R.E.S.P.E.C.T........Find out what it means.....Dear Dad 66

Dear Dad,

I have learned that relationships fail due to a lack of respect. My starting point of this revelation begins with You. Often times we go about our lives disrespecting You. We do whatever we want to do with no regard for You and how our actions affect You. No wonder this same nonchalant attitude spills over into families, marriages, relationships, and even working relationships. The ability to show respect begins with the mastering of self respect. There is a rare person that understands the meaning of self respect, which can be found and carefully defined in Your word. We do everything off impulse and validate our actions because we claim to be adults. That mindset is so limiting and automatically creates a barrier when we interact with others. There is no way we can say the things we say, or even think some of the foolishness we think about others if we respected them. To show respect to another person means to honor them and show admiration. Additionally, to show respect means we are not justified to unruly actions and reckless speech simply because we don’t like or agree with something we have heard or in some instances seen. #1 that behavior confirms zero self control and#2 it exemplifies to others the lack of respect for them as well.  We cannot get caught up in others shortcomings and their unwillingness to show respect, and use that as an excuse to personally refrain from demonstrating respect towards others. Our job is to believe that if we honor and respect You, that You will and in return honor us & surround us with others who understand this concept and respect Your principles as well. Father, I refuse to begin another relationship without embodying self respect, and gaining a complete understanding of Your instructions on how to implement and carry out respect towards others.

Kristen

Word on The Go: Proverbs 14:2; Proverbs 11:16; 1 Corinthians 11:3-9; Ephesians 5:21; Philippians 2:1-4 (The Message)

Proverbs 14:2
An honest life shows respect for GOD; a degenerate life is a slap in his face.

Proverbs 11:16
A woman of gentle grace gets respect, but men of rough violence grab for loot

1 Corinthians 11:3-9
In a marriage relationship, there is authority from Christ to husband, and from husband to wife. The authority of Christ is the authority of God. Any man who speaks with God or about God in a way that shows a lack of respect for the authority of Christ, dishonors Christ. In the same way, a wife who speaks with God in a way that shows a lack of respect for the authority of her husband, dishonors her husband. Worse, she dishonors herself—an ugly sight, like a woman with her head shaved. This is basically the origin of these customs we have of women wearing head coverings in worship, while men take their hats off. By these symbolic acts, men and women, who far too often butt heads with each other, submit their “heads” to the Head: God

Ephesians 5:21
Out of respect for Christ, be courteously reverent to one another

Philippians 2:1-4
If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if youcare— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand