A topic that caught my attention as I was checking out available dad devotionals. I still remember that school multi-cultural exchange from my small hometown of Timmins and the family I was paired up with who had moved from South Africa to Toronto to escape apartheid which I at the time didn’t know much about but by the end of that week I was ready to go out on the streets and protest with them. Coming from a small city of about 45K people and going to Toronto which had more than 3M people, was an incredible experience. I so appreciated getting to live with, go to school with, and hang out with the family. I learned more about racial injustice than I could have ever asked or imagined and I will never forget it as it changed my mind and heart because I have been someone who is embracing and loving and to learn about such things for lack of a better word ticked me off. Years later, my dad and I were back in Toronto together and there was an anti-apartheid demonstration I said to my dad, I wonder if my friend would be there, and as the group walked by I saw him and we smiled, hugged, and he continued on the march.
Racism is real. It hurts. Yes, many things have gotten better, and yet for others it seems to continue. So when I saw today’s devotional and its description, I thought what a great topic to consider and discuss from a dad’s perspective.
Scripture for Today’s Devotional:
‘ Who can discern his lapses and errors? Clear me from hidden [and unconscious] faults. Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then shall I be blameless, and I shall be innocent and clear of great transgression.’
Psalm 19:12-13
‘ I will confess and praise You for You are fearful and wonderful and for the awful wonder of my birth! Wonderful are Your works, and that my inner self knows right well.’
Psalm 139:14
‘ So God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them. [Col. 3:9, 10; James 3:8, 9.]’
Genesis 1:27
‘ Before I formed you in the womb I knew [and] approved of you [as My chosen instrument], and before you were born I separated and set you apart, consecrating you; [and] I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. [Exod. 33:12; Isa. 49:1, 5; Rom. 8:29.]’
Jeremiah 1:5
‘ For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.’
Jeremiah 29:11
God’s Word is alive, powerful, and unchanging! God’s character is good, is love, is trustworthy!
Let’s be the dads who turn to God for wisdom, discernment, instruction, and direction so that know when we have missed the mark and can ask for forgiveness and work through the process of reconciliation! Let’s be the dads who lean on God in hopes to avoid falling into sin and temptation! Let’s be the dads who receive Jesus, listen, and obey what the Holy Spirit tells us to keep us walking in alignment with God’s will and plan for our lives! Let’s be the dads who celebrate God’s creative ability! Let’s be the dads who celebrate God who lean in and are filled with God’s Spirit so that we are aware and know His goodness and direction! Let’s be the dads who realize and demonstrate that all of humanity has been created in God’s image! Let’s be the dads who realize and demonstrate that all humanity is valued and loved by God as He created us all in His image! Let’s be the dads who realize and express how God created us all on purpose, with purpose, and for a purpose! Let’s be the dads who grab hold of God’s Word and how “Before God shaped us in the womb, He knew all about us. Before we saw the light of day, He had holy plans for us”! Let’s be the dads who grab hold of God’s plan and purpose for our lives! Let’s be the dads who grab hold of His plan to give us hope and a future! Let’s be the dads who grab hold of His plan that is good for us!
Today’s devotional has been provided to us by Elevation Church!
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: https://elevationchurch.org/youth
Takeaways from Today’s Devotionals:
“Who Are You?“
Today’s devotional kicks off with a short video that I would recommend watching before proceeding.
- Let’s be the dads who realize the impact when the topic of racism comes up!
- Let’s be the dads who consider and reflect upon “when conversations about racial tensions, injustices, prejudices, or biases come up” and how we respond physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually so that we can understand ourselves!
- Let’s be the dads who are ready to look in the mirror to understand who we are and our responsibility!
- Let’s be the dads who reflect upon our personal connection to this topic!
- Let’s be the dads who realize that our response so that we can avoid becoming defensive or closed off to others!
- Let’s remember the definitions:
- Prejudice – a bias towards someone
- Racism – prejudice with systems and powers in place to enforce it
- Let’s be the dads who are willing to walk thru these next 3 days and explore these sensitive topics!
- Let’s be the dads who are willing to walk thru these next 3 days in order to better understand our hearts!
- Let’s be the dads who are willing to walk thru these next 3 days in order to better understand the “hearts of those who don’t look or think just like us, and God’s heart“!
- Let’s be the dads who are willing and able to understand those who are different from us!
- Let’s be the dads who realize it is necessary for us to understand those who are different from us!
- Let’s be the dads who are willing and ready to pause to understand ourselves!
- Today’s devotional gives us some great questions to pause and reflect upon:
- Today’s devotional challenges us to look inside to be able to better understand and live our lives:
- “These are all great questions to ask yourself because you can’t fix external problems until you address your own internal prejudices. You have to know what’s in your own heart before you can navigate what’s in someone else’s heart.“
- “When you understand your own humanity — your beliefs, flaws, feelings, and all the factors that makeup who you are and how you think — you can better understand and empathize with the humanity of others.“
- “We have to know ourselves at the most basic level. In Psalm 139:23-24, David asked God to search his heart. He understood that God knew him much better than he knew himself. As you take a closer look at what’s going on inside of you, invite God into the process. Use David’s wisdom and ask God to show you where your thinking doesn’t align with His truth.“
- Today’s devotional closes with the following challenge:
