Welcome to "The Kingdom Way." In Matthew 22:37-38, Jesus reveals the foundation of all kingdom relationships: loving God with our whole being—heart, soul, and mind. Over these five days, we'll explore how this greatest commandment shapes our connection with God and others. As we delve into each aspect of this all-encompassing love, you'll discover practical ways to align your relationships with God's kingdom principles. Whether you're seeking to deepen your relationship with God or strengthen your connections with others, this devotional will guide you toward experiencing relationships the Kingdom way.

Anchor Scripture: "Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment." - Matthew 22:37-38

The Kingdom Way is knowing that God has always been after our heart.

Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 6:5, Proverbs 4:23, 1 Samuel 16:7

God has always been in pursuit of our hearts. From the Garden of Eden to the cross at Calvary, His desire has been to capture and transform our hearts. When Samuel went to anoint the next king of Israel, God reminded him that while people look at outward appearances, He looks at the heart. This wasn't just a one-time instruction – it's a fundamental truth about how God relates with us.

Beyond our outward displays of worship, like lifting our hands to a worship song or doing or saying the “right” thing, God looks at our hearts, and our motives and can see through what things appear to be. God wants a relationship with us that goes beyond the surface and runs deep in our hearts. God desires us to go from acquaintances to becoming friends, sons and daughters. Relationships require us to engage our hearts, vulnerability, trust, and transparency. The best relationships are ones that engage the heart, and this is what God desires from us. He does not want us to engage Him on the surface or just to check off a to-do list; Christ died for more than that. He died so we can have a relationship with Him, one that engages our hearts fully. He wants our hearts; are you willing to give God your heart fully? 

Reflection: What does it mean to love God with all your heart? Think about your closest relationships – how does your heart engage in those relationships? How much more should your heart be engaged with God?

Prayer Focus: Ask God to examine your heart and reveal any areas that you haven't fully surrendered to Him.

Today's Application: Take time to journal about the state of your heart. What occupies your thoughts and emotions most? What does this reveal about your heart's true priorities?

The Kingdom Way is immersive; God is involved with our soul as well.

Scripture Reading: Psalm 42:1-2, Psalm 103:1-5, John 12:27

Our soul – the essence of who we are – longs for connection with its Creator. The soul encompasses our emotions, our will, and our deepest desires. When David wrote about his soul thirsting for God like a deer pants for water, he was expressing this fundamental need for divine connection. In the Kingdom Way, God doesn't just want surface-level interaction; He desires to penetrate the depths of our being.

There is a part deep inside of us that will never be fulfilled by anything else or anyone else but God. Our soul will never be satisfied by anything else but God because God made it to be so. In a world filled with distractions and temptations, it is easy to not fully immerse our entire being and dedication to God and the things of His, but this is not meant to be so. The Kingdom Way is to be fully surrendered and to submit not just our hearts but also our soul, which represents the core of our being (including thoughts, feelings, and identity); the Kingdom Way is immersing it all.

Reflection: How does your soul respond to God's presence? What nourishes your soul, and what depletes it?

Prayer Focus: Invite God to minister to your soul, especially in areas where you feel wounded or depleted.

Today's Application: Create a "soul care" plan – list activities that genuinely refresh your soul and schedule time for them this week.

God wants to engage your mind

Scripture Reading: Romans 12:2, Philippians 4:8, Isaiah 26:3

The Kingdom Way involves a transformation of our thinking. God gave us minds to know Him, understand His ways, and make wise choices. When Paul talks about renewing our minds, he's inviting us into a process where our thought patterns align more closely with God's truth. This isn't about abandoning reason but sanctifying it.

It is easy to think we only engage God with our feelings and emotions and heart because that is what we are used to seeing and hearing. However, in many places in the Bible we see God talk about our minds. Romans 12:1-2 tells us that it is by our minds being renewed that we don’t conform to the way of the world. Because we belong to a different Kingdom we need our minds to also be aligned with the way of the Kingdom of God; like Romans 8:5-6 reminds us that those who live according to the Spirit set their “minds” on the things of the Spirit. Let your mind be involved in your relationship to God and you will be amazed at what happens.

Reflection: What thoughts dominate your mind? How do they align with God's truth? What needs to change?

Prayer Focus: Ask God to help you identify and replace negative thought patterns with His truth.

Today's Application: Choose a scripture that addresses an area where you struggle with negative thoughts. Memorize it and recite it whenever those thoughts arise.

The Kingdom Way is about putting God first

Scripture Reading: Matthew 6:33, Exodus 20:3, Colossians 1:18

In the Kingdom Way, priority matters. When Jesus spoke about seeking first the Kingdom of God, He was establishing a divine order for our lives. This isn't about rigid religiosity but about understanding that everything flows better when God has His proper place in our lives. Just as a wheel turns smoothly around its center, our lives function best when God is at the center.

There is a song I love by Laure Daigle called “First.” It speaks about putting God first, which often rings in my head when I try to do anything before starting my day. No matter how important some things are, God wants us to put Him first. This is simply the way of the Kingdom. Anything we put before God is an idol, so we need to ensure in our daily lives that God is first and at the center of all that we do. You make time for the things you love and the people you love, so how much more, God? I know sometimes it is easy not to put God and the things of God first because it often feels intangible. After all, we can't "see" Him physically as we would see a friend, but God is the King of the Kingdom we belong to. Putting the King first shows our love, honor, respect, and reverence to the King.

Reflection: What competes for first place in your life? How do your daily choices reflect your priorities?

Prayer Focus: Ask God to show you practical ways to put Him first in your daily routine.

Today's Application: Review your schedule for the next week. How can you practically demonstrate that God is first in your time, resources, and relationships?