The great commandment, to “love the Lord your God” (Luke 10:27) is mostly about how: “with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind”. We usually ignore that part of the verse, but it’s really helpful.

We all have our preferred way of loving God, and the ways that we don’t enjoy as much. Maybe we like singing passionately, but we don’t like studying the Bible. Or we like getting things done for God, but not sitting around just being with him. God invites us, no, commands us, to love him in every way. We don’t just get to pick our favourite.

Ephesians 3:18 tells us how to be loved. Paul prays that we may “grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ”.

We are all on a life-long journey to love God and receive his love in every way imaginable. At some point we start looking more like Jesus, who did this all perfectly and completely.

Here’s something I put together from studying various personality tests and communication styles, and looking at them through these two verses.

You can find the ones you’re most comfortable with, and then probably find the ones you need to grow in on the other side. Here are some suggestions:

1. Analytical Mind → do something passionate for God
2. High Expectations → let God know how you really feel
3. Driving Strength → spend time just being with God
4. Wide Freedom → let God help you persevere in something
5. Expressive Soul → think something through with God
6. Deep Feelings → obey God’s commands when it’s hard
7. Supportive Heart → do something courageous for God
8. Long Development → receive an opportunity from God

You might find it easier to start with loving people and receiving their love in all these ways. Look for people that aren’t like you and learn to appreciate the ways they love.