Fathering HeartsSample

The Final Four

I’ll conclude this reading plan by sharing four rules of thumb God has shown me for going after my kids’ hearts, no matter their age. By now, these precepts may sound familiar—in fact, I hope they do. You’ve already come across the ideas they express any number of times in this reading plan, and I hope they have stuck in your mind. But they’re so crucial that I want to draw them together and give you a quick recap.

1. “You are worth my time.” Invite your kids along when you go somewhere. Make one-on-one dates. Attend their stuff whenever you can. In as many ways as you can, invest your presence in their lives.
2. “I want to know your heart.” Learn to ask questions that invite them to share how they feel, what they think, and, most importantly, what they believe.
3. Bestow affection both in words and in touch. Write notes, hold hands, put your arm around them, greet them with a gentle hug, give them a pat coming or going. Make a moment or seize a moment to validate, initiate, or heal.
4. Listen. Give your children your eyes and ears. It’s one of the most loving and validating things you can give anyone.

As you ponder all this with God today, consider asking Him:

Father, looking back on this whole week about fathering, what do you most want me to take away from this Bible reading plan?

Jesus, what message do you have for my own heart through this week’s plan?

Holy Spirit, what are some ways you long for me to move differently with my children going forward?

If you enjoyed this plan, check out the book it comes from: Michael Thompson’s King Me: Loving and Leading in a Wounding World. These seven days were taken from chapter sixteen. https://www.zoweh.org/kingme or find the King Me book on Amazon.