Loving The Lord With All Your Heart, Soul, Mind And Strength
Pastors Rodney & Adonica Howard-BrownePublish date: 07/27/2025
Foundation Scripture:
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
Mark 12:30 KJV
1. The Greatest Commandment.
a. When Jesus was asked which commandment was the greatest, His reply was that we should love God fully and completely.
b. It is not just about obedience, but total, consuming, wholehearted love for God.
c. This love isn’t casual or occasional; it is all-encompassing, involving every part of our being: heart, soul, mind, and strength.
d. What does it mean to love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength?
2. With All Your Heart.
a. The heart is the center of your affections, emotions, and will.
b. Loving God with all your heart means He is your supreme desire, your treasure.
c. It’s a love that chooses Him above all else—above wealth, fame, comfort, or even people.
d. Matthew 6:21 KJV –– For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
3. With All Your Soul.
a. The soul is your life force—your very essence and identity.
b. Loving God with all your soul means your entire life is surrendered to Him.
c. You find your purpose, identity, and joy in being His child and living in His will.
d. Psalm 103:1 KJV –– Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
4. With All Your Mind.
a. The mind represents your thoughts, reasoning, and decisions.
b. Loving God with all your mind means you meditate on His Word, you seek His wisdom and align your thoughts with His Truth.
c. It is a love that is intentional and informed, not just emotional.
d. Romans 12:2 KJV –– Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind…
5. With All Your Strength.
a. Strength refers to your physical energy and abilities—your actions.
b. Loving God with your strength means you serve Him with your time, talents, and resources.
c. You don’t love Him just in word or feeling, but in deeds and lifestyle.
d. 1 John 3:18 KJV –– Let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
6. What Are the Benefits of Loving the Lord?
a. You Are Known and Loved by God in Return.
b. 1 Corinthians 8:3 KJV –– But if any man love God, the same is known of him.
c. God delights in those who love Him.
d. Proverbs 8:17a KJV –– I love them that love me.
e. You are not just one among billions—you are intimately known and personally cherished by the Lord.
f. All Things Work Together for Your Good.
g. Romans 8:28 KJV –– All things work together for good to them that love God…
h. Even though we may face trials and setbacks, the Lord will bring us through into victory and the enemy will not prevail against us.
i. We can experience a pattern of divine purpose and blessing in our lives.
j. You Receive Divine Protection and Deliverance.
k. Psalms 145:20a KJV –– The Lord preserveth all them that love him.
l. Loving God places you under the shelter of His wings, safe from destruction.
m. Psalm 91:14 KJV –– Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him…
n. You Are Promised a Crown of Life.
o. James 1:12 KJV –– Blessed is the man that endureth temptation… he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
p. God rewards those who love Him with eternal life and victory.
q. You Will Inherit the Kingdom.
r. James 2:5b KJV –– Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
s. Our citizenship is not of this world.
t. God reserves His eternal Kingdom for those who love Him.
7. What God Does for Those Who Love Him.
a. He Reveals His Secrets.
b. 1 Corinthians 2:9 KJV –– Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard… the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
c. God gives spiritual insight, revelation, and promises to those who love Him.
d. He Answers Their Prayers.
e. Romans 8:28 –– We know that all things work together for good… to them who are the called according to his purpose.
f. Loving God aligns your heart with His will—your prayers become powerful and effective.
g. He Dwells with Them.
h. John 14:23 KJV –– If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
i. Loving God invites His presence into your life, your home, and your heart.
j. He Leads and Provides for Them.
k. Proverbs 8:20-21 KJV –– I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: 21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
l. There is a wonderful inheritance for those who love and obey God.
m. Not only is there an eternal blessing promised to us, but there is a natural, material blessing as well.
8. The Essence of Life.
a. To love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength is not merely a feeling or duty—it is the essence of the Christian life.
b. This love leads to obedience, worship, and service.
c. It shapes your decisions, your relationships, your character, and your destiny.
d. God is not looking for partial love, occasional devotion, or empty lip service.
e. He desires—and deserves—your whole heart.