Open to suggestions

I've been in a committed relationship for the last year with a man I've known all my life. We were friends in school, and reconnected when I moved back to my home town after being gone 20 years. He was married for 20 years and divorced 7 years ago, I was married 15 years and divorced nearly 3 years ago. Our long standing friendship is the foundation of our relationship which has grown over the last year. We both have been hurt deeply in the past, have grown and healed, though we sometimes stumble over old scars. He feels strongly his actions speak far more loudly than words ever could and words hold little value for him. While his actions show he cares deeply for me, the fact he so easily expresses his love to others (his family) in words but doesn't do so with me is difficult. Conversely, when I share my feelings for him or even when he just reads what I'm thinking and feeling (which he is VERY good at), he tends to negate or minimize them saying he's not "worth all that" and he's just "doing what he's supposed to". I don't know how to tell him when he does this it's hurtful to me and I feel as though he is rejecting my love for him. When he devalues himself, he is devaluing me. I understand it's his doubts about himself that drive it. I don't know how to share with him my needs and how I feel without increasing his existing doubts about himself and his ability to love and care for someone. I know we'll grow through this, just looking for suggestions and insight.