Loving God strongly is not an instant emotion or a gift that arrives fully formed. It is the primary work of the “new creature” (2 Corinthians 5:17) a progressive development cultivated in the “school of Christ.” Strong love for God grows through knowledge, obedience, character formation and the continual subduing of the flesh. It is a lifelong process of wholehearted allegiance rather than a momentary feeling.
One of the most important steps in developing strong love for God is increasing your knowledge of Him. You can’t deeply love a God you don’t truly know. As you study His Word and His plan, you begin to appreciate His main characteristics of wisdom, justice, love and power and how these all work in perfect balance. Listening to the “still small voice” (1 Kings 19:11-12) of Scripture and meditating on His principles helps His character become part of your own thinking. This growing acquaintance naturally strengthens your love.
As you progress, you move through different stages of love as you press toward the mark of perfect character (Philippians 3:14). At first, love may begin as duty?love — gratitude for redemption and a sense of obligation. Over time, this matures into a love of principles: a deep appreciation for righteousness, truth and the beauty of God’s character. Ultimately, the goal is perfect love, or “agape” in Greek — a selfless, principled love fully aligned with God’s spirit, extending even to one’s enemies. This is the “mark” toward which every Christian presses.
Strong love for God must also be demonstrated through obedience. Loving God strongly means surrendering your will, time, talents and influence for His service. When love is mature, obedience is no longer burdensome but becomes a delight. Because we cannot see God, our love for Him is measured by our sincere and fervent love for our fellow Christians, who represent Him.
Another essential aspect of loving God strongly is purifying the heart. God desires the whole heart, not merely a portion of it. This requires rooting out not only obvious sins but also hidden desires that conflict with His will. Setting your affections on heavenly things helps counter the downward pull of the flesh. You must guard against idolatry, ensuring that no earthly relationship, possession or ambition comes between you and God.
Prayer and communion with God sustain this development. Prayer is the Christian’s vital breath, the means by which we draw near to Him and seek His direction. Maintaining a prayerful attitude keeps your heart aligned with His will. Asking for an increase of the spirit of love is appropriate.
Scripture also teaches that loving God strongly involves your heart, soul, mind and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5). Loving Him with your heart means giving Him undivided sincerity. Loving Him with your soul reflects deep devotion and trust. Loving Him with your mind requires intentional study and taking every thought captive to Christ. Loving Him with your strength means using your energy and actions to serve Him wholeheartedly.
Character development is another part of this journey. Peter’s “virtue ladder” described in 2 Peter 1:5-7 shows how faith leads to moral excellence, knowledge, self?control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and finally agape love. Each step prepares the heart for deeper devotion and stronger love.
Finally, strong love for God must be reflected in how we treat others. Jesus taught that loving your neighbor as yourself is inseparable from loving God. Compassion, kindness, and even love toward enemies demonstrate that God’s character is being formed within you.
In all these ways, loving God strongly becomes a life of principled devotion, expressed through your heart, soul, mind and strength. It is a journey of growth, obedience, prayer and character transformation that leads to the highest form of love — agape — the love that reflects God Himself.
Additional Resources:
Christian Questions Podcast
Episode #1433: “Why Did Jesus Challenge Peter’s Love?”
This episode provides a practical and moving illustration of Peter being challenged to move from human affection to the highest level of sacrificial love
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