Do you know how to love God?
How many people never, ever ponder that question? Some assume believing in Jesus is enough. Combine that with a prayer of thanks every now and then, and you’re good to go, right? Bonus points for going to church on Christmas and Easter or opening your Bible a few times a year.
If that’s how you feel about loving God, I’m here to tell you—in the kindest tone possible—that this falls far, far short of Jesus’ directive in Matthew 22 to love the Lord your God with all your heart, and all your soul, and all your mind.
But it’s good you’re here. Because this post will tell you how to love the Lord your God—whole heart, soul, and mind—according to his own love language.
Hi, I’m Lauren Thell, author of Christian YA fiction and blogger for teens who are ready to exceed the world’s expectations.
In This Article
What Are Love Languages?
An idea popularized years ago by Dr. Gary Chapman in his book The 5 Love Languages, love languages are the five avenues through which we express love:
- giving gifts
- words of affirmation (saying things like “I love you”)
- physical affection
- acts of kindness
- spending time quality together
Each “language” resonates differently with different people. One person might feel most loved when he hears it said out loud, while another might find that gifts make her feel more loved. (Check out Dr. Chapman’s book or take the free Love Language Quiz to find out what your love language is!)
Case in point: One Christmas, I got my husband the best present ever (his words, not mine): a pair of rubber fishing waders. Fishing waders! We’re talking about glorified boots attached to a set of suspenders!
But I know him. I know he’s into trapping, and his hobby often takes him into swamps. I filled his love tank with that gift, more than I would have if I’d written him the sappiest love poem.
If he had given me a pair of fishing waders for Christmas, however, I would’ve cried.
I would’ve cried, because it would mean he didn’t know me and didn’t know what makes me feel loved. As it is, I don’t even remember what he got me for Christmas. But I do remember the day he did the dishes. I was having a bad day and he did them without being asked, knowing how worn out and on edge and overwhelmed I was.
Knowing I would feel loved when I went into the kitchen and saw them done.
He knew how to make me feel loved.
What is God’s Love Language?
What about you? Do you know what makes your siblings, your friends, your parents, or your boyfriend feel loved? More importantly, are you loving God the way He wants to be loved?
Do you know how to love God?
Fortunately for us, God has taken the guesswork out of loving Him by giving us complete instructions on how to do that. (Sometimes I wish my husband had come with a similar manual.) He tells us exactly what He wants from us in His word, the Bible.
So how do you love God?
Basic Instructions on How To Love God
1) Praise him with singing and music!
Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
Colossians 3:16
Praise can happen without music, but music makes it that much better—and God specifically calls for it here. He doesn’t care if your singing voice is screechy or monotonous. Join in Sunday worship with your whole heart, and lift your praises to him throughout the week. If this feels weird, start with passages of praise in the Bible (such as Psalm 66, Psalm 150, and Isaiah 42:10-13).
Speak or sing the words, and love the Lord your God with all your heart!
Related: Closer to God: How to Have a Heart of Praise
2) Believe in His son.
Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
John 6:29
This means believing Jesus a) is God, b) was also human, and c) died to take away the entirety of your sins. If any of those components is missing from your belief system, I urge you to dive into your Bible and learn the truth about Jesus and justification by faith.
See Romans 10:9-13.
3) Follow his commands, as detailed in the Bible.
“Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me.”
John 14:21
This is such a hang-up for so many Christians, and I don’t understand why. It’s not enough to say you love and believe in someone. YOU HAVE TO SHOW IT!
You believe Jesus is Lord? Great. Prove it—not to me and the rest of the world, but to him and to yourself. Show that your belief comes from the heart by what you do, even when you don’t feel like doing it.
This means following his statues about sex and relationships. Fighting lust, greed, and lewdness. Controlling your language and minding your conduct. And, yes, it also means going to church. (More on that in a minute.)
Be holy, because that’s how you show your true love for God.
See John 15:9-17 and 1 John 5:1-5.
4) Study His word and set your mind on spiritual things.
Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.
Romans 8:8
Control your thoughts! Read your Bible, and stop dwelling on all the ways you could gratify your sinful nature. If you struggle with this, Paul gives a fabulous pep talk in Romans 8:1-17.
5) Pray. A lot.
Pray continually…
1 Thessalonians 5:17
Don’t just come to God when you want something. Experience the various types of prayer described in How to Have a Richer Prayer Life. And check out James 5:13-16 and Matthew 6:5-15.
6) Show Him your gratitude for everything.
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
God did more than give you life and sacrifice his son for you. Every good thing comes from him.
Every.
Psalm 136 is a good reminder of all the things to be thankful for.
7) Gather with other Christians: Go to church!
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another…
Hebrews 10:24-25
Let me say it again: It’s not enough to say you love someone. YOU HAVE TO SHOW IT! That means Christians absolutely need to go to church because God expressly commands it right here in Hebrews 10. Prove your love for God by engaging in fellowship and worship with other believers.
8) Love one another.
To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.
Mark 12:33
You can love God by loving his people. See 1 John 4:7-12.
You don’t have to have all the answers.
but, hey, why not?
Bring me your questions about faith, life, God, the Bible… and I’ll help you find the answers.
Learn to “speak” God’s love language so you can love the Lord your God with whole heart, soul, and mind. When you love him, you will be blessed too!
More Resources for Teens on How to Love God
Check out these great articles, both from Fervr: