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Stephen Ashton
Imagine a world of dads and sons — all intentionally engaged in adventurous and uniquely masculine challenges.
Now, imagine their accomplishments being recognised by their peers and community.
Even more, imagine these boys strategically advancing to greater challenge and responsibility producing growing, self-confident and godly leaders.
What a picture of godly fatherhood, right? This can happen. There are three keys to this dream moving from theory to practice.
There are three keys to raising boys who love God—and offer tools to help you along the way.
KEY #1: Raising godly boys means cultivating relationships.
Raising godly sons requires time, discipline, and intentionality.
Fathers who want to raise boys to be leaders of character must carve time out of their busy lives to cultivate healthy relationships.
Racing matchbox cars on dirt trails in the back yard, wrestling on the living room floor, tossing a football in the front yard, attending sport activities together and baiting a hook on the bank of a lake are the language of boyhood.
Only when men dare to enter a boy’s world, enjoy them, communicate affection, and speak encouragement do they earn the right to speak truth and meaning into their lives.
KEY #2: Raising Godly boys to be godly men means growing self- discipline
To grow in character and resilience, a boy needs men in his life who are more than a buddy. Building muscles of self-discipline requires training and cannot be learned alone.
A boy needs a caring adult who will provide “a solid sense of boundaries and a glimpse of who he can be … Boys take great comfort in firm, fair, and consistent guidelines, and anticipated reward.
They will test limits, but they want to know expectations will hold.
Firm, fair, and consistent guidelines provide a foundation for healthy relationships, and engaged relationships provide the necessary support for parents to raise expectations. – manhood journey.org
As boys develop discipline, they become prepared for greater responsibility. This is what the godly father helps his son learn.
KEY #3: Building godly sons means growing independence and responsibility
A boy’s longing for independence and responsibility is a necessary God-given desire to enable him to develop into a mature man of character. From a young age boys begin to naturally emulate their fathers.
They need to enter a world of manhood and to know and be known by healthy men. While they are young, involve them in household projects, chores, trips to the store, and daily responsibilities, then teach and expect him to take on those tasks as they grow in maturity and ability.
Boys thrive when provided with proper challenge, adventure, accomplishment, accolade, and advancement. Intentionally increasing responsibility and independence as sons mature is essential.
This is biblical fatherhood.
When not provided appropriately, instead of becoming confident, godly leaders of character, boys fall into one of the twin pitfalls of adolescence: anger or apathy.
Online Reporter