“You are what you eat, read, and who you’re around most.”, I’m sure you’ve heard a version of this. Things influence us, so we need to refine our lives. Refining is a process of removal/separation, reduction/conversion, cleaning/treatment of unwanted contaminates/impurities/imperfections/guilt. Proverbs 25:4-5 says, Take away the dross from the silver, and the smith has material for a vessel; take away the wicked from the presence of the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness. The silversmith separates, converts, and treats silver making it strong, useful, and lasting. How can you refine your life? #1 SEPARATION. One dad I know struggles with negative self-talk. He can twist anything into negativity about himself. Most dads walk around feeling like failures. Separate your opinion from God’s perspective. Strength is found in His perspective, not yours. #2 CONVERSION. Another dad listens to political talk all day. He’s not in politics, yet he’s more engaged with Capitol Hill than his own house—always angry about issues he can’t change. Convert the junk you let in to god-honoring things. What you take in shapes you, making you more/less useful to serving God and others. #3 TREATMENT. The refiner treats/polishes/cleans silver so it lasts. Keep refining your life and imagine looking back one day, wiping the sweat from your brow, and noticing that God transformed what your kid experienced at home. The world will hand your kid impurities. Make yourself and your home a refinery—separating/converting/treating so you’re crafting something that is strong, useful, and lasts beyond this earth.

HOW TO BECOME A DISCIPLE-MAKING DAD: The Great Commission is clear: We are called to make disciples. Our primary job as men of God is to point others toward the Savior and to encourage them to become His followers as well. But as dads, we can’t overlook the people closest to us. Making disciples begins at home with your kids. This article highlights five ways you can get started with that today.

CLEANING UP YOUR ACT BY EXAMINING YOUR INFLUENCES: It’s been said that the difference between you today and you a decade from now will be defined by the books you read and the people you meet. While it’s important to read good books, this episode is going to focus primarily on the people who invest in your life. Proverbs 25 makes it clear that you are a product of the people who influence you. As we dig into this passage, we’ll see how to make sure your influences are pure so you can be golden in every area of your manhood journey.

“It may be difficult to understand why a test comes our way, but we must never forget that the test is accomplishing refining and purification.” —Billy Graham

“Either sin will keep you from the Word, or the Word will keep you from sin.” —John Bunyan

“It’s always easier to avoid temptation than to resist it.” ―Randy Alcorn

“Before a sin, Satan tempts you to believe repentance will be easy. After a sin, Satan tempts you to believe repentance is impossible.” —J. Garrett Kell

Refining 101. Refining typically requires another object. No, stand back from the anvil—get down. You can’t refine yourself by constantly beating yourself up. God refines with His grace. The silversmith crafts strong, useful, and lasting silver; but you aren’t the silversmith, you are the silver. God is the Chief Refiner. He can separate your worldly thoughts making them His thoughts, convert your affections into praising Him, and continually treat your life of impurities. Do this and you’ll gain the strength to withstand anything, be useful for serving God and others, and live a life whose influence lasts into the next generation.

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.

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