Fruitful Living
20 ways to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength (Part 2)
The most important one,” Jesus answered, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. ’The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’There is no commandment greater than these – Mark 12:29-31
PREFACE
Today we bring you the final part of20 Ways To Love God With All Your Heart, Soul, Mind, & Strength.
INTRODUCTION
The Lord our God is the One and only LORD and we must love Him with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind, and all our strength. Our Lord Jesus Christ was quoting from Deut. 6:4-5 “Listen, O Israel ! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone . And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.” whenHe answeredone of the teachers of the law as quoted above. Jesus said that loving God with all of ourselves is the first and greatest commandment. This command, combined with the command to love your neighbour encompasses all the other Old Testament laws. God’s very essence is love; when we love one another, we are fulfilling God’s most fundamental wish for our lives. We shall, therefore, love the Lord our God, and always keep His charge, His statutes, His ordinances, and His commandments.
Last week we shared 10 Ways To Love God With All Your Heart, Soul, Mind, & Strength. Please enjoy the rest!
- DEVELOP A DAILY BIBLE READING HABIT
We need the knowledge of God to be able to love Him and obey Him. To do that, we need to know Him, know what He did, and know His commandments. That’s why we need to have daily Bible reading as part of our routine. We need a moment when we stop and focus on God and hear His voice from Scripture.
Here are some suggestions to help us create a daily Bible reading habit:
- Schedule a quiet alone time, preferably the first thing in the morning.
- Choose a Bible format that works best for you (digital or paper, translation). Don’t be afraid to test many options or to change them after a while.
- Choose a reading plan to guide you. Start with topical reading plans that have shorter daily readings. Or, if you prefer, read one chapter a day, starting with the New Testament.
- Write down at least one thing you learned from that reading.
- DEVELOP A DAILY PRAYER HABIT
Along with daily Bible reading, God’s people need to engage in daily prayer to God to mature in their personal relationship with Him. The more we know about God from the Bible (by reading and studying it), the more we learn to love Him. And the more we talk to Him in prayer, the more our relationship deepens. And the love we have for Him is strengthened by prayer.
We don’t need to limit ourselves to one single prayer time in the day. The Bible tells us to pray continually 1 Thessalonians 5:17, so let us feel free to pray whenever we need or feel like it. But let us make sure to have specific prayer moments every day. Let us keep in mind that those are the times when we meet our Beloved.
Here are some suggestions to get us started or to improve our prayer time:
- Set aside 15 minutes to pray in the morning, after waking up, and at the end of the day, before going to bed.
- Choose a quiet place – Matthew 6:5-6.
- Have a conversational tone – prayer is a privileged with God.
- After praying, be silent for a few minutes and listen. Let God talk to you.
- Make a prayer list so you can remember what you need to pray about. Also, write down how God answered those prayers.
- Study examples of prayers from the Bible – Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 22:41-42; the Psalms.
- Pray in the name of Jesus Christ – John 14:13-14, which means, pray by His authority, so His Will be done, not yours – 1 John 5:14-15.
- STUDY THE BIBLE DILIGENTLY
We already know that we need to read the Bible and meditate on it daily. But we can go further if we want to pursue more profound spiritual growth, and that’s through Bible study.
Here are some suggestions:
- Use resources to help you explore the text better, like Study Bibles, dictionaries, Bible commentaries, and so on.
- Study with a partner or in small groups.
- Attend Bible classes in your local church.
- Attend Bible classes from reputable institutions.
- Pay attention to the sermons and study the biblical texts further by yourself.
- PRAISE AND WORSHIP THE LORD
When we talk about praising and worshipping the Lord God, the first thing that comes to our minds is usually singing songs. It is a good and biblical way to do it, but it is not the only way. So, we need to understand what praise and worship mean, so they can help us love God more. To praise the Lord is to exalt who He is and what He has done – Psalm 150:2 – and let us be thankful for that. It is not about us – it is completely about Him. Praising Him leads us to worship Him, which is to adore and honour Him. It is an act of reverence. Praise and worship are powerful expressions of our love and admiration for the LORD.
- EXPRESS GRATITUDE TO GOD
The more we seek reasons to express our gratitude for what God has done for us, the more we love Him. The Bible says that everything good comes from Him – James 1:17. Thus, we need to pay attention to the good things we have and intentionally thank God for them. That’s when we see the grace of God in our lives, and we learn to love Him more – Luke 7:36-50.
- SPREAD THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL
Jesus told His disciples (including us) to preach the Gospel to everyone in the world – Mark 16:15. Loving is obeying, so we need to do what He told us to do. We must start by preaching to people around us. We don’t have to be preachers or missionaries to engage in telling people about the good news of Jesus Christ. Whether or not we have the calling to go to a specific place to do it, we need to do our best to fulfill this mission that the Lord assigned to all of us.
