School did not come easy to him. He had friends that never studied but always got better grades than he did. Regular homework was tough enough. Tests required doubling down and investing more time to study. He preferred being outside kicking or throwing a ball but his folks said that he needed to think more of his education than athletics.

Professionally, first rattle out of the box there were operations manuals, safety manuals and procedure manuals that required focused study. To keep his new job and progress in the company, he had to tune-in to the business and focus on thinking more of his role at work than his favorite pastimes.

Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the Law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may achieve success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will achieve success. – Joshua 1:7-8. The word to Joshua on leadership was to be strong and very courageous. Bending to social and cultural pressure was not an option. Instructions to stand firm included do according to all the Law, meditate on it day and night and do according to all that is written in it. Joshua knew and lived under the authority of the word of God. When there was a decision to be made, Joshua looked to the Law and did not turn from it to the right or to the left. Dads today are charged to be strong and very courageous leaders in the home, to stand firm against social and cultural pressures on the family. It requires being grounded in the word of God. That means daily reading, studying and meditating on Scripture. As Joshua began thinking more of the Law, he had a lens through which to view his circumstances that provided the clarity needed to make right decisions. As dads begin thinking more of the word of God, the full Scripture available today, the lens through which circumstances are evaluated will be grounded in a Biblical worldview. The path will be clear, no turning to the right or to the left.

When his bride was pregnant with their first child, it was quite a journey witnessing the miracle of childbirth. As the new mother-to-be would update him on the development of the child through each trimester, it was exciting to think about God’s plan for man and woman, husband and wife, and now dad and mom. When their child was born, the dad was convicted by Joshua’s words, “… but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”- Joshua 24:15. It proved to be a wake-up call to begin thinking more of becoming the man, husband and father his bride and new family needed. 

Prayer guide: Father, thank You for Your word and the example of Joshua. I confess I have thought more of making money and advancing my career than of leading my family and living under the authority of Scripture. Forgive me. I want to be strong and courageous and lead as Joshua led. Grant me the discipline and determination needed to read, study and meditate on Scripture daily. Help me view everything through the lens of Your word and live under a Biblical worldview. Provide clarity that will keep me in stride with You, not turning to the right or to the left under the cultural pressures. That is the dad You call me to be and that’s the dad my kids need to see. Amen.

A faithful father spends time thinking more of leadership, Scripture and worldview.