Becoming a Praying Fatherနမူနာ

Praying Fathers Dream

As a father, I often wonder what my son will do when he grows up. Might he follow in my footsteps? Take over the family business? Live where I do? Who will he marry? What will his children be like (more importantly, they’ll be my grandchildren!)?

It’s very easy to focus on where our kids might go and what they might do. However, you and I need to be more concerned with who our sons will be. Who he becomes is more important than what he does for a living.

If he is like his peers, he could have seven different careers in his lifetime! If we focus solely on what he does, when he makes those career changes, it could be devastating.

But if you focus on your child’s character and who he becomes, it doesn’t matter what he does. He’ll still be honoring God with his life. Character trumps career.

But have you ever stopped to think beyond just your child?

Today’s Scripture expands our thinking and reminds us that our influence doesn’t stop with our kids. Psalm 78:5-6a reminds dads that we are to teach our children about God so that, ‘…the next generation will know…’ But it doesn’t stop there. Verse 78:6b reveals that if we have done a good job of teaching – and living the example – our sons will do the same with their children as well!

Do you see what God is saying here? Our influence extends beyond our own children. It shapes our grandchildren and beyond. Our life, our prayers, our example, our teaching – this stuff all molds us, our children, and their children.

What a thought! My words and actions today are planting seeds in my son that tomorrow he will plant in his own child.

So, dad, what is your dream for your child? Does it go beyond what he will do for a living? Does it focus on who he is becoming as a young man?

PRAY you will teach and live God’s truth in a way that helps your child draw closer to God.

PRAY your child will faithfully follow God and relay that passion to his own children.

And, as you already know, prayer—much like parenting—is a battle. It's tough to know whether you're winning or losing. We wrote a Field Guide called Keeping Score to help you know whether you're winning or losing as a dad—and help you actually win.