Today as I was getting ready and just spending some time in prayer and contemplation I was thinking about some of the things I really need in my spiritual journey. What are the necessities? I know the regular things like reading the Word, meditation and prayer as I thought about my relationship with God but another thought came up that took me by surprise a bit. I had to think about it for a while.
As I think about God as Father, it helps understand some of my feelings toward God. One of the things I really want to know from God is that He approves of me. Here I am, a leader in a church, grown up Father of 3 and yet I still need/want the basic things like approval and acceptance. This seems kid of sissy, but it’s true. 
As a man you want to be independent and tough, able to stand firm, to be the rock for your family. But on the inside I really need God’s approval and acceptance. I want to know that what I am doing in life and ministry God looks at it and agrees. In the past, the way I have dealt with this feeling is to compartmentalize it as seeking God’s will, but really this isn’t it. What I really want to know is does God approve.
