By: Krista Steuber
When I first began my walk with God, there was something that really bothered me. I didn’t feel a deep love for Him. Don’t get me wrong, I loved God and wanted to be close to Him, but it was more of an intellectual love. I felt it in my head, but not so much within my heart. There was some kind of disconnect, and I felt like something was missing or incomplete. Some women in my circle radiated this deep-seated love for God on all levels; it wasn’t just intellectual, it was also emotional. They seemed to have a full-scale love. I longed to feel that, too.
At first I thought to myself, well, maybe I don’t feel that way because I’m not a very “emotional” person. I’m generally not one who has extreme highs or lows of emotion or cries easily. I’m fairly steady and even keel most of the time. But that reason didn’t seem right to me. That shouldn’t get in the way of my love for God.
I think the opposite also happens as well. Some women may begin their walk with God on an emotionally high charge, but they’re missing the intellectual piece of the relationship.
Can you relate to one of those scenarios? In either case, we have a disconnect between our heart and mind that needs to be brought together in order for us to have a deeply rooted, sustainable love for God that we feel to the depths of our core.
So, I prayed about it. I asked God to give me the all-encompassing love for Him I was craving. I asked Him to help me love Him with all my heart, soul, and mind, just the way Jesus teaches us in the Greatest Commandment. (Matthew 22:37). As I continued to pray for this love, I felt an answer - you will as you get to know Me.
It’s hard to love a person you don’t know very well. Think about anyone in your life whom you love. When did you start to love them? Love begins and grows by getting to know someone, spending time with them, and building a relationship. A deep connection is necessary for deep love. It works the same way with God!
God wants us to know Him! He has given us His Word, the Bible, to learn who He is and help us understand His character and His love for us. Unfolding over thousands of years, our Creator, our Heavenly Father, speaks to us about who He is through the story of what He has done and His plan of redemption for the world. It’s really difficult to sum up the significance of the Bible. It carries such weight and love you can only comprehend by reading it and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide you and teach you as you do.
So, I did what God asked of me. I kept reading my Bible consistently. I used a study Bible and other resources to help me. I meditated on what I read by journaling. I continued to spend time with God in prayer. And, let me tell you, I could feel Him answering my prayer! As time went on and I got to know Him better, my love for Him just grew. There was a tangible difference I could feel. It was like God was connecting the pathway between my heart and mind and growing my love for Him deep in my spirit.
God helps me love Him with all of my being. Along with that love, I have a huge sense of gratitude for who God is and how much He loves His children. The Creator of the universe, the Creator of everything, the Alpha and Omega, is my Father and loves me! There’s no way to wrap your head around it. There is no human love that can compare or even come close to the way God loves His sons and daughters. His love is just indescribable. We are “at home” and complete when we are living in God and His love; that is our purpose and who we were created to be.
It’s nothing short of amazing how God will give us exactly what we need. Whatever He requires of us, He will give us when we ask Him. When we pray and seek Him, His Spirit will work in our heart to transform us. He will help our love for Him grow. He will help us be faithful and persevere. He will help us be obedient to His commands. He will help us extend love, mercy, and grace to others. He will give us wisdom and discernment to see things through His perspective. All of these things are only possible through God. When we are walking in step with Him, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control all come to us by way of His Holy Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-23).
I pray you, too, desire a deep relationship with your Heavenly Father. I pray you are encouraged to spend time with Him in prayer and in His Word to develop and strengthen that bond and to live in the completeness of His everlasting love.
“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. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:36-40 NIV
