God established mothers and fathers to lead the home, but especially for the father to train and instruct his children (Deuteronomy 6:7; Ephesians 6:4). More than just tell Bible stories and children’s stories, he can make an eternal impact. Either parent can do family devotions, but children who are taught by a father who loves Jesus are five times more likely to stay in the church, recent studies say.
Since the industrial revolution, society has steadily pulled fathers away from the place of influence in the home. Society and culture give us many traditions we must leave behind when we come to Christ. Mothers usually take up the slack for fathers. However, when a father steps up and starts having devotions with the family, he not only relieves the mother’s burden—he liberates the whole family. If fathers would get a vision for their family, mothers would not have to be the religious leader at home.
Today, as moral, religious, and social chaos overtakes our world, fathers can reshape the future of our planet by leadership at home. Worldliness pollutes too many of our kids, and without good teaching at home, they grow up without a rudder and find the winds of temptation too strong. While no parent can totally fail-proof their child, we can pull them out of the dangerous currents by weaving our hearts with theirs. A mother and father who unite in family devotions for the purpose of raising godly young people will see their sons and daughters become trophies, not tragedies (I Peter 3:7).
When father’s hearts turn toward their children, Jesus can come in (Malachi 4:6; Luke 1:16-17). With the simple tools of children’s Bible stories, verse memorization, prayer, and interactive discussion, mothers and fathers will find these family devotionals fulfilling and home-changing.
So open up your first family devotion, right now.
A reader’s response:
“I think [Devotions with DAD] is great…. It has been a heartbeat of mine to help dads understand how important they are in the lives of their children. The majority of dads allow the moms to do most of everything with the children, but children need their dad’s to be an integral part of their lives.” – Carol Clemens, counselor, author