Maximized Manhood – Day 2

Yesterday we found an incredible devotional for us to go through together. So I am excited to dig a bit deeper today and see what we can receive and learn through God’s Word and this devotional today!

Today’s devotional is described as follows:

If there ever was a time for men to show up and rewrite the narrative of what it means to be a man of integrity, a good husband and a better father, that time is now. The fad of the absentee Dad is outdated, and we as men have to step up to the plate and be the fathers, husbands and leaders God has called us to be.

Maximized Manhood | Devotional Reading Plan | YouVersion Bible

Scripture from Today’s Devotional:

I find it so important to start my day in God’s Word. Be the verse of the day like “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” 1 PETER 4:8 (NIV)! Be it going through a reading plan like today. Spending time meditating on God’s Word is key to helping me get my day started on the right foot and getting filled up to overflowing by God for all He has planned for my day! God’s Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path! God’s Word can cut through the crazy to get to the core of the matter! And even today as there is a national election outcome being reported, receiving God’s Word first that tells me to above all, love each other deeply because love covers a multitude of sins is a powerful message to receive even before looking for or finding out what happened!

Let’s be the dads who care for our relatives! Let’s be the dads who care for our wives and kids! Let’s be the dads who receive and proclaim the truth! Let’s be the dads who love our wives and our kids and serve them so that we don’t behave worse than unbelievers!

Let’s be the dads who trust God to generously provide all our needs! Let’s be the dads who choose to be generous, not out of compulsion but out of love and desire, but as cheerful givers! Let’s be the dads who are being so cheerful with our generosity because we know that we will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others! Let’s be the dads who share freely and give generously to the poor! Let’s be the dads whose good deeds will be remembered forever! Let’s be the dads who realize that God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat and that we are supposed to sow the seeds and eat the bread! Let’s be the dads who realize that in the same way, God will provide and increase our resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in us! Let’s be the dads who when we take our gifts to those who need them, we will witness that they will thank God!

Today’s devotional has been provided to us by REALationships Marriage Ministry.

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 REALationships.

Takeaways from Today’s Devotional:
“Provider“

• What comes to mind when you think of the word provider?
• Today’s devotional shares the definition: “[pruh-vahy-der] noun a person that provides“
• Let’s check out the YouTube video today’s devotional provides us as it was a powerful source yesterday and expect today will be too:

• Let’s be the dads who realize there is no reason for us to not provide for our families!
• Let’s be the dads who realize that God has given us activities of our limbs, a sound mind, and breath in our lungs, and as long as we are alive we have the ability to provide for our families!
• Let’s be the dads who make it happen rather than making excuses!
• Let’s be the dads who look for ways and opportunities that we can provide!
• Let’s be the dads who take the opportunity we have to find work or make work that we can do and provide a service for someone!
• Let’s be the dads who take care of our families like God has called us to do so that we won’t be worse than infidels or unbelievers!
• Let’s be the dads who rather than make excuses!
• Let’s be the dads who are humble enough to do jobs necessary to ensure we can provide for our families, even if they might not be what we want or expect but so that the needs of our families are being met!
• Today’s devotional speaks to it this way:
  • “Yes, it was often humiliating working odd jobs just to make ends meet, but I didn’t allow my pride to stop me from doing whatever it took to provide for my family. I believe there is absolutely no excuse why a man cannot provide for his family. None whatsoever! I know this may sound harsh, but it’s true. As long as you have breath in your lungs, the activity of your limbs and a sound mind, you have no reason why you can’t get on the grind and go to work to provide for your family. I don’t care if you have little to no education, if you’re a felon or just simply have no work experience. You still have gifts, talents and abilities that God has placed inside you that have yet to be tapped into and it’s time to start using them to provide for your family.“
  • ““If you want it bad enough you won’t make excuses, you will make it happen.” They may not be hiring in the line of work you’re accustomed to, but that doesn’t mean you can’t explore other options. And if all else fails, create your own job. Operate in your entrepreneurial gift and calling.“
• Today’s devotional points us to God’s Word and then gives us a call to action and prayer to meditate on:
  • “1 Timothy 5:8 says, “Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” Sometimes you have to swallow your pride and put your family first. If God has given you the activity of your hands, use them to make a living for your family. If you have a unique service you can provide to others, use it to provide for your family. God has given you a creative mind; use it to make a living for your family. Don’t make excuses, make it happen.“
  • “Call To Action: Do a self-inventory of all your skills, gifts and talents. Ask yourself, “What am I good at or what am I passionate about?” This may be your area of gifting that could be used to generate income for your family. Whether you can repair cars, fix computers, cut hair, even if you’re good at math or writing, you can help tutor students for a nominal fee to help generate income.“
  • “Prayer: Lord, You are not slack concerning Your promises. Open my eyes to the skills, gifts and talents You’ve given me. Give me the wisdom and knowledge to cultivate my gifts and use them to provide for my family. Forgive me for being too prideful to accept jobs and opportunities that seem beneath me. I thank You in advance for opening new doors of opportunity for me to be the provider You have called me to be. In Jesus’ name. Amen.“