Part 3: Love Him Wholeheartedly, Worship Him Extravagantly

What does God desire most in a relationship with Him? More than a religious activity, He longs for wholehearted love, genuine worship and a heart that reveres Him.

As I conclude this series on what God desires in a relationship with us, I want to share two final aspects of that relationship, along with one overarching truth.

This list is not intended to be the final word or a complete formula. Every relationship is unique, and our walk with God is deeply personal. We are all at different places in our journey of faith. Rather than viewing this as a checklist, consider it an invitation to ask the Lord, “What do You desire most in Your relationship with me?”

5. God Wants to Be Loved Wholeheartedly

When the Pharisees tried to trap Jesus by asking Him which commandment was the greatest, His answer was immediate:

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37-38)

Loving God wholeheartedly is the greatest thing we can do.

When God created mankind, He gave us the incredible gift of free will. He desires love that is freely chosen, not forced. Genuine love can never be compelled. It must come willingly from a heart that chooses Him above all else.

Every day we are presented with countless choices. The greatest decision we can make is to love God with our whole heart.

6. God Wants Us to Worship Him Extravagantly

Wholehearted love naturally overflows into worship.

Someone has said that worship is simply the expression of worth. In that sense, worship is “worth-ship.” We declare with our words, our actions, and our lives that God alone is worthy.

Jesus said,

“The true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.” (John 4:23-24)

True worship is more than singing songs. It begins in our spirit and is grounded in truth.

The Apostle Paul expands our understanding of worship even further:

“Offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.” (Romans 12:1)

Worship is not confined to Sunday morning. Every act of obedience, every word we speak, every decision we make, and every opportunity to serve Christ can become an act of worship when offered to Him.

That raises an important question:

Is the way I am living today bringing worship to God? Is it pleasing to Him?

One of the ways I have grown in worship is by reading through the Psalms. Whenever I come across a declaration of praise that speaks to my heart, I make it my own. I read it, pray it, and even sing it back to God.

One of my favorites is Psalm 145:1-2 from The Passion Translation:

“My heart explodes with praise to You! Now and forever my heart bows in worship to You, my King and my God! Every day I will lift up my praise to Your name with praises that will last throughout eternity.”

What a wonderful pattern for daily worship.

One Final Thought

As we freely offer ourselves to God in relationship, we should also cultivate a healthy fear of the Lord.

This is not the fear of danger or punishment. Rather, it is reverence. It is awe. It is recognizing that He alone is holy, sovereign, majestic, and worthy of our highest honor.

We approach Him with confidence because He loves us, but we also approach Him with deep respect because He is God.

Proverbs 9:10 reminds us,

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

A healthy relationship with God holds these truths together—we love Him deeply, worship Him joyfully, and revere Him humbly.

The Journey Continues

God loves us more than we can imagine and desires a vibrant, growing relationship with each of us. Think of the Christian life as a lifelong walk with Jesus.

As you journey with Him, seek to:

• Know Him authentically.
• Fellowship with Him intimately.
• Trust Him completely.
• Obey Him willingly.
• Love Him wholeheartedly.
• Worship Him extravagantly.
• Revere Him with the awe that only He deserves.

The beautiful truth is this: the closer we walk with Him, the more we discover that the relationship He desires with us is the very relationship our hearts have been longing for all along.

QUESTIONS FOR PERSONAL REFLECTION

1. What competes with God for first place in my heart, how can I love Him more wholeheartedly?

2. Is my worship limited to church services, or is my everyday life becoming an act of worship?

3. What practical step can I take this week to deepen my personal relationship with God?

4. Do I approach God with both loving intimacy and reverent awe?

5. Looking back over this three-part series, which of these seven relationship qualities needs the greatest growth in my life right now?

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