- BE INVOLVED IN DISCIPLESHIP
Jesus commanded us to make disciples – Matthew 28:1. To obey His command, we need to be discipled by a more mature believer and, as we grow in faith, let us start discipling newer Christians. Let us keep in mind that we must make disciples for Christ Jesus, not for ourselves. We should teach people to obey what the Lord has taught us –Matthew 28:20 – and follow Him. This is done by example, not only by speech. We must live as Jesus wants us to, so others will learn –1 Corinthians 11:1, Ephesians 5:1.
- BE INVOLVED IN MISSIONS.
Christians are called to be witnesses of Jesus and preach the Gospel in our local cities and unto the ends of the earth – Acts 1:8. However, not everyone has the calling to go to other nations. Even if we don’t, we can still do something to advance the Gospel throughout the world.
Here are some suggestions:
- Pray for the missionaries.
- Donate to sponsor kingdom agenda business.
- Spread the word about missions in your local community.
- Talk to your local church leaders about adopting a missionary.
- Support Bible translation organisations.
- Be a local volunteer for a missionary organisation.
- Serve on a short-term mission trip.
- EXPRESS THE LOVE OF GOD BY SERVING OTHERS
Jesus said that He didn’t come to be served but to serve –Mark 10:45. He expects us, His followers, to do the same to others. Serving those around us is another way to express our love for God and to care about the things He cares about. See some practical examples in James 1:27, Isaiah 1:17, Psalm 82:3, Matthew 25:31-46.
- BE ACTIVE IN YOUR LOCAL CHURCH
Loving others begins in the church but is not limited to it –Galatians 6:10. So, don’t just be a mere churchgoer. Let us get involved with the beloved brothers and sisters in our community. It is not only about taking tasks inside the church building but also about serving our community with what we have to offer (talents, time, resources, etc.). Create and nurture relationships. By doing this, not only will we obey many commandments as we read in Galatians 5:13; John 13:34, 15:12; Romans 12:10; 1 John 3:18, 4:11,20, but we will also express our love for God’s own beloved children.
End Piece!
The greatest commandment of all time teaches us that the first thing we need to learn in our Christian life is to love God with our whole being. This important commandment of God requires total commitment to Him and a decision of the will from the children of God to accomplish it.
If you have not yet confessed Jesus as your Lord and personal Saviour, this is an opportunity to do so. And when you do, just surrender totally to Him with your eternal future, for He will never leave nor forsake you – Hebrews 13:5
STAY BLESSED!
For further inquiries please contact us on Tel Nos. 0243588467 or 0268130615
Email: saltnlightministries@gmail.com
Website: saltandlightministries.org
“…at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly” – Romans 5:6 (NIV)
Introduction
JESUS Christ shed His blood on the Cross as the perfect, all-sufficient sacrifice for our sins. His atoning death and victorious resurrection constitute the only ground for our salvation.
The Holy Spirit glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ and convicts the world of its guilt. He regenerates sinners, and we are baptised in Him into union with Christ and adopted as heirs in the family of God.
The Holy Spirit also indwells, illuminates, guides, equips and empowers believers for Christ-like living and service.
What does Easter mean to Christianity?
Easter is the celebration of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus, our Lord and Saviour. God sent His Son to earth to die as a sacrifice for all our sins. Jesus died on the cross to forgive everybody for all the sins we have committed.
Jesus’ blood covered everybody from the beginning of time to the end of the world.
He died for all of our sins. On the third day, Jesus conquered death and rose from the dead. Jesus is the only God who has ever risen from the dead. He is the Saviour of the world. Without Jesus, we could not have ever been Christians. He died so that everybody who believes in Him could live forever and everybody on the face of the earth can become a Christian.
All you have to do is accept Him as Lord and Saviour, confess your sins, obey Him, and live your life for Him.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” – Romans 3:23. However, because of Jesus, we have been saved! For the Christian, Easter is the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus, our Lord and Saviour.
Before Jesus’ death
They slapped Him and pulled His beard;
They spat on Him;
They pushed Him around;
They stripped Him and flogged Him and tore out His skin;
They pushed a crown of thorns on His head – it drew blood;
They put a heavy cross on Him to carry to the place of His execution;
To Calvary He went.
There they pierced Him with nails and hung Him on the cross – naked!
Even at this stage, at the stage of absolute agony and humiliation, they sneered at Him and mocked Him.
He had done no wrong. On the contrary, for my sake, for your sake and for the sake of a sinful world, He accepted the will of His Father and endured this very shameful, painful death.
He said very little during His trial, BUT on the cross He said seven things which we should meditate on.
Seven words on the cross
1. The word of forgiveness
“Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing” – Luke 23:34. What an extraordinary love and mercy! I am saved – you are saved because Jesus asked for forgiveness for us.
2. The word of salvation
“I tell you the truth; today you will be with me in paradise.” – Luke 23:43. Even in such excruciating agony Jesus reached out to a sinner.
The songwriter Frances Jane Van Alstyne, popularly called Fanny Crosby, the blind prolific hymn writer, says it so well in the hymn we all love to sing – TO GOD BE THE GLORY!
