What Do You Value?

What is it you value in life? Our values aren't something we buy at a store, they are the "assumptions and core convictions that shape our actions and decisions." Most often, they come from the lessons we have learned as we live our life. For example, let's say that you were in a relationship, and maybe you were selfish in that relationship. Through your actions, your relationship ended. You learn the lesson that you need to pay more attention to the other person. You can't just say that you care for that person, you have to show them you care.
Now, it is easy for us to say that we value certain things. Often times, what is at the top of our list for values are things like marriage, children, God, prayer, etc... If you were to make a list, what would be on your list of values? I encourage you, if you haven't done so in your life, to take a moment and make this list of values. Once you have this list, it is important to see if how you are living your life supports what you say that you value.
Let's take another example: You say that you value God in your life. You write this down as a value. Then you look at your life and your schedule to see if this is true. Do you spend time with God (in prayer, going to church, being in Bible study, reading God's word on your own, serving God)? To value our relationship with God, means to take time to nurture that relationship.
Prayer: Through prayer, we have the opportunity to connect with God and listen to the voice of God. Church: Going to church is important because it is the opportunity for us to be with God's people and worship God together as the family of God. (For more on this you can see my blogs "Do We Need to Go to Church?", 3-8-07, and "Can you not go to church and still be in God's will?" 4-29-07). Service: Through our serving God, we are able to fulfill the second great command that Jesus teaches us, "Love your neighbor as yourself." Service is also a way to use the gifts and talents that God has given us.
God has shaped you in a unique way. As you discover how you are shaped, and the passion you have in life, you discover what you value. To fulfill your God given purpose you need to not only understand what you value, but live out those values.
So I pose these questions to you: What do you value? Are you living those values out for God? How can you do a better job at this?
Let me know what you think by clicking on the "comment" button below. Blessings.