I was meeting with a dad recently who’s walking through a tricky season with his teenage daughter. He shared about how he didn’t want to just drift through this. He wanted to take action. He wanted to be proactive. He didn’t want to be passive. I said, “Prayer is never passive.” (not exactly an original thought. Randy Alcorn’s said it. So have others). God was reminding both of us of this truth. Inviting Him into the work of parenting is not an inert exercise. Sure, we might need to have a conversation, take away the tech device, or keep them away from bad influences. There may be actions to take. But, let’s remember that God calls us to, “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving” (Col 4:2). Take an aggressive posture of prayer and ask God to intervene.

What Separates Great Dads from the Rest: Sometimes, fatherhood can leave you feeling battered and bruised. It can make you wonder if you’re cut out for the job. Truth is, we all have the potential to be great dads. We all can become the fathers our kids need. But it takes some work and some investment on our part. If you’re up for the challenge, we’ve shared ten ways you can get the ball rolling and start moving toward becoming a great dad.

Josh Hatcher and the Art of Nurturing Manhood: We live in a culture where authentic manhood is under attack. Around every corner, guys are being challenged to justify—or even apologize for—their masculinity. Josh Hatcher has spent more than a decade encouraging men to run toward the storm and to embrace their God-given responsibilities of Christ-like discipleship and intentional manhood. His insights on what it means to be a man and father in contemporary society will inspire and equip you to lead through the storms.

“Prayer isn’t passive, it’s active. It’s really doing something. Prayer isn’t the least we can do, it’s the most.”
– Randy Alcorn

“If your day is hemmed in with prayer, it is less likely to come unraveled.”
– Cynthia Lewis

“It is possible to move men, through God, by prayer alone.”
– Hudson Taylor

“Intercession means that we rouse ourselves up to get the mind of Christ about the one for whom we pray.”
– Oswald Chambers

Pray actively. What’s that behavior you want to see changed in your child? What’s the next step you need to take? Who’s that individual you sense is a bad influence on your daughter? What danger do you see ahead that your son is oblivious to? What are the intentions of your child’s heart you want to peer into? PRAY. See what God shows you and watch Him move the giant rocks only HE can move.

Kent Evans
Author of Bring Your Hammer, co-founder of Manhood Journey

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.

Forward this to a dad you know who needs some encouragement.