Here’s the truth about what you do and say—it reveals your heart. Your actions and words either build up or tear down—and your family feels it. Luke 6:45 says, The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

#1 What’s going on under the hood? The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil. Your heart isn’t just feelings—it’s your inner compass. It takes in what you feed it. If you’re always feeling frustrated or annoyed, those are warning lights—just like in your car. Want to reset? Start with God’s Word. Hear from Him and talk to Him. What you put in your heart will drive everything you do and say.

#2 What’s coming out of your exhaust? Out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. Follow the car metaphor with me—your words are the exhaust of your heart. Long before you act—your tone, sarcasm, and critical comments reveal what’s inside. Jesus never said your words influence your heart—He said they reveal/expose it. Would your wife say you often sound angry? Do your kids flinch at your tone? That didn’t start with your mouth. It started deeper. Want to change what you say? Start by changing what fuels your heart.

Raising Disciples: The Role of Fathers in Spiritual Growth: Most Christian fathers I meet carry a quiet ache. They want to lead their families toward Christ—but they feel unsure and ill-equipped.

Over 6,000 dads have taken our Godly Father Assessment and the findings are clear. Fewer than 22 percent read the Bible with their children. Nearly 75 percent say they don’t spend consistent time nurturing their kids’ faith.

This isn’t about apathy. It’s about absence—many dads never had a model to follow. But spiritual leadership doesn’t start with perfection. It starts with presence. Small moments. Faithfulness in the mundane. Discipleship is built in everyday conversations, not just devotionals.

You Are What You Think: Ever heard the phrase, “you are what you eat?” What if we told you this: you are what you think. Not quite as catchy, but perhaps even more true. The reality is, for better or worse, we become what we behold. Our thought patterns are among the most important aspects of how we view ourselves, the world around us, our relationship to God, and everything else we go through or interact with on a daily basis. Thankfully, Scripture has a lot to say about where we should “set our minds” (Colossians 3, Romans 8, and Philippians 4, to name a few examples).

Adrian Rogers: “The heart of the problem is the problem of the heart.”

Warning Lights. Like the check engine light in your dashboard, your family hears what’s in your heart—through what you do and what you say. What are you doing? Are you in God’s Word? His truth exposes what you’re clinging to—and shows you how to make it right. What are you saying? Sharp words usually come from a hard heart. Pay attention to your “dashboard”—blame, complaining, and control are warning lights. Don’t ignore them. They signal fear, pride, or exhaustion. Ignore them and you’ll have bigger, more expensive problems later. Want to speak life, peace, and purpose into your home? Start by surrendering to God yourself. Today, say one thing that builds up your wife and kids.

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.