Resources & Discussion

Day 1 - Tough Love

• Today's reading: Luke 9:23

• Jesus tells us in Luke 9:23: 

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” 

In today’s devotional, Batterson points out that we often read this verse figuratively, despite the physical effort required. The action we must take as men, and especially as fathers, is action that departs from the “norm”, convenience, and sometimes even our desire. To measure up to the label of a “tough guy” can mean many things, but our charge as Christian fathers is to get beyond the physical toughness the world so readily admires, and embrace the Christlike toughness that comes from sacrificial love. Now, these can seem like tall orders: “take up your cross” and “embody sacrificial love”. And, while it may feel insurmountable at times, the reality of being a dad is every single day is an opportunity to show our kids the depth of our love for them. Whether your kids are 2, 10, or 17, they’re watching what you do. So, choosing to spend intentional time with them, whether it’s 10 minutes, an hour, or the whole day, often times means putting aside what your calendar is telling you there’s time for, closing the app that pings for your attention, or simply not getting to the thing that you desperately wanted to get done. Taking up your cross and showing sacrificial love for the blessings God provided you with can take many forms. Recognizing when it’s time to take action is just the beginning. Embrace the courage and strength God provides to make a move for your kids and be the “need-meeting love” that we as fathers must provide. God offers us everything we need, so why wouldn’t we take the opportunity to show our kids what tough love really looks like.

• Join the conversation on the Bible app here or send comments/discussion to theforgefathers1@gmail.com or 806-690-3101

Day 2 - Childlike Wonder

• Today's  reading: John 4:24

• It often takes witnessing childlike wonder in our own kids to remind us as men that we should never lose that sense of wonder. In the busyness of life and our own pursuit of knowledge, often in the professional realm, we fail to prioritize our spiritual learning. Sometimes our spiritual learning comes from the questions our kids ask from their own sense of wonder. As the old saying goes, “you don’t truly understand it until you can explain it to a five year old”, we can find ourselves learning from and through our kids as we spend time in the Word with them, explaining Scripture we’ve only ever read, but never explained.

Batterson points out “the more you know, the more you have to worship”, which can serve as a great reminder that every bit of knowledge we gain should point us to God. This is easier said than done, but as Jesus reminds us in John 4:24, the Holy Spirit is not limited to one place; so why should our learning, worship, or faith (all of which are meant to glorify God) be limited? We serve a God of wonder, and as fathers we are blessed with the awesome responsibility of fostering and directing the wonder of our kids. When we show our kids not just how to learn, but how to turn what we learn into goodness for the Kingdom of God, it creates space for invaluable conversation with our kids. Find something new to learn about today, and then talk to your kids about how you’re praising God for His wondrous creation and blessings.

• Join the conversation on the Bible app here or send comments/discussion to theforgefathers1@gmail.com or 806-690-3101

Day 3 - Will Power

• Today's  reading: 1 Corinthians 10:23

• When we hear “will power” our first thought is typically our own will power. What we often fail to consider is that our own will power immediately sets us up for nothing more than second best. We can be thankful for God’s grace and gentle reminders that His will requires full surrender. Mostly surrendered doesn’t cut it, despite our tendency to believe we can do it all on our own. The reality is we can do a lot on our own and achieve a good version of worldly success. But, as Christ followers, we know there is more at stake than simply achieving a job, a status, or recognition.

The discipline to seek God’s will and replace our will power with His requires, as Batterson calls it, “decisions against ourselves”. Modeling this concept for our kids is both humbling and powerful: humbling because of the challenge it creates, and powerful in that our kids get to see firsthand how we make hard decisions and where we choose to place our trust. When we trust our own plans and abilities over God’s will and the strength He provides, we shortchange ourselves, our kids, and most importantly, our Heavenly Father. If we flip this concept to the context of our children it takes on a whole new meaning. We want the best for our kids and we hope they never settle for second best. So why, as fathers, would we ever model anything less than what we desire for our kids? Challenge yourself today to make a decision that your kids would be proud of and that offers a lesson in will power like Jesus gives us in Luke 22:42.

