10 valid needs of people: approval

As Christians, living in community is essential for grrowth. A part of community are relationships and their importance.

relationships can be damaged because of betrayal, lack of ability to keep confidances, etc. As I live in community, I must learn to approve others in what they say or do. people are responsible for their own decisions and actions. who am i to place judgment on them? the one thing i can do is show them the love of God by praying for them and asking God to give them wisdom to find the way back to Him and to evaluate why they believe what they do.

i strive to see everyone as an individual with their own set of morals, ethics, and values. I can't force anyone to believe what I do. all i can is seek to see them as a child of God who is human and is going to make mistakes. that is a part of our fallen nature.

10 valid needs of people: appreciation

"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves." (Romans 12:10)

This verse speaks of community. As a Christian, I am created and wired for community: to laugh, cry, rejoice, with others. Without community, I am missing something critical to growth. An aspect of living in community is appreciating everyone for their diversity: what they offer and what I can learn from them. I learned to treasure differences not cast them off as if their opinions/views/attitudes don't matter: I'm right and they're wrong.

I believe self centeredness and pride destroy community faster than anything else.  In contrast, humility builds up community.

I want to appreciate others and what they contribute to the body of believers. I also want to honor their efforts.

Appreciation for others is needed in the church today.

10 valid needs of people: affection

As a follower of Jesus, I am called to cling to what is good and avoid what is evil. (Romans 12:9, 21)

Clinging to the good and avoidance of evil relates to showing affection to people how?

I look for the good in everyone; that shines through. I don't always know what others are going through; I seek to understand and put myself in their situation: what made them choose to say/do/act in that certain way. That is a step in a direction of showing affection.

I also belive hospitality and affection are related. Being hospitable and affectionate toward others is welcoming them in as children of God (whether believers or not). I love because God first loved me. When I show affection toward all people, I am reflecting His love.

10 valid needs of people: acceptance

Romans 15:7 states, "Therefore accept one another just as Christ Jesus accepted you."

What does it look like to accept people? I want to accept people for who they are, not what they are. This is a daily challenge. Sometimes I silently judge people based on appearance, education, etc. Then God speaks to me, "Why are you judging them? I made them in my image." I hear Him clearly then I realize who am I to judge others.

I'm not perfect and judging others prematurely isn't accepting them or showing God's love.

I want to accept people just as God accepts me right where I am, and not where I should be or what I could become.

10 valid needs of people

There are 10 valid needs of people such as:

1) acceptance: dignify others by accepting them (romans 15:7)

2) Affection: expressing care and closeness saying "I love you" (Luke 5:13)

3) Appreciation: expressing thanks for the efforts of others (Romans 12:10)

4) Approval: affirming the importance of a relationship (Mark 1:11)

5) Attention: showing genuine interest in another's interests (1 Corinthians 12:25)

6) Comfort: ease the hurting with words, feelings and touch (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

7) Encouragement: stimulating others to love and goodness (Hebrews 10:24)

8) Respect: treating another as having importance and dignity (1 Peter 2:17)

9) Security: harmony in relationships (Romans 12:16, 18)

10) Support: helping to carry another's burdens (Galatians 6:2)

 

 

 

 

anything

I confess I will do anything for God. As long as it's what I want to do.

There are strings attached. I'm not letting Him move freely and with abandonment. I like being comfortable. safe.

Is God real? Or is he plastic? just something to decorate my life?

I want the hollowness out of my faith: out of everything I believe. I don't want Him to just "decorate" my life: just something I do that looks or feels good. I want to reach the point where I can pray, "God. I want you to move in any way You see. I want you to do anything. and I will do anything you ask."

created in His image

Then God said, "let us make man in our image, in our likeness and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them. -Genesis 1:26-27

As this passage says, I am created in the image of God and in His likeness. Everything I do, everything I speak is a reflection of my creator. I am the creation, not the creator. An image reflects something else other than itself. This is what it means to be made in God's image. I reflect Him through my life.

Daily I need to surrender: I am created in His image.

god is able

God is able

He will not fail

This is comforting to me. The God who runs the universe loves me and will never fail me. I just keep going: straight into His heart. The more He reveals to me, the more He wakes my desire to know Him deeply.

without all the struggles and temptations, I am free to live in Him: to live to know Him intimately. I have a freedom to just ask Him for more. I'm never satisfied.

I want to live every day with a knowledge God is able.

He is able.

Nothing is impossible with Him.

inside the heart of God

I want to live outside of myself and live inside the heart of God.

For that to become a reality in me, I must daily die to my own desires, wants, and anything that is from my carnal state.

I pray I would live humbly and walk with my God. (Micah 6:8) That includes having His spirit of wisdom leading me on- every moment. every day.

this involves leaning on Him in everything, leaving nothing outside his control.

That is living inside the heart of God.