Stanza 2:
O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood!
To every believer the promise of God;
The vilest offender who truly believes,
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.
3. The word of love
“Dear woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” – John 19:26–27. Even in the agony of dying, Jesus was concerned about the welfare of His mother and appointed the disciple whom He loved to take care of her.
Then, and even now, children have a responsibility to take care of their dependent parents as stated in 1 Timothy 5:8 – “If anyone does not provide for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”
When we refuse to take care of members of our families, especially the immediate ones, we are worse than unbelievers.
Jesus is a perfect example of obedience to God’s word. He has given us power to do this as He did.
By Rev. Dr Joyce Aryee
Fruitful Living
HAJJ: The 5th pillar of Islam, a sacred journey to the House of Allah An elevated call to faith, sacrifice, spiritual renewal (Part 1)
ALL praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all creation, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate. We glorify Him, seek His guidance, and ask for His forgiveness. We send peace and abundant blessings upon the noble Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), his family, his companions, and all those who follow his guidance until the Day of Judgment.
Introduction: A journey beyond space and time
Hajj is not merely a ritual—it is a divine invitation to spiritual rebirth. It is a journey that transcends physical movement and penetrates the depths of the soul. From every corner of the world, millions respond to the timeless call of Allah, gathering in Makkah in a powerful demonstration of unity, humility, and submission.
Clothed in simple garments, stripped of worldly distinctions, pilgrims stand equal before their Creator—an awe-inspiring reminder of the Day of Resurrection when all humanity will stand before Allah.
Hajj within the framework of the five pillars of Islam
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
“Islam is built upon five: the testimony that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establishment of prayer, payment of Zakat, fasting in Ramadan, and pilgrimage to the House for whoever is able to find a way.” (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 8; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 16)
Hajj is therefore not optional—it is a defining pillar of the Islamic faith for those who possess the means.
Qur’anic foundations of Hajj
Allah says:
“And [mention] when We showed Ibrahim the site of the House…” (Qur’an 22:26)
“And proclaim to the people the Hajj…” (Qur’an 22:27)
“And [due] to Allah from the people is a pilgrimage to the House…” (Qur’an 3:97)
These verses establish the divine origin, universal call, and obligatory nature of Hajj.
Who is qualified to perform Hajj?
Hajj is obligatory upon a Muslim who is:
• Of sound faith, maturity, and sanity
• Physically capable
• Financially able
• Able to travel safely
• For women, accompanied by a Mahram (according to the majority opinion)
Financing Hajj: A matter of purity
The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said:
“Indeed, Allah is pure and accepts only what is pure.” (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 1015)
Hajj must be financed with halal earnings. Sponsoring others is highly rewarded, while performing Hajj on behalf of the deceased or incapacitated is permissible.
The sacred timing of Hajj
Hajj is observed in the month of Dhul-Hijjah, from the 8th to the 13th, with the Day of Arafah (9th) being the climax of the pilgrimage.
Preparation includes repentance, sincerity, settling debts, seeking forgiveness, acquiring knowledge of rituals, and ensuring physical and financial readiness. Hajj begins with the purification of the heart.
Pillars of Hajj (Arkān al-Hajj)
• Ihram
• Standing at Arafah
• Tawaf al-Ifadah
• Sa’i
These are indispensable acts that validate the Hajj.
The rituals of Hajj (Manāsik): A living legacy
The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said:
“Take your (Hajj) rituals from me.” (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 1297)
Hajj rituals—from Ihram, Tawaf, Sa’i, Arafah, Muzdalifah, Mina, stoning of Jamarat, sacrifice, and farewell Tawaf—are deeply symbolic acts rooted in the legacy of Prophet Ibrahim (A.S). They embody submission, sacrifice, patience, and unwavering obedience to Allah.
Prohibitions during Hajj: Preserving sanctity
Allah says:
“There is no sexual relations, no disobedience, and no disputing during Hajj.” (Qur’an 2:197)
Prohibitions include marital relations, use of perfume, cutting hair, arguments, and sinful behavior. These restrictions discipline the soul and elevate spiritual consciousness.
Author’s profile
Imam Alhaji Saeed Abdulai
Kpone Katamanso Metropolitan Chief Imam
Governance Expert and Islamic Scholar
Imam Saeed Abdulai is a distinguished Islamic scholar and community leader known for his impactful teachings on faith, governance, and societal development. He actively contributes to religious education and public discourse in Ghana and beyond.
References
• The Noble Qur’an (2:197, 3:97, 22:26–27)
• Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī
• Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim
• Sunan al-Tirmidhi
• Ibn Kathir, Tafsir al-Qur’an al-‘Azim
• Imam al-Nawawi, Sharh Sahih Muslim
By Imam Alhaji Saeed Abdulai, Kpone Katamanso Municipal Chief Imam, Certified Counsellor and Governance Expert
