By: Tesia Nagorka

“And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.” -Deuteronomy 6:5

What a wonderful verse! It brings light and life to those who receive and declare it. It’s even a common verse, quoted often. Yet, for those of us familiar with this scripture, have we really paused to consider it fully? There can be a danger in familiarity; we can miss the treasure in its meaning.

Let’s consider the verse again.

You must love the Lord your God with all your heart. God is not one for cliches. He is creative and original and sincere in all He says. So what does ‘with all your heart’ really mean? What does the heart imply? Your heart is where your devotion lives. It’s where your desires live. It’s your motives and character, and your secret thoughts. Love the Lord your God with these things. With all of them.

You must love the Lord your God with all your soul. Again, God is not into cliches, so what does ‘with all your soul’ mean in sincerity? The soul is where your emotions live. It’s where all your variations and many faces live. It’s where you can carry deep wounds and experience great joys. It’s where the expression of yourself comes from. Love the Lord your God with these things. With all of them.

You must love the Lord your God with all your strength. You’ve got it by now, God isn’t into cliches. So what does ‘with all your strength’ mean? Your strength is your energy. It’s the outpouring of your efforts. It’s the actual choices you make and cling to. It’s the fullness of your ability. It’s your perseverance and willpower. Love the Lord your God with these things. With all of them.

Yes, what a wonderful verse! It brings light and life to those who receive and declare it. Blessed are those who live by it!