Part 1 of 4
He who speaks on his own does so to gain honor for himself, but he who works for the honor of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him. John 7:18
God is continuing to work in my heart about craving recognition from other people. Jesus framed this issue as seeking my own glory vs. seeking the glory of God.
Why am I tempted to seek recognition, acknowledgement, appreciation and respect from others? It is an attempt to answer the question, “Do I have value and worth?”
The problem with trying to get those questions answered by other people is that they have neither the authority or the capacity to answer them—only God can. My needs are way too great to be met by other people. I will always be disappointed if I look to other people to meet my needs.
Is it OK to seek God’s glory and honor? It is alright for me to come to Him asking, “Daddy, what do you think of me? How much do you love me? Do you esteem me, honor me, care for me and believe in me?” I believe this is not just OK; He is delighted to give it to me!
Once I have this deep need for love and worth met by God, I am set free to not expect it from anyone else. This is true freedom. Not needing anything from anyone. Only then can I truly be the servant that God has called me to be, meeting whatever needs He shows me, because then it is not about me and getting my needs met. I have a long way to go to have this be a consistent characteristic in my life!