10 Best Practices For Dads

The world needs strong dads.

Children need dads who will invest in them, love them, teach them, and help them experience life fearlessly.

Women need men who are committed, strong, sacrificial and faithful fathers and husbands.

Men need to learn from peer examples of mature, disciplined, wise and risk taking fathers.

If you are a dad – with young kids or grown children – here are ten best practices for you. But first, read these motivating Scriptures:

SCRIPTURES FOR DADS

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 [space_20]

These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. – Deut. 6:6-9

[space_20] But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” – Joshua 24:15

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He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge. – Proverbs 14:26

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Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. Ephesians 5:25-27

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Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13

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TEN BEST PRACTICES FOR DADS

1. Love the Lord – Give your love and allegiance to the Lord! Don’t be fooled by today’s popular and hollow mindset – every man gives his allegiance to something. Following Jesus is the best way to live out your life.

2. Cherish your wife – The way you cherish and love your wife will have more impact on your home, marriage and kid’s lives than almost anything else in this world.

3. Enjoy your kids – Their success in life will depend on the relationship you forge with them.

4. Lead the home – You are responsible to lead the home spiritually. Even if that’s awkward at times, muddle through it with a humble confidence. A good place to start? Pray with your young kids before bed. Pray before meals. Text your older children and let them know you’re praying for them. Prioritize your schedule around eternal things that matter. Lead your home to heaven.

5. Be faithful in the church – Be committed and faithful to attend worship and be active in your church. Your active participation will be a strong, simple and quiet message to your children. They will model your faithfulness.

6. Read Scripture – Your ability to parent with a sense of sacred purpose is directly tied to your relationship with your creator.

7. Invest in family – Some things may have to sit on the back burner for a season, but take time to invest in your family. Invest in experiences, trips and time at home. Invest in teaching, leading and memories. Invest in serving together and passing on values.

8. Keep a positive outlook – No one has to convince us that life gets crazy. But we do at times need convincing to keep a positive outlook. Keep a positive attitude will help in nearly every situation in life.

9. Laugh – There are so many benefits to laughing, it’s not even funny.

10. Be a good steward – You are given, by the grace of God, opportunity to be a good steward of your time, money and relationships – all three of which are in a sense, “borrowed”. They are on loan. What are making of them?

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RESOURCES

Here are three resources that help me:

All Pro Dad – I get daily emails about living as a faithful dad and husband.

The Father Factor Blog – This site and many others have quick, practical advice.

Nozbe – This is a “to do” list app that I use to keep track of some of the things I know are important but for whatever reason fail to do on a daily basis. With out reminders, important family things happen too sporadically. They say that what gets calendared gets done. I have found that writing down thing relating to home life has been a huge blessing! Beginning in the morning, this app pops up with important things and continues through the day: Praying for my wife and kids, doing certain household chores, playing music with my kids – in some fashion or another – three times per week, and several other items. It’s been a huge help.

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