A Prayer for Dads

I am the father of three grown daughters. I did some things wrongly and maybe some thing right in the years they were in my home. They are all very precious to me and I want to continue to be a positive influence in their lives. I will always be their father no matter how far away nor how much time has elapsed. Though they are all wonderful ladies I wish I had done a better job. I know there were times I failed them.

So, this is the prayer I want my children and wife to pray for me. It is a prayer that I believe each father needs.

Lord, let him leave his childish things behind and be a man.

1 Corinthians 13:11 (NIV) ¹¹ When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.
Have him stand up for the things that are right; opposing what is wrong and leading his family to serve the Lord.

Joshua 24:15 (NIV) ¹⁵ But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."
Help him to lead his family in spiritual matters. Don't let him confine his children to such rigid rules without compassion and understanding.

Ephesians 6:4 (NIV) ⁴ Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

And help his to provide for his family in everything that they need, giving him work and working hard to fulfill his responsibility.

1 Timothy 5:8 (NIV) ⁸ If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Now, Lord may you be glorified by the action of fathers to serve you without reserve, to be the head of their homes in leadership and spiritual matters. Give them the vision of fatherhood that they need to do what they must to raise their children to be people after Your own Heart. Amen.