Godly fatherhood starts with your heart. The key to everything—what you think, say, and do—all starts with your heart. If Satan can snag it, he’ll get everything. This is why Proverbs 4:23 is so crucial, Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.

#1 Keep your heart… Heart isn’t really talking about the organ in your chest, but more like the center of your mind and will—intention and personality—who you are.

#2 …with all vigilance. Here’s the crazy part: your heart can lead you off course. “Follow your heart” sounds great for movies, but it’s rarely wise. The Bible says pride, lust, jealousy—all sin—starts at the heart. So guard your heart with all vigilance. From the heart then, what you take in shapes what flows out. Protect what you watch, hear, and dwell on. Daily time in Scripture and prayer isn’t just routine stuff—it’s protection from the enemy.

#3 …for from it flow the springs of life. Don’t read this and only concern yourself with behavior. God cares about your heart, not simply your behavior (ask ChatGPT about “The Pharisees”). What’s in your heart shows up—or dare I say, flows out from your heart—and bubbles up in your words, actions, and decisions. One quick example: obsessing over money is usually lack of trust and contentment in God. We gotta look at the heart level.

The State of Biblical Fatherhood And The Opportunity for the Church: Many Christian fathers want to lead their families spiritually—but don’t know how. Lacking role models and feeling unequipped, they struggle with prayer, Bible reading, and discipleship at home. This isn’t just a personal crisis—it’s a spiritual one impacting families and churches. The local church can step in—not to replace fathers, but to engage them relationally, equip them with biblical tools, and empower them with gospel identity. When churches disciple dads well, families thrive, children grow in faith, and generations are changed—for the glory of God.

Listen to Connect, Not Correct: Struggling to connect and communicate well with your kids? You’re not the only one. In this episode, Kent and Lawson explore why meaningful communication isn’t just about saying the right words. It’s about aligning your heart, ears, and mouth. Drawing from Luke 6:45, they unpack how what’s stored in your heart inevitably spills out in your speech—for better or worse. Today’s episode will help you learn how to shift from correction to connection with your kids. If you want your words to build trust instead of barriers, this one’s for you.

Paul David Tripp: If my heart is the source of my sin problem, then lasting change must always travel through the pathway of my heart. It is not enough to alter my behavior or to change my circumstances. Christ transforms people by radically changing their hearts. If the heart doesn’t change, the person’s words and behavior may change temporarily because of an external pressure or incentive. But when the pressure or incentive is removed, the change will disappear.

Heart check. Everything flows from your heart. So, how’s your heart? Look at your motives for the next thing you do. Every dad needs a new, transformed heart from God. Only God can help you say the right thing at the right moment without ulterior motives—whether at home or the office. Only God can help you practice patience, ask thoughtful and caring questions, and lead with encouragement that points where it should—to Him. Give Him your heart today, so you can give life to your family.

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.