Me time. What a double-edged topic. In one sense, time alone is essential to the Christian life. Time spent reading God’s word, praying or listening to worship music can restore our souls. Most of us have far too little quiet spaces in our lives. Those moments when I have a cup of coffee and an open Bible are some of my most cherished of the day. I find emotional strength and spiritual nourishment. Yet, I also find that my life can’t revolve around “me time” as a father. Sometimes, I’m tempted to use “me time” as an excuse for selfishness. Why can’t I shoot ball with my son? Why can’t I put the kids to bed? Why can’t I go fill up my wife’s gas tank? Because I need “me” time? Hmm. Dad, remember what Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Mark 8:34-35) Granted, this was about following Christ, not just about being a father. Yet, the principle remains. Stop looking for your best life, but instead, go lose it. Oh, the irony. Often, this means denying ourselves. We forsake what we want and instead focus on the needs of our family. In the end, we find deep, enduring satisfaction.

Raising kids God’s way: 5 easy tips for parents: For our kids to know Who God is, they have to know His Word. Knowing the stories of Noah’s ark and Jonah are good, but knowing what’s revealed about God in those stories is much more significant. To be changed by the stories in the Bible, our kids must know the God behind those stories. He’s the same God Who will be behind their stories.

The godly dad praises God through worship: Two leading factors in whether or not our kids will pursue a spiritual connection with God as adults include the kind of music they listen to and if they participate in Bible study. We dads can’t control everything our kids become exposed to, good or bad. And these life patterns and experiences can significantly impact their spiritual relationship with the Lord in adulthood. So that begs the question: What can we do now to lead our children spiritually and give them the best shot at walking with the Lord when they leave home?

“Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness.” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

“Almost every sinful action ever committed can be traced back to a selfish motive. It is a trait we hate in other people but justify in ourselves.” – Stephen Kendrick

“No man is more cheated than the selfish man.” – Henry Ward Beecher

We time. This week, instead of focusing on how you can get more “me” time, see if you can manufacture additional we time. Time with your wife and kids spent doing something more enlivening than just watching TV. Can you play a game? Work in the yard? Run an errand? Read a bedtime story? You might even put off buying that new car so your family can take a vacation. You may gain more spiritual replenishment as you pour yourself out in we time than if you holed up and found more me time.

Kent Evans
Author of The Manhood Journey, co-founder of Manhood Journey and Father On Purpose.

P.S. Was this Mountain Monday helpful? Tell me if you love it, hate it, or if there’s something you’d like in the next one.

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