A Collect to Love God First and Foremost

O Lord our God, who created all things by your word and of your desire, grant that we would place always first our desire for you and a desire to please you, that love for you would guide all that we believe and feel and think and do and that our hearts would thus reflect the love that you have for us, through Jesus Christ our redeemer, who reigns with you and the Holy Spirit in perfect unity, one God of joy and love forever. Amen.

‘One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well he asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?” Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’”‘ – Mark 12:28-30