thoughts...

           I've been focusing on Mark 12:30 for the past several weeks. It is the foundation of all of God's commandments, and it is so easy to miss. 
           
          I used to be jealous of people who were always so joyful when they worshiped God. I'd think, "but what if I'm not cheerful? What if my moods change like the weather? What if I simply can't muster up enough happiness to smile? Does that mean I don't love God?"
    
         Absolutely not. Moods are a part of our bodies. Anxiety attacks, depression, mood swings, sometimes even happiness, are often based on physical condition. 

        Love is deeper than the way we feel. 

        Love is deeper than what we believe.
        
        Love is deeper than what we do.

       There is a reason Jesus was specific in the way we should love Him. We cannot love Him with just our hearts. Passion withers away if left to itself. As we think about and know God, we love Him more and more with our hearts because we simply can't help it. Our passion grows.

        We express our love with our thoughts and by seeking wisdom and discernment. But thinking and learning and believing is nothing if it's only stored away in our minds.

        Passion is nothing without action. But action is also nothing without passion. 

        All three must be connected, but none can exist without the fourth.
    
        Our souls. 

        When we asked Jesus to live in our hearts, He built His home there and re-constructed us from the inside out. Without Him, our love for Him would not exist. He is the one Who enables us to love Him. 

        Because of this, I pray everyday that He will help me to love Him more. And I can pray this with confidence.

        Because He wants to have a relationship with me. 

        I can do nothing without Him. I strive and strive to break my idols, to cleanse my thoughts, to strengthen my faith and love, but I fail. Only He can do these things. 

        Therefore, we do not do what we do to get saved. We do these things because we have already been saved. 

        If we look at what He's done for us, we can't help but love Him. And if we love Him, we can't help but love Him with our whole being.