“Felt needs” (like how to be happy, how to cultivate greater self-esteem, etc.) have been preached for so long in some pulpits the term “Therapeutic Moral Deism” has been coined to describe the religion it has spawned.
Therapeutic Moral Deism views God as a self-help psychologist who specializes in personal improvement and teaches a few vague principles of right and wrong which rarely, if ever, disapprove of your behavior. This deity is thought of more as an onlooker to life, and not as a Sovereign over it. Clearly the “god” of TMD is far more concerned about your self-esteem than your holiness or the location of your eternal habitation.
Humans clearly do have legitimate spiritual needs, but what exactly are they? Paul’s passionate prayer in Ephesians 3:16-19 identifies them. The first—inner strength—is stated in verse 16: “that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man”.
Your most essential need is the spiritual strength to resist personal temptation like Jesus did (Matthew 4:1-11); to cultivate the virtues of moral purity and moral courage like Stephen did (Acts 6-7); to endure hardships as a valiant soldier of the cross like Paul did (2 Timothy 2:3, 3:10-11); to not shrink back to perdition by failing to finish the race of faith (Hebrews 10:38-39).
May the God of heaven grant you, according to the riches of His glory, strength with might through His Spirit in the inner man. You need it.
