10 Bible Verses for Dads to Hold Close
- Kali Dawson Crosswalk Contributor
- Published Jul 12, 2023
Good dads have a lot on their plates and carry a lot of weight for their families on their shoulders: I know this because my husband is a good dad, and I have watched him juggle so many things along with parenting over the years. Demands are high for modern dads, and instead of the demands becoming less, they are increasing. The mental load of fatherhood can certainly take its toll if they aren't careful.
Our kids are exposed to so much in our world today, and good dads help discern what is good and what is not for their kids. Just as moms do, dads also need guidance from God; they need prayer and Scripture in their lives as well as wise counsel, especially when coming up against major issues for their kids and wondering which is the next step to take and which direction to go.
I can remember my dad saying to me when I became an adult: how stressful it was when I was a teenager. He said the stress came from knowing that if he made the wrong choice or a choice I didn't like regarding something I wanted, he could risk driving his daughter away from him. I understand now that I am a parent. None of us know the paths our children will take as they get older, but we all do our best to guide them. As parents, we are entrusted with the very important role of getting our children started on a path that will give them the best possible chance at living a life where they embrace their dreams and God-given talents. We also get to teach them the importance of embracing God's plan for their lives and how to accept whatever comes: even when life doesn't go their way.
Taking a few moments to step away from the chaos of being a parent in our modern world can be a really good thing for fathers everywhere. Stepping out of the stressed mindset into a spiritual mindset of what's really important and what truly matters to God can be a game-changer. Realizing just how important their role is in the lives of their children and how fatherhood matters deeply to God, who is our Good Father:
is so important. It's vital.
So I've compiled a quick list of 10 Bible verses for Dads to hold close. It might be helpful to write one down and keep it in a pocket or wallet for a week to read a few times each day until it has been memorized. Hiding Scripture in our hearts no matter our ages is so important not only for ourselves and our mental states: but also for our kids who are looking up to us and watching every move we make and every word we say. Scripture can provide us with a quick and immediate mental reset if we let it and allow God's word to saturate our minds: instead of our fears and worries when it comes to parenting.
Here They Are:
Proverbs 4:11-12: "I will guide you in the way of wisdom and I will lead you in upright paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered, and when you run, you will not stumble."
God will guide you as a dad. He will guide you as a man. He will guide you as a good father does. He doesn't take his eyes off your steps: He knows what the next one will be before you do, and so He wants you to talk to Him, seek His face and pray about each decision you make as a parent before it comes to fruition.
Psalm 103:13: "As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him."
It's important to have compassion for our kids as God has compassion for us. This doesn't mean we don't discipline them when needed, but we also do our best to understand where they are coming from. We listen to them as God listens to us. We build our relationships with them, just as God desires a personal relationship with us.
Ephesians 6:4: "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."
Anger is a tough emotion as a parent, especially when we want what's best for our kids, or we want them to behave differently. This verse serves as a great reminder for dads to draw near to God instead of anger because kids model what they see.
Proverbs 1:8: "Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching."
The first word at the beginning of this verse is "hear," which is a good reminder that our kids won't always choose to hear, heed and listen to what we say. It's frustrating, but it can be helpful to remember that just as no parent is perfect, no child is perfect. If we are consistent in the way we lovingly guide our kids, they will take notice. When they realize that we truly want what's best for them, they will stop and listen to what we have to say and heed our wise instructions
2 Corinthians 6:18: "And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty."
This verse serves as a reminder to Dads that they are not alone on their parenting Journey: God is a Father to them, too, a good father. His example is one we can always follow: and when in doubt, we can choose His way of unconditional love.
Proverbs 22:6: "Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it."
If dads need encouragement to raise kids who love God: this verse is a great place to start: kids who love God and know God loves them will bring compassion and kindness out into the world: and these things start at home.
2 Samuel 7:14-15: "I will be a father to him, and he'll be a son to me. When he does wrong, I'll discipline him in the usual ways, the pitfalls and obstacles of this mortal life. But I'll never remove my gracious love from him."
Love your kids unconditionally. Regardless of what they do or the mistakes you believe they've made: don't remove your love from them. Imagine if God did this to us every time we messed up. This is such a hugely important verse for dads. Especially when they've envisioned their child's life going one way, and it goes another.
Proverbs 23:24: "The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him."
To father a wise child, Dads need to be steeped in wisdom themselves. Wisdom isn't found out in this world; it's found in opening your Bible and reading it.
"Whoever fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for their children it will be a refuge." - Proverbs 14:26
When dads are concerned with what other people think, they likely won't make the best decisions for their kids. When dads are concerned about what God thinks, this makes them a refuge for their kids while raising them: just as God is a refuge for us. Even if you got a million things wrong on your parenting journey: being a safe place for your kids is like doing a million things right. It's so important.
Psalm 32:7-8: "You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance."
This verse can be linked with the one before it: God is our hiding place, shelter, and safety. And may dads strive to do and be the same thing for their children: a shelter, a place of rest, a safe refuge, an understanding ear, and a wise heart.
