What does it mean to love God with your mind? Here are 7 practical ways to live it out.
Jesus said in Mark 12:30 that the greatest commandment was this (referencing Deuteronomy): “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength”.
He didn’t leave us many particulars.
Like – what exactly does it look like to love God with your mind?
I grew up familiar with God and going to church, and I am a recovering approval-seeking people pleaser. So I tried really hard to do what Jesus said. Even the things that didn’t quite make sense to me. I tried hard to feel like I loved God with everything I had. Practically, I wasn’t sure how that looked.
In more recent years, I’ve discovered that so much of my relationship with God comes down to simple everyday choices and practices – the same building blocks of a relationship.
How would I love those closest to me – like my husband – with all my mind?
I would want to learn as much as I could about him.
I would choose to think the best of him, and challenge thoughts I knew to be untrue.
I would consider him – his likes and dislikes, memories together with him, etc.
I would hold him in high esteem in my mind.
I would give him my attention instead of being divided or distracted.
God is no different than that. His desire is for us to choose him, consider him, remember him, and be present with him.
Let’s break it down a little more. Here are 7 ways to love God with your mind. This is based on an Instagram Reel I posted, but dives a little deeper.
Read a Bible verse or passage in different translations.
One way we can get to know God better is through his Word, but we need to be sure to take into consideration the fact that it was written in another time, to a different audience, with specific purposes in mind. If the Bible you’re reading is in English, then it’s not in its original translation.
For me, I like to start with the New International Version to try to get as close to the original meaning as possible. The Amplified Version gives related words for nearly every word in the text. Paraphrased versions like The Message and The Passion Translation make the point of the verse feel more personal to me.
And then often I’ll use the website Bible Hub to look up the words in Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament).
Figure out what works for you, and give it a try! I guarantee you’ll come to a more full understanding of what the scripture is trying to say.
List ways God has come through for you.
Consider God’s hand in your life, and ways that you’ve seen him work in it. It takes intention to sit down and think about these things, and it’s a way that you can prioritize God and express gratitude for what he’s done.
It’s like writing a gratitude list (which would also be helpful) – usually there’s many more moments there than you remember offhand.
Meditate and be still with God.
Meditation can feel unfamiliar, but it’s a practice that allows you to really be still and mindful with God in the moment. (I’m reminded of Exodus 14:14.)
For me, meditation looks like finding some time alone and getting comfortable. It involves taking deep breaths, and clearing my mind (usually by thinking of a repeated word or phrase like “clear” or “be still”). I like to pray a bit – telling God I’m here and open to whatever he has to say. And then I just sit still with him, allowing thoughts to come and go. Sometimes there are thoughts that don’t feel like they come from me, and I consider those to be from the Spirit as long as they align with God’s Word.
It might look different for you. Maybe experiment a bit and see what works best. Whatever leaves you feeling like you’ve been present with God. It usually makes me feel clearheaded and confident in the Spirit going forward in my day.
Read a faith-focused book.
We have so many options when it comes to spending free time. I’m not against entertainment – I love a good movie or TV show! But one of the ways I’ve learned to love God with my mind is to seek out knowing him better, and sometimes that comes through diving into new perspectives or trains of thought. Books can help me gain a fuller view of God, with things I maybe hadn’t considered before.
Looking for suggestions? Here’s my list of recommendations! (You’ll find my first book here too!)
Challenge lies with scripture.
In any relationship, it takes work to believe the best about the other person. It’s taken growth for me to do this in my marriage – to not go based on how I felt in the moment (frustrated, hurt, or impatient), but to trust in the man I married. And to also set up defenses in place for when I was more vulnerable to believing something untrue.
The same goes with God. The way we keep choosing him over and over is knowing who he is and what he says. The scriptures say that God’s word is flawless (Psalm 18:30) and doesn’t fail to accomplish his purpose (Isaiah 55:11).
Take time to arm yourself in the battle of the mind. Find scriptures that remind you of who God is and how he feels towards you, the promises he makes and the ways he has already come through. And go back to those verses every time you need a reminder.
Reflect on God’s character.
What are things about God that you love and notice and appreciate? (If you were in love, wouldn’t you want the other person to consider those things about you?) Maybe I’m oversimplifying, but to love God with your mind, doesn’t that mean you should…I don’t know…think about him?
It does feel a little like something you would do in Sunday School, but it’s a practice that grows the love and admiration you already have for God. It leads to worship – feel free to sing, praise, smile, and enjoy God!
Notice, observe and be present.
We already talked about this with meditation, but this is something you can do anywhere, at any time. Pay attention to God’s creation. Soak it all up. Notice the details and care he put into his handiwork (even you). It’s another great way to be grateful and give praise to God.
How about you?
How do you love God with your mind? What does that look like for you? How do you define it?
Photo Credit:
1 – Sixteen Miles Out on Unsplash
2 – Anthony Tran on Unsplash
3 – Ümit Bulut on Unsplash
Leave a Reply