‘Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.’ Matthew 6:33(NLT)
‘But they delight in the law of the Lord , meditating on it day and night.’ Psalms 1:2(NLT)
The third thing necessary for becoming the total, spiritual man is to have regular, private devotions. We can tell our children repeatedly to read the Bible and pray, but the simplest and most effective way to teach them this spiritual principle is by example—leading a devotional time with them. A father cannot leave this to his wife. You may say, “But I travel … I’m seldom at home.” Even if you’re not at home very often, your family needs you to lead them in seeking the Lord whenever you’re with them. When a child sees his father reading the Bible and praying on his knees, the memory will be irrevocably stamped on his impressionable mind.
Let me ask you: When was the last time your children saw you on your knees with an open Bible, seeking direction from God? That’s an unmistakable lesson to a child. To be a spiritual man you must take time to talk to the Father and listen to Him through His Word. The regularity of this meeting, not its length, is the important thing. Even when you’re running late, I suggest you pause long enough to get on your knees and tell the Lord, “I’m committing this day to You. As late as I am, I’m not leaving home without getting on my knees before You and setting my heart to obey You today.” God will reward your faithfulness.
Through the years, I’ve seen that the homes of fathers who do this are always richly blessed. Why? Simply because when we’re on our knees before Him, God matures us and guides us in taking spiritual steps each day. Even if you can only pause for a prayer of commitment and a memorized Bible verse in the morning, make sure you do so. This will prepare you for the day ahead. Then you can have a longer period of meditation and Bible reading later in the day when you have more time.
Understand that your attitude of mind influences every aspect of your home, which is why you need biblical principles to be the man, husband, and father you want to be. When your attention is focused on biblical truths, you’re exercising the mind of Christ—His thinking and manner of responding to circumstances. When you think as Jesus does, you’ll love your wife and children more faithfully. You will also be more sensitive to the needs of those around you.
from Man Of God by Charles F. Stanley