When Jesus said, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” (Matthew 22:37), He wasn’t tossing out a nice suggestion. He was pointing to the very foundation of true faith. This is the first and great commandment. But what does it really mean—to love God with all your heart?
This isn’t about feelings alone. It’s not surface-level devotion or saying you love God on Sunday while your heart chases after other things the rest of the week. Loving God with all your heart means your whole inner being—your affections, desires, and intentions—are centered on Him.
Your Heart Is His Throne, Not a Guest Room
To love God with all your heart is to give Him the throne, not a seat in the corner. He doesn’t want to be a part of your life—He wants to be the center of it. That means you’re not inviting Him into your heart to stay the weekend. You’re handing Him the keys. Every room. Every closet. Every secret place.
There’s no “off-limits” sign when you love Him fully. If your heart is a house, God gets every square inch. He has the right to rearrange the furniture, knock down walls, and build something new.
It Means Undivided Affection
We’re all prone to chase after idols—success, approval, relationships, comfort, control. But loving God with all your heart means there’s no competition. He becomes your greatest treasure.
Psalm 73:25 says, “Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.” That’s the kind of love that isn’t lukewarm or distracted. It’s focused. It’s fierce. And it’s personal.
You start asking, “Lord, does this thought, this plan, this desire—does it come from a heart that’s completely Yours?”
It’s a Love That Acts, Not Just Feels
This kind of love shows up in real life. It affects how you speak, how you treat people, what you watch, what you prioritize. Jesus said in John 14:15, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
So loving Him with all your heart isn’t just about emotion—it’s about obedience. You’re not perfect, but your heart is surrendered. You want to please Him. You’re willing to say no to your flesh so you can say yes to Him.
It Means You Trust Him—Even When It Hurts
To love God with all your heart is to trust Him when you don’t understand what He’s doing. It’s choosing faith over fear. You might not like the valley you’re walking through, but you cling to His hand anyway.
Job didn’t curse God when he lost everything. He said, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him” (Job 13:15). That’s love rooted in faith. That’s a heart fully surrendered, even when life doesn’t make sense.
You Bring Him Your Whole Heart—Even the Broken Parts
God isn’t looking for a polished, picture-perfect version of you. He wants the real you. All your struggles. All your doubts. All your pain.
David wrote, “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart” (Psalm 34:18). When you love God with all your heart, you bring Him even the shattered pieces. You don’t hide. You run to Him. You let Him heal and remake you.
Final Thoughts
Loving God with all your heart isn’t a box you check. It’s the ongoing pursuit of a Person. It’s waking up every day and choosing Him above everything else. It’s giving Him the first word, the final say, and the deepest place in your life.
It’s not easy. It’s not comfortable. But it’s worth it.
Because when you love God with all your heart, you discover something powerful—He already loved you first.
“We love him, because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)