“OUV OU” (“I Love You”!) ~ Heart, Soul, Mind, and Strength!
“Love”! When that word is mentioned, several definitions or persons may come to mind. Most recently for me, the word took on new meaning as I witnessed the birth of a grandchild early this year. This beautiful, dependent boy appeared and my love began for the tiny new life. He won my heart and a beautiful relationship is blossoming.
Another aspect of this relationship is that this special little boy entered life with a spiritual need to know God. My Nana’s heart desire is to join his parents in impressing his young heart, soul, and mind with the love of God so that he will grow to love Him with all his strength. I began to speak and sing the words of Deuteronomy 6:4: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and will all your soul and with all your strength” to him on his first day with us. I continue to do so each time we are together. The effect is obvious as his attention is focused on those now familiar words spoken or sung to him whether in person or via skype. And five months later, while having a face to face chat with him, I heard the sounds of “ouv ou” three times. I quickly turned to smile at his mommy who concurred that he was saying “I love you”. Now it may appear that this Nana wanted to hear those words, and I did indeed. If you are a grandparent you understand. But we are convinced that the message his young mind and heart was conveying was love and admiration through “ouv ou” – “I love you”! Words he has heard often.
God longs to hear His children offer praise and love offerings to Him. He invites us to a growing relationship with
Him and desires for us to learn to love Him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. How do we do that? How are we to love God in full surrender with every ounce of our inner being and strength?
First, Colossians 3:16a NIV exhorts: “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly…” When we dwell in the Word of Christ, our relationship with Him grows stronger daily. Our love for Him grows. He wins our heart, soul and mind. As we allow His Word to enrich our lives, we begin to express our love and praise to Him. How pleased He is to hear those words ”I love you” from His children!
Second, “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”
Deuteronomy 6:6-9 NIV
Show His love to others! God desires, and even commands us, to love Him with all that is within us…to love Him as we sit at home, as we walk along the road, when we lie down at night and when we arise in the morning. This is vital as we live our daily lives ~ to remember to keep our love for God exuding from our hearts in all circumstances, and, to show His love to others.
Something for you to consider … To love God as His child:
- Are you allowing yourself to grow in His love by reading His Word daily, talking about Him as you sit at home, as you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you arise in the morning?
- Do you express your love for Him daily and praise Him in your circumstances?
- Does your life show your love for Him to those in your sphere of influence?
- What changes do you need to consider to help you love God with ALL of your heart, soul, mind, and strength in complete surrender?
