“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

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
— Proverbs 4:23

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
— Psalm 51:10

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
— Ezekiel 36:26

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With All: My Heart
By Jennifer Kane

O Lord, my heart is Yours,
A garden You have sown;
Where once were thorns and briars,
Now blossoms grace Your throne.

My love was frail and fleeting,
Like morning mist and dew;
But You have made it steadfast,
And bound my heart to You.

No treasure holds its splendor,
No idol steals my gaze;
For You alone are worthy,
The theme of all my praise.

So beat, O heart, for Jesus,
Until my days are done;
For love begins and ends here—
The Father, Spirit, Son.

~~~~~

Scripture: Mark 12:30, Proverbs 4:23, Psalm 51:10, Ezekiel 36:26

The heart is the command center of our being. Loving God with all our heart means giving Him the supreme place in our affections, desires, and will, so that every aspect of our life flows from a deep, prioritized love for Him.

Before a thought is formed or an action is taken, it is first nurtured in the soil of the heart. The Bible speaks of the heart not just as the seat of emotion, but as the wellspring of our entire existence—our passions, our loyalties, our deepest commitments. This is why the greatest commandment begins here: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart…” (Mark 12:30). It is a call to a singular, all-encompassing affection.

To love God with all our heart is to make Him our first love (Revelation 2:4). It means that our love for Him is not one commitment among many, but the central commitment that orders all others. When God has our whole heart, our love for family, work, and creation finds its proper place—flowing from and directed back to Him.

Yet, our hearts are prone to wander. We are tempted to give our ultimate affection to created things—to success, to a relationship, to security, to comfort. These are the “competing treasures” that vie for the throne of our hearts. Loving God with all our heart is a daily act of surrender, a conscious dethroning of these idols. It is the prayer of Psalm 51:10, a humble admission that we cannot purify our own hearts but must rely on God to create something clean and new within us. This is the promise of Ezekiel 36:26: God Himself takes our stubborn, stone-like heart and replaces it with a soft, responsive, fleshly heart that is tuned to beat in rhythm with His.

This whole-hearted love is not a grim duty; it is the path to true freedom and joy. As we surrender our affections to God, He in turn shapes them toward what is truly satisfying: His righteousness, His compassion, and His boundless love.

Our hearts are constantly being offered to something. The question is not if we are loving, but what we are loving with our whole heart.

Honestly assess what sits on the throne of your heart this week. Is it a desire for control? A fear of man? The pursuit of a certain lifestyle? Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any “heart of stone” – any area where you have prioritized your own will over God’s.

We cultivate what we love. How can you actively cultivate a greater love for God this week? This might look like spending time in worship simply to adore Him (not just to feel better), serving someone in need as an act of love for Him, or intentionally thanking Him for His character throughout the day.

Proverbs 4:23 commands us to guard our heart. What influences (media, relationships, environments) are threatening to capture your heart’s primary affection? What is one practical step you can take to better guard the wellspring of your life?

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Father God, You are worthy of my entire heart, yet I confess my affections are often divided. I have sought satisfaction in treasures that cannot last. Forgive me. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Remove my heart of stone and give me a heart of flesh that beats for You alone. Be my first love, my supreme treasure. Help me to guard my heart above all else, so that every part of my life flows from a deep, abiding love for You. Thank you, Jesus and in your name I pray, amen.

September 22 2025