Consistency is the topic for this second week of the DadsHeroChallenge. One of the wake-up calls over the past number of months has been my consistency in certain areas of life and the lack thereof in other areas. I was consistent with going to work and navigating through the busy-ness of the day but inconsistent with investing time well in family. This time has opened my eyes to right priorities, to be more consistent in the right stuff.
The wife of Rick Husband, commander of the Columbia Space Shuttle, had this to say about her husband, “Rick had a very strong belief in the Lord and led our family amazingly, strongly, and would pray with the kids. So much so that he even made devotional tapes for them when he was in space. Each morning, they would watch the little five-minute video that he had prepared for them. He would read out of their devotional books the Bible verse, a little story, and say a prayer and then just talk to them for a moment.” Consistency even when he was away on business provided a legacy for the family when Rick was taken Home February 1st, 2003, earlier than all had hoped.
As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?” “Who are you Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” He replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” … Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord … has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, – Acts 9:3-6, 17-18. Saul was consistent, even passionate in his efforts to persecute those in the Way. Then he had an encounter with Jesus that interrupted his mission. When Ananias opened his eyes, Saul was filled with the Holy Spirit and baptized. He turned from his ways to walk in a new direction, in the Way as a disciple of Jesus the Christ. Today, many of us have been knocked to the ground by the impact the virus, and the government edicts around the virus, have had on our family, work and church. The opportunity is to embrace this time as an ‘Ananias moment’ where eyes are opened to see clearly the new direction to take as a spiritual leader in the family, work and church.
Consistency is in the makeup of astronauts – consistency in their daily regimen from training to diet to exercise to study to their faith is key in reflecting the right stuff. I encourage you to accept the DadsHeroChallenge to consistently reflect the right stuff. Click HERE to download your study booklet and access the second week’s teaching on Consistency.
Prayer guide: Thank You Lord for Your word and Your unchanging nature. I confess that I have been walking in the wrong direction, inconsistent as Your representative in my home. Forgive me. Open my eyes anew so I can consistently reflect You in the family You have blessed me with. It is with this hope that I accept the DadsHeroChallenge to become a hero in my children’s eyes. That is the dad You call me to be, and that is the dad my kids need to see. Amen.
A faithful father accepts the DadsHeroChallenge to consistently reflect the right stuff.
