Today we get to continue digging into the traits of a godly dad. It’s interesting to just go with whatever the search results provide as the devotional to dig into. Today’s devotional from Bible.com is looking to empower us to be the dads. Today’s devotional from Bible.com is looking to help us address our feelings of inadequacy by providing us with the traits we need to be the dads. Today’s devotional from Bible.com is looking to help us get out of the starting blocks and into the race by sharing 6 biblical traits we need to model in our own lives in order to be the dads God created and purposed for us to be. So let’s dig in deeper as we jump into this new devotional in order to be able to learn and practice what God’s prepared in advance as good works for us to accomplish. Let’s grab a hold of these traits in order for us to be the dads, the godly dads we need to be for our wives, our kids, and our world.
Today’s devotional connects with the following verses:
‘Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, ‘
Colossians 3:23
‘If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. ‘
James 1:5
‘The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice. ‘
Proverbs 12:15
‘Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.’
Matthew 6:34
I am so thankful that God’s Word is alive and available to me daily. I am so thankful that God knows what I need before I even ask. I am so thankful that God’s Word never returns void. So I reach out to Him today as it begins and I prepare for an amazing reunion with my daughter after months of her being off at boot camp and getting to watch her graduate today.
So as we prepare for today let’s be the dads who remember that what we are to do isn’t for the pleasure or joy of man but rather for the purposes and the plans of God! Let’s be the dads who aren’t interested in pleasing man more than pleasing God! So let’s be the dads whose work is done with all of our hearts because we want to make it a pleasing aroma and offering to God as we are living sacrifices to Him. Let’s be the dads who are more interested in glorifying our Heavenly Father who created us with the gifts and talents to get it done.
Let’s choose to be the dads who when we don’t know what to do, we do what we know to do and so invite Jesus into our very situation asking Him for wisdom to help us get done His plan and His purpose for His glory! Let’s ask for wisdom with confidence knowing that He will give it to us without finding fault! Let’s ask for wisdom confident that He will give it to us generously!
Let’s choose to be the dads who aren’t so prideful we aren’t willing to listen. Let’s be the dads who can take and even receive advice and feedback that will help us become better for the glory of God. Let’s be the dads who want to be the best version of ourselves possible and as such don’t think we have all the answers and so seek God’s wisdom and surround ourselves with godly men who can keep us accountable and help us to be the dads God created and purposed for us to be.
So it’s today! This is the day that the Lord has made so let’s rejoice and be glad in it! Let’s not be worrying or get anxious about tomorrow because tomorrow isn’t guaranteed, yesterday is gone, so let’s make the most of today as it will have enough things to keep us busy. Let tomorrow worry about itself! In this world we will have trouble and so will today but take heart because Jesus has overcome the world! Let’s be the dad who live out our today to the full as God has purposed and planned, trusting in Him, leaning on Him rather than our own understanding and allowing God to make our path straight!
Today’s devotional has been provided by Manhood Journey (more details can be found here: About The Publisher (manhoodjourney.org))
Reading through today’s devotional, here are some takeaways for me:
(check out the devotional on your own too to see if you pick up other nuggets, and please share your findings in the comments)
For more information, please visit Manhood Journey: https://www.manhoodjourney.org/product/1-1-guides-bundle/.
“Day 7 The godly dad understands biblical mission.”
- Are you ready to live a biblical mission?
- Are you ready to be the dads who make time for God to speak?
- Are you ready to be the dads who are living on purpose, with purpose and on mission for God?
- Today’s devotional speaks to 8 ideas for finding God’s will in our lives:
- “Through His Word”
- Today’s devotional comes with an audacious claim: “You CAN know God and His will. But there’s the caveat, God does NOT speak anything contrary to His Word. Knowing God and His will for your life go hand in hand with knowing His Word. God’s Word brings numbers 2-8 into subjection.”
- Let’s choose to be the dads who lean in on God and His Word for direction in the way we should go, leaning on Him rather than our own understanding so that He can make our path straight.
- “Through prayer”
- Today’s devotional points us to God’s Word in James 1:5 because “Prayer is vital. Pray as Scripture tells you. ”
- Let’s choose to be the dads who pray and pray as scripture tells us.
- “Through wise counsel”
- Let’s make sure we have people in our lives to whom we can turn and ask and discuss things in order to receive wise counsel.
- Let’s be the dads who ask wise friends!
- Let’s be the dads who ask wise mentors!
- Let’s be the dads who even ask wise family members!
- Let’s not go it alone or try to figure everything out in our on strength!
- “Through understanding your gifts”
- Today’s devotional made me laugh because any friends over the years who were going to Europe to find themselves, I would ask if they had ever been to which most say “no” and so I respond with if you’ve never been what makes you think going there will help you find yourself?
- Let’s use the tools we have been provided to evaluate our gifts and talents and choose to live out our lives in a ay that will glorify God in and thru our use of them.
- “Through considering all the options”
- Today’s devotional points to ways of considering all the options by pointing to a helpful formula provided by Rick Warren in The Purpose Driven Life:
- “Worship > What is the CENTER of your life?”
- “Discipleship > What will be the CHARACTER of your life?”
- “Service > What will be the CONTRIBUTION of your life? Knowing your SHAPE (spiritual gifts, heart, abilities, personality, and experiences) what’s your best role in serving the church? Is there a specific group you are shaped to serve?”
- “Mission > What will be the COMMUNICATION of your life? Write your personal mission statement and include your commitment to share your story authentically with others.”
- “Fellowship > What will be the COMMUNITY of your life? How will you demonstrate your commitment to other believers & your connection to the church. Where will you practice church? ”
- Today’s devotional points to ways of considering all the options by pointing to a helpful formula provided by Rick Warren in The Purpose Driven Life:
- “Through His peace”
- Ever found that sense of peace when you are on the right road?
- Ever found the comfort that comes when you are doing what you should be?
- Today’s devotional shares advice when we don’t know what to do next, when we are needing clarity: “Henry Blackaby says in Experiencing God. What was the last thing God told you that you haven’t done? Do that. Essentially, do the thing you know to do that’s right—right now. Baby steps. But baby steps are all about number 7. ”
- “Through action”
- Today’s devotional shares a quote from Yogi Berra: “When you come to a fork in the road, take it!”
- Let’s be the dads who don’t turn from challenges but instead lean into God more!
- Today’s devotional closes with the following: “Some people get stuck when they face a big decision. Don’t be passive. The godly dad does not live in fear—but by faith. Matthew 6:34 says, “Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself.” Don’t mistake inaction for holiness. In my life, I’ve often found comfort is often the antithesis of God’s will. ”
- “Through trust and sticktoittiveness”
- Let’s be the dads who trust God!
- Let’s be the dads who persevere!
- Today’s devotional says it this way: “Once you’ve done the previous seven things, trust God and the decision you’ve made. With most people, life happens to them. God wants us as godly dads to throw our lives into something that makes a difference in the world around us. I can tell you, if you’re reading this as a husband and father, God is calling you to intentionally disciple your family. ”
- “Through His Word”
- Let’s be the dads who choose to go it God’s way!
- Let’s be the dads who choose to turn to God’s Word, and set apart time to be in His presence!
- Let’s be the dads who make time with God a permanent time on our calendars!
- Let’s be the dads who make time to listen in the quiet place so we can
