I love being a dad! To have the opportunity to reflect my Heavenly Father in the home and in the lives of the children is daunting. If the doctor knew me, he would never have allowed me to walk out of the hospital with my bride holding that tiny new-born that would be completely dependent on us for everything.
It happens every day. Young couples walk out of the hospital or birthing center in awe of the miracle of child birth and in fear of the unknowns around caring for and raising a child. Grandparents and friends can provide needed support and encouragement for the journey. A fathering initiative will encourage and equip dads to be faithful fathers.
For this reason, a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. – Genesis 2:24. And why the one? He was seeking a godly offspring. – Malachi 2:15. The Lord God puts the responsibility of raising the next generation square on the shoulders of dad and mom. He provides the instruction manual, the Bible, for reference, and power to stay the course with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves again to fear; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we can cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. - Romans 8:15-16. All have access to the Heavenly Father through His Son, His word (John 1:1), the Bible. Whether one had a great dad or never met his dad, all have the opportunity to be brothers in Jesus the Christ and adopted as sons of the Father. Whatever the relationship is with an earthly father or father-figure, there will be gaps in understanding how to prioritize physical presence, engage emotionally and lead spiritually as a father. Our Heavenly Father will fill those gaps because that is His triune nature – He sent His Son to be with us physically for a window of time, thus dads are encouraged to prioritize physical presence with his kids; Jesus sent the Counselor to engage His disciples and remind them of His teaching, thus dads are charged to engage emotionally with each child; and the Father provided His word through the scrolls and eventually the Bible for spiritually foundational teaching, thus dads are to step into the responsibility to lead their family spiritually by example and teaching. Take the initiative to be a faithful father.
Tips to start a Fathering Initiative:
Honor mothers extravagantly across Mother’s Day month;
Accept the Father’s Day month charge and summer challenge by clicking HERE;
Contact Faithful Fathering to discuss a Fathering Initiative in your church.
Prayer guide: Father, thank You for Your word and the example You provide. I confess my focus was to go the opposite direction of my dad’s example. While I avoided some pitfalls, I did not represent You well in my home. Forgive me. I want to take the initiative to be a faithful father, to reflect Your triune nature by prioritizing physical presence, engaging emotionally and leading spiritually by example in family. That is the dad You call me to be and that’s the dad my kids need to see. Amen.
A faithful father starts a fathering initiative at home and his church.
