I was talking with Mac Powell recently on our podcast. Yes, the Mac Powell—Third Day co-founder, lead singer, and grammy winner. He was super honest about his mistakes as a dad. Give it a listen. As I chatted with Mac (I can call him Mac, we’re best friends now.), Proverbs 22:6 came to mind, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Let’s look at three ideas around this verse. #1 Be present on purpose. Try reading this verse as more of a warning than a promise. If you don’t lead your kid well; it won’t be impossible later, but it’ll probably become more difficult as he ages. Mac Powell makes a great point—if you have to travel or be away from your kids a ton, try and spend at least 10 minutes a day with each child, 1-on-1—when you are home. #2 Teach responsibility, responsibly. Proverbs 22:6 shows your role as a dad is to point your kid to God. Example: if you struggle with anger, recognize most things aren’t “worth getting mad about,” as Mac Powell says. Live your faith in a responsible way and your kids will learn by watching you. #3 You can’t be perfect, but you can try. As a dad, your job is to be around and be responsible. You’re not responsible for your child’s personal decision to follow the faith, but you are called to pour your faith into your kid. Mistakes will happen, but God can use your mistakes too.

Helping Your Children Build Strong Faith: Helping your children build strong faith starts with your influence. Be intentional about sharing and modeling faith, allowing them to wrestle with it, and surrounding them with godly mentors. Engage in spiritual conversations, encourage their questions, and walk alongside them in their journey. Above all, cover it all in prayer—because ultimately, only God can transform their hearts.

Mac Powell on Being a Present Parent: God Of Wonders, Soul On Fire, I Need A Miracle…do any of those phrases sound familiar to you? If they don’t, let us give you a hint: they’re all song titles. Third Day is one of those bands in the Christian world that defined the sound of a generation, and in today’s episode, we have the pleasure of chatting with Third Day co-founder and lead singer, Mac Powell. He’s also a husband and a father to five kids, and when we asked him for his biggest piece of parenting advice, he said, “Realize that you were made for this.” We walk through topics like how to be present with your kids when life and business get in the way, what it’s like to love your teenage kids even (especially?) when they think you’re lame, and many more mines of wisdom Mac has to share. Just like Mac said, as parents, we’re never gonna completely figure it out, but we can’t let that stop us from trying to figure it out.

“Our aim as parents is not merely to stock our kids heads with knowledge about God, but to inspire our kid’s hearts to worship God.” — John Piper

Made for this. Fatherhood is no accident—God has given you a unique calling. Keep growing, pursuing God, and pointing your kids to Him. Live your faith so well that your kids see your walk with God and want it too. Own your role, live it on purpose, and be the example your kids need.

Kent Evans
Author of Don’t Bench Yourself, 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.