Is There a Playbook to Becoming a Better Dad?

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”—James 1:5

Before you shoot, you aim. Before you build, you plan. Before you live, you’d better know what God built you to be. If you’re a man, you were made to live under God’s blessing and then be a blessing—starting with your wife and kids. Psalms 127-128 isn’t just poetry. It’s a battle plan for becoming a Pastor Dad.

The world is full of noise, lies, and weak men. Wisdom is how you cut through the fog. Real wisdom—God’s wisdom—comes from one source: the Holy Spirit. He’s called the “Spirit of Wisdom” for a reason. You won’t become a wise father by winging it. You’ve got to walk with the Spirit, stay sensitive to His lead, and shut out the junk the world keeps preaching.

You also need the playbook. Scripture is God’s fathering manual. From Genesis to Proverbs to Ephesians, God shows you what it means to be His son and how to father your own kids. Don’t know what to do? Start with Proverbs—one chapter a day. That’s 31 bullets of wisdom a month.

Still feel outgunned? Pray. James 1:5 says God gives wisdom generously. I’ve prayed that verse more times than I can count while raising five kids. Sometimes, God brings back something I forgot. Sometimes, He gives me something brand new. But every time, He shows up.

Also, don’t ignore general wisdom. God made science, psychology, and people smarter than you in some areas. Just test it all by the Word. And surround yourself with men who’ve been in the trenches. Wise counsel is like having a better rifle and cleaner sights.

And here’s the kicker—experience is your teacher. You’ll mess up. Every dad does. But you must repent, recalibrate, and reload. Even generals get schooled by toddlers. Stay humble. Stay teachable. Trust your Father to grow you into the dad your kids need.

You can’t lead your family without God’s wisdom. You can’t get that wisdom without the Holy Spirit, Scripture, prayer, counsel, and hard-fought experience. So, get serious. Your legacy starts today.

What step can you take today to grow in wisdom as a dad?

In celebration of Father’s Day, this week’s devos are based on Pastor Mark’s new book, Pastor Dad, which will be released in June.

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