• Join the conversation on the Bible app here or send comments/discussion to theforgefathers1@gmail.com or 806-690-3101

Day 4 - Raw Passion

• Today's  reading: Colossians 3:23

• We get a dose of encouragement from Colossians 3:23, and in verse 24 we’re reminded that “it is the Lord Christ you are serving.” For many of us this is not new information, but it’s easy to put our lives into various buckets of effort, picking and choosing which buckets get our all and which get the leftovers. Pouring our passion into work, sports, or hobbies isn’t inherently bad, but when we do it at the expense of our faith and our family we fall into what Batterson aptly calls living “halfway”.

To go all in as a father may seem daunting or out of reach, but the problem lies in our confidence and where it’s placed, or misplaced rather. Colossians 3:17 says:

“whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him”

It is in Jesus we must place our confidence, and from our faith in Him that we must draw our raw passion. Think for a minute about how passionate Jesus lived, and how passionate God is for us as His children. Now, imagine what it might look like for your kids if they got to see your raw passion as a father lived out the way God intended. It would be awesome! If you could choose a few words or a phrase for your kids to describe you, what better description than “fully alive”? We can’t get there on our own, and sustaining it is a tall order, but if we truly desire to father like our kids’ lives depend on it, we better be all in!

• Join the conversation on the Bible app here or send comments/discussion to theforgefathers1@gmail.com or 806-690-3101

Day 5 - True Grit

• Today's  reading: James 1:12

• Whether it’s the weight room, the boardroom, or an athletic field, it’s not hard to find opportunities for grit. But, we shortchange ourselves as men and fathers if that’s our only association with grit. Every day we get countless choices that require grit, not only to make, but most importantly to act upon and carry out. Take a moment and think about your day, start to finish. Where do you find grit, and where are you lacking grit? James 1:2 reminds us:

“the testing of your faith produces perseverance”

It’s a simple reminder, but a powerful one that means every time we choose grit, we’re casting aside comfort and complacency. To put faith and grit in the same thought isn’t typically the go-to, but if we can model and explain what grit in our faith looks like to our kids, how much better off they will be as they grow and face the world! Consider Hebrews 12:1, that says:

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders

 and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us”

Perseverance is just a fancy word for grit, and we owe it to our kids to show them what it looks like. Just talking the talk won’t cut it, we have to lean into the things that stretch us and trust that God’s strength will carry us through. Batterson ends today’s devotional calling for “tremendous grit”, and it’s no small task. But, if we don’t seek it, find it, and live it out for our kids, they’ll get a watered down, worldly version of grit. Show them the “true grit” that comes from living fully alive in Christ and fully committed to your role as Dad.

• Join the conversation on the Bible app here or send comments/discussion to theforgefathers1@gmail.com or 806-690-3101

Day 6 - Clear Vision

• Today's  reading: Matthew 11:12

• Batterson comes in swinging and challenges us to live with clarity that goes beyond general declarations like “be a great husband”, or “be the best dad for my kids”. God has given us plenty to fight for: our relationship with Him, our marriage, our kids. How we fight has much to do with the vision we declare. It provides direction, motivation, and a good dose of humility too. It is usually a safe assumption that most men have never taken the time to write a vision statement for their life, their marriage, or their role as a dad. But, the beauty of each of these blessings is that they are journeys, and it’s never too late to step into the mission for which God designed your life.

It can feel daunting to cast vision for your life, your marriage, and your fathering, especially all at once. But that’s no reason not to at least get started. Take one step at a time and define measurable goals for yourself. Below are a few suggestions to get off the starting blocks:

Spend time in prayer, seeking God’s guidance

Involve your wife, and keep a humble heart

Ask your kids how they would define “the best dad ever” (kids’ brutal honesty keeps this one interesting!)

Talk to your Christian brothers and establish accountability

Write them down and look at them every single day

For many men, this is a tough task. But it’s worth your time and effort because God didn’t design us to let life just happen to us. Seek vision and pursue your mission. Give your kids an example worth remembering.

• Join the conversation on the Bible app here or send comments/discussion to theforgefathers1@gmail.com or 806-690-3101