As we begin today and turn to God’s Word and this devotional to try and grasp some radical wisdom, two mindsets come to mind. One in which the focus is on opportunities, taking risks, and betting on yourself. One in which the focus is on costs and thinking small. It is interesting to me because it’s not about the reality of things but rather the mindset of the people in the midst of the situation. Let’s choose to trust God with all of our hearts rather than lean on our own understanding so that He will show us the path to take! Let’s choose to love the Lord with all of our hearts, all of our minds, all of our souls, and all of our strength! Let’s choose to put our hope in God because we know that those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength, they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint. Let’s choose to walk by faith and not by sight so that we can keep our focus on God’s plans that are good and give us hope and a future so that we focus on opportunities, taking risks, and betting on ourselves rather than allowing fear and doubt to limit or minimize things so that we are stuck focusing on costs and thinking small! Are you ready to be the dads who turn to God, trust God, love God, and walk by faith with God?
Let’s reflect before we jump into today’s scripture associated with today’s post on how this devotional is described:
It’s crazy how much our dads shape us. No one escapes the power and influence of their earthly father. And since most men feel unprepared to be fathers, it’s essential to seek guidance – from Scripture and from other dads. Radical Wisdom is a journey toward wisdom and insight for fathers, combining principles and wisdom from Scripture with the experience of an older, wiser dad who’s learned from his mistakes.
Radical Wisdom: A 7-Day Journey For Fathers | Devotional Reading Plan | YouVersion Bible
Scripture from Today’s Devotional:
‘So, as God’s own chosen people, who are holy [set apart, sanctified for His purpose] and well-beloved [by God Himself], put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience [which has the power to endure whatever injustice or unpleasantness comes, with good temper]; bearing graciously with one another, and willingly forgiving each other if one has a cause for complaint against another; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so should you forgive. Beyond all these things put on and wrap yourselves in [unselfish] love, which is the perfect bond of unity [for everything is bound together in agreement when each one seeks the best for others].’
Colossians 3:12-14
‘Therefore encourage and comfort one another and build up one another, just as you are doing.’
1 Thessalonians 5:11
‘Now while they were on their way, Jesus entered a village [called Bethany], and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who seated herself at the Lord’s feet and was continually listening to His teaching. But Martha was very busy and distracted with all of her serving responsibilities; and she approached Him and said, “Lord, is it of no concern to You that my sister has left me to do the serving alone? Tell her to help me and do her part.” But the Lord replied to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered and anxious about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part [that which is to her advantage], which will not be taken away from her.”’
Luke 10:38-42
‘There is no fear in love [dread does not exist]. But perfect (complete, full-grown) love drives out fear, because fear involves [the expectation of divine] punishment, so the one who is afraid [of God’s judgment] is not perfected in love [has not grown into a sufficient understanding of God’s love].’
1 John 4:18
God’s Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path and so we start with the lights on and in God’s Word! God’s Word will never return void! God’s Word will help cut through the noise and the distraction and get to the core of the matter!
Let’s be the dads who are God’s own chosen people! Let’s be the dads who are holy, set apart, and sanctified for His purpose! Let’s be the dads who are well-beloved by God Himself! Let’s be the dads who put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience which has the power to endure whatever injustice or unpleasantness comes, and with a good temper! Let’s be the dads who are bearing graciously with one another! Let’s be the dads who are willingly forgiving each other if one has a cause for complaint against another; just as the Lord has forgiven us, so should we forgive! Let’s be the dads who put on and wrap yourselves in [unselfish] love, which is the perfect bond of unity for everything is bound together in agreement when each one seeks the best for others! Let’s be the dads who encourage and comfort one another and build up one another! Let’s be the dads who are focused on Jesus and His teaching! Let’s be the dads who choose to not lose focus and miss out on all that God has to say to us! Let’s be the dads who are focused on God’s plans and as such focus on the opportunities, taking risks, and betting on ourselves rather than allowing fear and doubt to limit or minimize things by causing us to just be busy and distracted! Let’s be the dads who study God’s Word so that we don’t miss out on the lessons of Mary and Martha when Jesus says: “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered and anxious about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part [that which is to her advantage], which will not be taken away from her”! Let’s be the dads who are living out of the love God is pouring into us to overflowing! Let’s be the dads who are overwhelming the attacks of the devil who is trying to create fear in and through us with love! Let’s be the dads who remember that there is no fear in love, dread does not exist! Let’s be the dads who remember that perfect, complete, and full-grown love drives out fear! Let’s be the dads who remember and cling to the reality of how God tells us how fear involves the expectation of divine punishment, so the one who is afraid of God’s judgment is not perfected in love and has not grown into a sufficient understanding of God’s love! Let’s be the dads who focus on God’s definition of love through 1 Corinthians 13 so that we understand what love is in order to be able to drive out fear:
‘Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured. It does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the truth [when right and truth prevail]. Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening]. Love never fails [it never fades nor ends]. But as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for the gift of special knowledge, it will pass away. ‘
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Today’s devotional has been provided to us by Regi Campbell from Radical Mentoring.
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 Radical Wisdom: A Daily Journey for Leaders (radicalmentoring.com).
Takeaways from Today’s Devotional:
“Abundance vs. Scarcity“
- Ever considered what the hardest jobs to do are?
- Ever considered how much harder it is when you need to put all of yourself into it?
- Ever considered how much harder it can feel when you realize the long-term effects if you get it right or wrong?
- Today’s devotional kicks on down this road and even offers a principle for us to be able to grab a hold of:
- “Parenting is tough. It’s one of the hardest jobs around. There’s no manual, no established formula, and God throws curveballs by making every child different. Over time, you grab hold of any principle that makes sense; you try it, and if it works, it becomes yours. “
- “So I’m going to propose one: create an abundance environment for your kids.“
- Let’s be the dads who realize that “Kids need and want love“!
- Let’s be the dads who choose to pour out an abundance of love into the lives of our kids because we know and realize that “if it’s in short supply, then it becomes more valuable and creates contention“!
- Let’s be the dads who realize the difference between abundance and scarcity and the impact it has on our lives!
- Today’s devotional shares a couple of examples using oil and salt:
- “Every country needs petroleum, so there’s fierce competition for it. Prices are high and promise to go higher. We fight, we manipulate, we bribe, we sell our souls for oil.“
- “On the other hand, salt is a necessity for human life, but it’s plentiful. The price for a box of salt is a few pennies. It’s abundant.“
- Let’s be the dads who engage with our kids because we realize that “When dads fail to engage with their kids, when they stay so busy their kids never feel they matter, when dad’s presence is minimal and he never really has time to hang out with them, that’s a scarcity environment“!
- Let’s be the dads who engage with our kids with an endless supply of love because we realize that “when there’s a consistent abundance of daddy’s presence, there’ll be less competition, less manipulation, and more peace in the home. Daddy has to be there physically and emotionally“!
- Let’s be the dads who practice and operate with an abundance mentality because we know that “An abundance environment doesn’t come naturally, and it isn’t easy but it’s worth it“!
- Today’s devotional closes out with the following question:
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