperately trying to fill them from within. But what if we've been looking at it backward? What if true fulfillment comes not from focusing inward, but from letting our hearts overflow with love for God first? This ancient truth from Matthew's gospel speaks right to our modern hearts: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." It's an invitation to discover what happens when we pour out our love completely to God, only to find ourselves filled in ways we never imagined.
Short Devotional
Think about Mary of Bethany for a moment. Remember how she chose to sit at Jesus' feet while her sister Martha rushed around, busy with everything she was doing? Mary understood something precious about loving God with all her heart – it meant choosing Him first, even when cultural expectations and practical demands pulled at her attention. The beautiful thing is that Jesus didn't just accept her devotion; He celebrated it, saying she had chosen "what is better" (Luke 10:42).
Isn't it fascinating how Mary's choice still challenges us today? In a world that tells us "you do you" and "chase your dreams," she shows us a different path: loving God completely leads to finding our truest selves. When was the last time you sat quietly at Jesus' feet, letting everything else wait?
Read more about Mary of Bethany in Luke 10:38-42 and John 12:1-8
Let's Pray
Heavenly Father,
I come to You today aware of how Your presence fills this moment. Thank You for being here, for being constant when everything else feels like it's spinning. Lord, I confess that sometimes I get caught up in trying to fill my own heart – with achievements, with self-improvement, with whatever the world says will make me complete. But Your Word tells me to love You with all my heart, and I want to understand what that really means.
Help me to see where I've been holding back pieces of my heart, trying to protect or preserve them for myself. Show me how to love You not just with some of me but with all of me. When I'm tempted to put my own desires first, remind me of Mary's beautiful choice – to sit at Your feet and find everything she needed there.
Jesus, I want to pour out my love for You as naturally as breathing. Transform my understanding of self-love into something bigger – help me see that loving You completely doesn't diminish me but makes me more fully who You created me to be. Where I've been trying to fill myself up, teach me instead to overflow with Your love first.
Thank You for loving me so perfectly, even when my own love feels imperfect. Thank You for showing me what true love looks like through Jesus. I trust that as I learn to love You more fully, You'll shape my heart to be more like Yours.
In Jesus' name, with confidence in Your faithful love,
Amen
Journaling Prompts
When you think about loving God with "all your heart," what feels challenging about that? What holds you back?
Imagine sitting at Jesus' feet as Mary did. What would you want to say to Him? What do you think He might say to you?
How has trying to fill your own heart with love and fulfillment worked for you so far? What might change if you focused on loving God first?
What would you say if someone asked you why you chose to love God completely in a world full of other options?
Remember, that loving God with your whole heart isn't about being perfect – it's about being present and willing to grow. As you move through your week, notice the moments when your heart naturally turns toward God, and celebrate those small victories. I'm excited to continue this journey together, exploring more ways to deepen our love for the One who loved us first. I pray that you enjoy your Monday.
God Bless!
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