Aba sat at her desk, staring at her planner. Every hour of her day was packed with meetings, deadlines, and errands. Between her demanding job, family obligations, and trying to keep up with her friends, she felt like she was being pulled in a hundred different directions.

Lately, she had been feeling distant from God. She still went to church on Sundays, but her quiet time with Him had become sporadic and her prayers felt rushed and hollow. Deep down, Aba knew her priorities were out of order, but she didn’t know how to fix them.

One evening, while flipping through her Bible, she came across Matthew 22:37-39:

“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. And the second is like it: Love your neighbour as yourself.’”

Aba read the verses again slowly, letting the words sink in.

Jesus’s words hit Aba hard. She realised that her life was so busy that she wasn’t truly loving God with her whole heart, soul, and mind. He had been pushed to the margins of her life, an afterthought in the chaos of her daily routine.

And while she tried to be kind to others, her love for her “neighbours” often felt shallow and conditional. She would get frustrated when people didn’t meet her expectations and she rarely went out of her way to help others unless it was convenient.

“God,” she prayed softly, “I’ve been so focused on myself that I’ve forgotten what truly matters, loving You and loving others. Help me to reorder my life according to Your greatest commandment.”

Over the next few weeks, Aba began making changes in her life, focusing on the two greatest commandments: loving God and loving others.

1. Loving God With Her Whole Heart
   Aba started setting aside intentional time each morning to connect with God. Instead of scrolling through her phone as soon as she woke up, she opened her Bible and spent time in prayer. She asked God to help her focus on Him throughout the day and to guide her decisions. She also began incorporating worship into her daily routine, playing worship music during her commute and reflecting on God’s goodness. By making God the centre of her day, Aba felt her relationship with Him grow deeper and more personal.
2. Loving God With Her Mind
   Aba realised that loving God with her mind meant filling her thoughts with truth. She started attending the Bacenta meeting in her area organised by one of her church members and started journaling about the Scriptures she read. She also began memorising key verses, like Matthew 22:37-39, so she could meditate on them throughout her day.
3. Loving Her Neighbours
   Aba asked God to show her practical ways to love the people around her. She started small, writing encouraging notes to her coworkers, calling her elderly neighbour to check in and joining her church’s hospitality team to organise food for church every Sunday. At home, she made a conscious effort to be more patient and present with her family. Instead of being distracted by her phone or work, she set aside quality time to listen and show them love.
4. Loving Herself in a God-Honouring Way
   Aba realised that loving her neighbour as herself required her to love herself the way God loved her, not in a selfish way, but in a healthy, God-centred way. She began taking better care of her body by exercising and eating well and caring for her spiritual health by saying no to things that drained her energy or distracted her from God.

As Aba focused on loving God and others, she noticed a profound change in her life. Her days were still busy, but they were no longer chaotic. She felt a deep sense of peace and purpose, knowing that her priorities were aligned with God’s will.

One afternoon, a coworker approached her and said, “You’ve seemed so calm and joyful lately. What’s your secret?”

Aba smiled and replied, “I’ve been learning to focus on what matters most, loving God and loving others. Everything else falls into place after that.”

Her coworker looked intrigued and Aba realised it was an opportunity to share her faith. She invited her coworker to church, planting a seed that she prayed God would grow.

Aba’s story reminds us that life can be overwhelming when our priorities are out of order. Jesus’s words in Matthew 22:37-39 call us to simplify our focus:

1. Love God with all your heart, soul, and mind.
2. Love your neighbour as yourself.

When we centre our lives around these two greatest commandments, everything else falls into place. Loving God fully transforms our hearts, and loving others selflessly reflects His love to the world.

May you love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. May your life reflect His love as you care for those around you. And as you walk in obedience to His greatest commandments, may you experience the peace and joy that comes from living in His will.

“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. And the second is like it: Love your neighbour as yourself.’”  Matthew 22:37-39

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding me of what matters most. Teach me to love You with all my heart, soul, and mind, and to love others as You have loved me. Help me to reorder my life according to Your will and to reflect Your love in everything I do. In Jesus Name, Amen.

May your life be a reflection of His love as you focus on what truly matters!