A dad will typically father as he was fathered, or go the opposite direction with determination to achieve a better result. Neither may be healthy for the family he has been blessed with. Whatever your circumstances growing up, know that you have the heritage you need to be the dad you are called to be.

The impact of one’s heritage is not optional. A man’s response to the impact is. Heritage is defined as: Something handed down from one’s ancestors or the past, as a characteristic, a culture, a tradition; The rights, burdens, or status resulting from being born in a certain time or place (Webster’s Dictionary). Earthly fathers hand down their stuff, some good and some not so good. The Heavenly Father offers His word and the spirit of sonship, God stuff.

Jesus said, “Do not hold on to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to My brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.’” – John 20:17. “My Father and your Father” – When Jesus said these words to Mary Magdalene, everything made sense. Jesus, through His life, death and now resurrection, reconnected man in relationship with His Father. This is a man’s true heritage. The Heavenly Father will work through earthly fathers and family situations to prepare one for the road ahead. Often times it is not obvious how the Lord is working in a situation until one has the opportunity to look back on the ‘Footprints in the Sand’. In real time, there is comfort found in Paul’s letter to the Romans, “The Spirit you received does not make you slaves again to fear; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by Him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’”- Romans 8:15. The love of our Father, that He would adopt a wretched son like me through the life, death and resurrection of His Son. Wow! With that heritage I can become the faithful father He calls me to be and raise a Godly generation that will be an influence for Him in this world.

Heredity and environment are, by God’s design, preparing you for the road ahead. Blaming a father or a family situation for one’s current condition may be justified, but blame does not get you out of a rut. The charge is to rise above the blame mentality to embrace the love and heredity the Heavenly Father offers. He is the perfect Father. It is in Him and through Him that every dad can become a faithful father.

Prayer guide: Thank You Lord for Your word and for adopting me. I confess that I did blame my earthly father and family situation for challenges I faced. Then, with self-determination I worked to overcome the impact that had on my life. Forgive me. It is only through submission to You, through Your life, death, resurrection and ascension, that I can embrace fully the love of the Father and the heritage He offers. Help me live into that reality in a way that always points to You when my children look to me. Grant me strength to be a faithful father for my family. That is the dad You call me to be and that is the dad the next generation needs. Amen.

A faithful father embraces the heritage of the Heavenly Father.