Christian Parenting
"Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, watching over them--not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be." (1 Peter 5:2)
Every dad is unique, fulfilling a special role in the life of his child that only he can fulfill. This is why comparing yourself to other dads is not usually a productive way to go when trying to become a better dad. Do not stack your strengths and weaknesses up against others, but try to improve yourself for the sake of making your children's lives better and giving them the best possible version of you that you can. If you are interested in becoming a better dad, then start with these three crucial steps:
- Spend quality time with your kids
Kids benefit greatly both behaviorally and academically from having a very involved father. In the first few years of life a child's primary caregiver is often their mother, but you should try to be active wherever you can by taking the little one off her hands when you come home from work and volunteering to get up for the baby in the middle of the night. As your children grow older you can take on an even more active role in their lives. Heed the words of scripture when caring for your children. God's Word extols us to:
"Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, watching over them--not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be." (1 Peter 5:2)
- Lead with strength and kindness
"As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him." (Psalm 103:13)
This spiritual encouragement quote from Psalms shows us that a father who leads his children with compassion is modeling himself after the Lord. It should be noted that the Bible often uses the word "fear" to denote respect and reverence rather than dread. God is overflowing with compassion for those who respect His strength. A good father has enough strength to command the respect of his children, as well as the ability to lead them with kindness in return.
- Put God first
Scripture continually reminds us that children are a gift from God, making it clear that faith and parenting are designed to be closely intertwined. Psalm 127:3, for example, tells us that "Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him." Bible verses such as these are there to remind us that faith should not be confided to the church and forgotten about for the rest of the week. Your faith can and should be incorporated into your everyday life, especially when it comes to decisions concerning how to be the best dad you can be for your children.
Focusing on leading a Godly Christian life is the best way to ensure that you always lead with strength and kindness and find the motivation to spend quality time with your children every single day. Challenges will surely present themselves along your journey to becoming a better dad, but you will find that they can all be overcome with heartfelt prayer and Biblical guidance.
Spiritual Prayer
Then King David went in and sat before the Lord. He said,
“Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house that You have brought me this far? Yet this was comparatively insignificant in Your sight, Lord God, for You have also spoken about Your servant’s house into the distant future. Is this Your manner with man, Lord God? “What more can David say to You? You know Your servant, Lord God. Because of Your word, according to Your will, You have done all of this greatness to inform Your servant. “Therefore You are great, Lord God. There is none like You, and there is no God except You, according to everything that we have heard with our ears. And who is like Your people, like Israel—a single nation in the land, whom God went to redeem as a people for Himself, making a name for Himself by doing great and awesome things for Your land, before Your people whom You redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, a nation and its gods. You established Your people Israel as Your own people forever, and You, Lord, became their God. “Now, Lord God, confirm forever the word that You spoke regarding Your servant and his house and do as You have spoken. May Your name be magnified forever by saying, ‘The Lord of Hosts is God over Israel,’ and may the house of Your servant David be established before You. “For You, O Lord of Hosts, God of Israel, have revealed a word to Your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore, Your servant has found the courage to pray this prayer to You. Now, Lord God, You are God, and Your words are true. You have spoken this good message to Your servant. Now, be resolved and bless Your servant’s dynastic house, so that it may stand before You forever. You, Lord God, have spoken, and with Your blessing, the house of Your servant will be blessed forever.”