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

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
— 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.
— Colossians 3:23

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
— 2 Corinthians 12:9

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With All: My Strength
By Jennifer Kane

O Lord, my strength is Yours,
Each breath, each step, each fight;
You gird me in Your armor,
You train my hands aright.

When weariness surrounds me,
And burdens weigh me down,
Your power lifts me upward,
And sets me on the ground.

No labor is too heavy,
No service is too small;
I’ll spend my days in striving,
To answer to Your call.

So rise, O strength, for Jesus,
Until the race is done;
For love is strong surrender,
And victory is won.

~~~~~

Scripture: Mark 12:30, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Colossians 3:23, 2 Corinthians 12:9

Loving God with all our strength is the tangible expression of our love through our physical bodies, our energy, and our actions. It is the wholehearted effort we exert, empowered by His Spirit, to serve and glorify Him in the everyday.

Love is not merely a feeling, a thought, or a private commitment. True, whole love must find its way into action. This is what it means to love God with all our strength. It is the mobilization of our entire being—our physical energy, our resources, our time, and our gifts—in the service of our love for God.

The call to love God with our strength answers the question, “How does my love for God move from the internal world of my heart, soul, and mind into the external world?” The answer is: through the committed use of our bodies and our energy. Our strength is the “how” of love. When we use our hands to serve a neighbor in need, our feet to go where God calls, our voices to encourage the broken, or our financial resources to advance His kingdom, we are loving God with our strength. We are putting muscle on our faith.

This love is expressed in two profound ways. First, it is found in faithful stewardship. Recognizing that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, we honor God by caring for our physical health, resting appropriately, and avoiding habits that defile His dwelling place. Second, it is found in wholehearted effort. We can transform mundane tasks into acts of worship. Whether we are filing paperwork, preparing a meal, studying for an exam, or leading a meeting, we can do it “as for the Lord,” investing our best energy as an offering to Him.

Crucially, loving God with our strength does not rely on our own limited power. It is fueled by His limitless grace. In our weakness—when we are tired, burnt out, or feeling inadequate—His power is made perfect. To love God with all our strength is to depend utterly on His strength, allowing Christ to work in and through us.

Our strength is a finite resource, and we are constantly tempted to spend it only on ourselves. Loving God with it requires intentionality.

Review your past week. Where did you invest your best strength and energy? Was it primarily in pursuit of your own comfort, success, or pleasure? How can you intentionally redirect a portion of your physical energy this week as a specific act of love for God (e.g., serving your family without complaint, volunteering, taking a prayer walk)?

In what one way can you better honor God with your body? This could be a commitment to rest as an act of trust, choosing healthier food to steward His temple, or eliminating a habit that hinders your ability to serve Him fully.

Where are you feeling weak, overwhelmed, or inadequate? Instead of hiding it, offer that weakness to God in prayer. Ask Him to show you how His power can be perfected in that very area, turning your limitation into a platform for His strength.

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Father God, my strength is limited, but Yours is infinite. I offer You my body, my energy, and my actions today. Help me to honor You with my strength—in how I work, how I serve, and how I care for the temple You have given me. When I am weak, remind me that Your grace is sufficient and Your power is made perfect in my dependence. May every effort of my hands and every step of my feet be an act of worship, a tangible expression of my love for You. Thank you, Jesus, amen.

September 25 2025