Loving God With All Your Heart

“You mess up, you feel shame, you feel guilt, come to me with confidence, because I want you here. I want to forgive you, I want to heal you, I want to restore you.”— Pastor Matthew

Loving God with our whole heart is both a simple command and a lifelong journey. In this Branch Podcast episode, Pastor Matthew and Pastor Chris talk through what it means to love God in a way that touches our thoughts, emotions, spiritual rhythms, and daily habits. Their conversation comes from Matthew’s recent teaching on the greatest commandments, and they take time to unpack what this looks like in real life.

Pastors Matthew and Chris begin by reflecting on relationships and the different ways people experience love. They talk about love languages, affection, and the natural mix of feeling and discipline. This becomes their bridge into discussing what it means to love God with every part of who we are.

Pastor Matthew explains that loving God is not separate from obeying God. For love to be real, it must show up in choices and habits. Pastor Chris agrees and talks about how the disciplines of faith, prayer, Scripture, worship, and time with God, give space for emotions to grow. Together they describe love and obedience as a rhythm that strengthens itself. Discipline fuels desire, and desire fuels discipline.

Pastor Chris opens up about the challenge of dry seasons. Even when someone is doing the right things, feelings do not always follow. He describes times when his spiritual routine becomes a checklist and says that sometimes he needs a change in rhythm. A retreat, a new practice, or a shift in schedule can help the heart see God’s truth in a fresh light.

Pastor Matthew connects this to the idea of subtraction. At times, the problem is not a lack of spiritual activity but the weight of too many distractions. Busyness, unhealthy habits, or negative influences can dull the heart. They both agree that emotional dryness is not failure. It is often a sign to pause, slow down, and let God bring clarity.

The pastors talk about how spiritual disciplines shape the mind. Pastor Chris points to Scripture, worship, and study as ways to train the heart to believe that God is good. Pastor Matthew adds that trust grows by experience. When someone obeys God and sees His faithfulness, their understanding of truth becomes personal and not theoretical.

They both use relationships as examples. In a marriage or friendship, trust is built over time. It grows as each person acts with consistency and kindness. The same is true with God. When someone chooses obedience, even before they feel like it, God meets them with grace and proves Himself faithful.

A significant part of their conversation centers on how to handle moments when God feels confusing or disappointing. Both pastors acknowledge this is a real part of the Christian life. They point to the Psalms as a picture of honest prayer. Scripture is full of raw emotions, from frustration to fear, and God welcomes all of it.

Pastor Chris talks about praying through anger, discouragement, and injustice. He explains that bringing those emotions to God keeps the heart soft and protects relationships. He also reflects on times when God has used difficult moments to reveal entitlement or teach him to trust more deeply.

Pastor Matthew adds that clarity often comes only in God’s presence. He references Psalm 73, where the writer begins in confusion but finds understanding when he meets with God. Emotions can feel like facts, but God gently reshapes the heart and brings peace, strength, and renewed perspective.

The conversation shifts to what it means to love people in a way that reflects God’s love. The pastors discuss how culture often defines love as affirmation, but Jesus shows a different kind of love, one that is patient and kind, but also honest.

Pastor Matthew explains that loving someone does not mean allowing abuse or becoming a doormat. Jesus had different levels of closeness with different people. Love can include boundaries, distance, and wise stewardship of emotional bandwidth. Pastor Chris adds that loving others often grows through staying committed even when personalities clash. These moments shape compassion and character.

Together they emphasize that the best kind of love always points people toward Jesus. It encourages truth, healing, and long-term growth, not just short-term comfort.

As the conversation nears its end, Pastor Matthew brings up the challenge of loving oneself. Many people carry shame or past wounds, and these experiences can make it difficult to love others with patience or grace. Pastor Chris responds by explaining that healthy self-love begins with letting God love us. It is not pride but surrender. It is allowing God to speak truth over the heart and accepting that His love is personal.

They highlight Psalm 139 and the picture of a God who knows every detail of a person’s life. God sees everything, including the parts we hide from others, and still calls us toward healing. Pastor Matthew notes that no one has ever known us more or loved us better than God. His love remains steady even when we stumble, doubt, or return to Him for the thousandth time.

Pastor Matthew asks Pastor Chris to close the podcast with prayer. Pastor Chris prays for listeners who may be struggling to love God, others, or themselves. He prays for confidence, healing, clarity, and a renewed desire to walk with God. The episode ends with the reminder that God is patient, present, and ready to restore those who turn to Him.