When is it enough compared to overdoing it? How much is enough to make it about God and not all about you? How much is enough to make sure God gets the glory and the credit? Will you share the Good News with others? Will you provide a testimony of what God has done in and through you? Today, let’s choose to make it enough that it gives God the glory!
Guidance from Scripture is Enough: Nurturing Children in the Ways of the Lord
In the journey of fatherhood, the quest to balance providing for one’s family while glorifying God can often be daunting. Yet, the scriptures provide clear guidance on how fathers can fulfill their roles in a manner that reflects God’s glory. Ephesians 6:4 reminds fathers to not provoke their children to anger but to bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. This verse emphasizes the importance of nurturing children in a loving and godly manner, fostering an environment where they can grow spiritually. As dads, we are called to lead by example, demonstrating the fruits of the Spirit such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). By embodying these qualities, fathers can positively influence their families and communities, ultimately glorifying God through their actions.
Working for the Lord is more than enough: Diligence and Integrity in Fatherhood
Moreover, Colossians 3:23-24 underscores the significance of doing everything as if working for the Lord rather than for men. This principle applies to all aspects of fatherhood, from providing for one’s family to spending quality time with them. Whether it’s excelling in one’s career or actively participating in household chores, fathers are called to do so with diligence and integrity, recognizing that their ultimate audience is God Himself. This perspective instills a sense of purpose and meaning into everyday tasks, transforming them into opportunities to glorify God. As dads, we have the responsibility of stewarding God’s blessings, which include our families. By prioritizing our relationship with God and seeking His guidance in our parenting journey, we can effectively fulfill this role while bringing glory to His name.
Stewardship of Blessings is Enough: Prioritizing God in Parenting
In conclusion, choosing to make it enough to glorify God today involves aligning our actions and priorities with His will. As fathers, we have the privilege and responsibility of shaping the next generation, imparting biblical values and truths to our children. By following the teachings of Scripture, leading our families with love and integrity, and prioritizing our relationship with God, we can be the dads our wives, kids, and world need us to be. Let us remember the words of Joshua 24:15, “But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” May our lives reflect this commitment, bringing honor and glory to God in all that we do.
Today’s Devotional:
This year, I am utilizing the 365 Daily Devotions book I received for Christmas, applying its teachings specifically in the context of fatherhood. It’s called WALKING WITH GOD by DAVID JEREMIAH. It’s exciting to learn from a new resource this year as we have tried different options the past two years and will keep working through this for 2024. For more information about the author and his ministry, visit DavidJeremiah.org.
MARCHING LITE
Verse: Judges 7:7 (NIV)
The Lord said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the others go home.”
Today’s Devotional provides us two examples from scripture of people who exemplify today’s topic. It begins with Jesus and His dependency on the Father in how He walked out His ministries. Today’s Devotional speaks to how during Jesus’ 3 years, “was a life of dependance on His Father”. We see how even in Matthew 8:20:
Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
Jesus didn’t “pack a bag when He left to journey from one place to another”.
Today’s Devotional brings us back to our verse about Gideon “who was a simple farmer, called by God to drive the Midianites out of Israel.” God through the process whittled down the an army of 32,000 to 10,000 to 300 men so that it wouldn’t allow them to take credit but rather would point to God for all the glory. Today’s Devotional makes it even more amazing when God arms the men with only “torches and trumpets.”
As we head into today, just like Gideon, we need to remember that the battle belongs to the Lord! Similarly, we also need to grab a hold of the reality that victory is the Lord’s, “not human strength or resources.” So, today, let’s make sure we are moving forward in His wisdom and discernment, His will and purposes, and His strength and courage! Not too much, just enough that He will get all the praise, the honor, and the glory in the victory that comes out of it.
Today’s Devotional closes with the saying “God plus one equals a majority.” Let’s be the dads who walk in the confidence of the Lord today! Let’s lean into God and not allow the enemy of our souls to discourage us from what God is doing and has planned for our lives. Today’s Devotional calls us to “be encouraged by the presence and promises of God.”
“We never test the resources of God until we attempt the impossible.”
F. B. MEYER
