With All My What?

I was thinking about a passage this morning.

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." (Mark 12:30)

It took me back to a distant time. Well, not too distant. A few years ago. I was looking at that same verse, and I asked myself if that described me. (I think I was doing a Beth Moore study at the time...she has a way of cutting straight to the heart.) Did I love the Lord with all my heart, soul, mind and strength?

I am passionate about a few things. I love to write. I love to read. I love my family. I love my friends. And I love the Lord.

But at that time, did I love Him with ALL my heart, soul, mind and strength?

I love walking in the woods. I love traveling. I love good music.

But did I love God with ALL my heart, soul, mind and strength?

I had to answer, "God help me, I don't think I do."

But this one thing was true. I WANTED to love Him that way. So that desire became one of my desperate prayers. (You know the ones...the requests that you would give almost anything to have fulfilled.)

Here is one of the most wonderful things about God. Prayers prayed according to His will, He delights in answering. And a seeking heart desperate for Him is one that He listens to.

I asked that question again this morning, years down the road. Is it yet true? Do I love Him with EVERYTHING that is inside me? I'm not sure the answer is yet a resounding yes. But it is a closer yes. It is a feeble yes that spends more time with Him. And it is a growing yes that continues to pray that same desperate prayer...

"Lord, increase my desire for You."