Noted author and popular men’s ministry speaker, the late Steve Farrar instructed young men to: Complete your education or vocational training; Get a job; Establish a residence on your own; Pay off debt; Date young lady; Marry young lady; and, Start a family. Then he added with emphasis, “In that order!” Great advice!

Then there is the next chapter – stepping into the responsibility of fathering the next generation. Young dads are charged to emulate Jesus’ example of loving the Church and giving Himself up for her. A young mom and child can provide the catalyst needed for dads to step into selfless, sacrificial living. But many young men will default to fathering as they were fathered or will go the opposite direction of the example they grew up with. Neither may be healthy until calibrated to the word of God. Young dads need good advice for this new chapter of life.

Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. – 2Timothy 2:22. Mature in relationship with Jesus the Christ by reading Scripture and rebuke distractions that take your eyes off Him. There are many distractions at work today to do just that including job requirements, outside interests, hobbies and social media. When anything impedes the pursuit of righteousness, faith, love and peace in the home, it is time to flee from those distractions and make a course correction. Tune-in to your wife’s needs and child’s development. Manage the job / work to the best of your ability and establish a regular routine as a family early on. Be intentional in the first ten years of a child’s life to instill family values and faith as a function of the routine in the home. Read to and pray with your children. Lead the way to church. Be physically present as much as possible. Understand you and your bride are going to be tired a good bit of the time. Lean on the love and peace exemplified throughout our Lord’s life in your home when discussions try to turn into arguments. Turn to prayer as a couple asking for the light of the Lord to shine through shadows of discord trying to infiltrate the home.

One dad found it overwhelming to step up as a father. Only a couple of years into the marriage, he was still trying to be a good husband and was working hard to get established in his career. He chose to focus in on what he knew how to do, work and provide financially for the family. He almost missed the whole Teacher season of fathering. By God’s grace, men came into his life that encouraged him to make a course correction.
Advice for Young Dads:

• Invest in your marriage: Date your wife regularly; periodically attend marriage enrichment retreats;
• Be intentional in reading, praying and playing with the kids;
• Complete the Dad’s Armor study with a group of battle buddies;
• Read Seasons of Fathering;
• Read Scripture daily, live into a biblical worldview.

Prayer guide: Thank You Lord for Your word and Your love. I confess I have been a lone-ranger dad thinking that if I provided financially, I would be dad enough. Forgive me. Thank you for the battle buddies that challenged me to be more than enough. The charge is to follow Your example of selfless, sacrificial living – to love as You loved; serve as You served; and, lead as You led. That is the dad You call me to be, and that’s the dad the next generation needs. Amen.

A faithful father seeks advice from other dads on the fathering journey.