Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 6:5 when he was asked by a teacher of the law which is the most important commandment of them all.
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and mind and with all your soul and with all your strength [your entire being]” (AMP).
Clear cut and simple, right? However, if we are totally honest about it, obeying this is the most difficult thing to do. Yet obey we must for Jesus also says in John 14:21.
“The person who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who [really] loves Me; and whoever [really] loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him [I will make Myself real to him].” (AMP)
There is another motivation for us to obey, and that is, we will then truly be able to enjoy life to the full as promised in John 10:10 “The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows]” (AMP).
So, what does it mean? Let us begin with loving God “with all your heart”. The heart is synonymous with emotions, and we all are affected by our emotions. Have you experienced times when life deals a cruel hand? And the “Why me?” question creeps in, do you feel less willing to love God? To love God with all your heart means at all times, regardless we are emotionally high or low. We need to practice this, a little at a time. Tell God how you feel and ask Him to help you love Him.
“With all your mind” means we need to focus on good thoughts. Satan loves to play havoc with his mind games, paralyzing us. Paul teaches us how to focus in Philippians 4:8-9.
Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart]. The things which you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things [in daily life], and the God [who is the source] of peace and well-being will be with you.”(AMP)
“With all of your soul” Our soul is that innate part of us that tells us there is a higher being. The bible tells us to be still and know there is God. So with all our soul means to love Him with more than our five senses. Finally, “with all our strength” means stepping out of our comfort zone to serve Him with all our energy, faculties, and resources, in faith regardless of risks.