“He was a good dad but now he is an intentional dad.” This was a validating comment from a mom whose husband had been involved in a fathering initiative for a number of years at their church. It reflects the difference between ‘doing’ dad and the intentionality behind ‘being’ a faithful father.

Over the 25 years of ministry, weekend father-daughter and father-son retreats have consistently provided nudges and even wake-up calls for dads to tune-in to a new level with their kids. The years get by quickly. Through the intentionality of dads committing time to a child and a child committing time to be with dad for a weekend, the Lord opens hearts and turns hearts as only He can.

Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers back to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and strike the land with complete distruction. – Malachi 4:5-6. This is the way the Old Testament ends. What followed was over 400 years of silence – no prophets, no proclamation from God. Then the Father introduced His Son into the world to reconnect what got disconnected in the Garden of Eden, relationship with Him. Our Father turned His heart to His children and opened the door for our hearts to turn to Him. Similarly, dads are charged to turn hearts to their children to open the door for the kids to turn hearts to them. Oswald Chambers is noted for saying, “Man cannot do what God can do but God will not do what man can do.” Dads can be intentional by committing to spend regular one-on-one time with each child. Then God will do what He does and the heart-turning will begin.

Here are some tips to Be Intentional in your role as a faithful father:

• Register HERE for the November 14-16 father-daughter retreat;
• Check out the 940 Project and next summer’s trips HERE;
• Find out more about starting a fathering initiative in your church HERE;
• Read Seasons of Fathering.

Prayer guide: Thank You Lord for Your word and for turning Your heart to Your children. I confess I have allowed my heart to be distracted from relationship with my kids. We have been busy doing stuff and I have gotten in the rut of ‘doing’ dad. Forgive me. Open my heart to do what I can do - be intentional in my role as a faithful father by committing to spend regular one-on-one time with each of my children. And by Your grace, the heart-turning will begin. That is the dad You call me to be, and that’s the dad my kids need to see. Amen.

A faithful father is intentional in being the father his kids need.