How to be a Godly Father: The One Habit Every Christian Dad Needs

• Posted: June 15, 2026

“For you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory” (1 Thessalonians 2:11-12).

From Jesus identifying God as “His Father” more than one hundred sixty times in the Gospels; to us being called children of God (John 1:12; Romans 8:14-17; Galatians 3:26); to Paul urging his readers as “his sons” in the faith (1 Corinthians 4:15; 1 Timothy 1:2; Titus 1:4), fatherhood themes run deep through the Bible.

The biblical idea that a loving father wants the best for his children is inescapable. At its core, this is what it means to be a father – to love in ways that seek the welfare of those under your care. When a dad is walking worthy, he hopes his children grow, flourish, and live in the light.

Walk Worthy

In addition to the verse above, we see the phrase “walk worthy” in several of Paul’s other letters:

• “…walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.” (Ephesians 4:1)
• “…let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ…” (Philippians 1:27)
• “…to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him…” (Colossians 1:10)

Paul exhorts us: walk worthy. We must ensure our daily lives align with our faith. Paul, Peter, and Jesus Himself draw our attention to the fact that how we walk can either increase or decrease our effectiveness in sharing the Gospel (Colossians 4:5-6; 1 Peter 2:12; Matthew 5:16).

For most of us fathers, we agree! The question we ask is: How can we do this?

We want to honor God. We certainly don’t want to bring shame or disrepute to the Gospel! The issue we wrestle with is the daily reality of making this true in our lives. The why is clear; the how gets muddy.

Working Upstream

Almost any dad can list dozens of ways to bring this to life – hold down a job. Pay bills on time. Take your wife on a weekly date night. Listen to your teen daughter as she navigates relationships. Or teach your son life skills like putting on a spare tire.

Rather than expand this list, I want to reduce it. I think there’s a master key that unlocks all these “how to” doors. It’s not the only thing we must do to walk worthy as dads; but, I believe when we do it, walking worthy becomes more accessible. This behavior is upstream and the result flows into every area of our lives.

Put simply, it’s this: know God’s word.

For the dad who wants to communicate more effectively, control his anger, manage his time well, enrich his marriage, and even steward his money better, God’s word holds the keys to these growth areas (and tons more). But, as honorable as those objectives might be, there are even more spiritually significant reasons to deepen our knowledge of God’s Word. Allow me to explore just three of those.

Three Reasons

First, it changes us.

In Hebrews, we learn that God’s Word is living and active – it judges our thoughts and the intentions of our hearts (4:12). It doesn’t just inform us — it challenges us. Paul said Scripture teaches, reproves, corrects, and equips (2 Timothy 3:16-17). In Romans, he tells us to renew our minds (12:1-2), a process accelerated by the truth of God’s word.

Do you want to be a more (insert Godly character trait here) father? More patient? Engaged? Understanding? Generous? Absorb God’s Word into your mind and watch as those seeds bring a harvest of Christlikeness in your thoughts and actions (Colossians 3:16).

Second, it guides us.

What should you do when your son is caught lying? How do you encourage your teenage daughter to reconsider dating “that” guy? How can you reorient your marriage after a breach of trust? Where should you spend your discretionary income? Should you accept that job offer?

You know what I can’t give you to each of those questions? A clear answer. Why not? Because, well, “it depends…”. These questions demand wisdom, not just a formula to follow. Each of these dilemmas – and hundreds more – will require wisdom to navigate. God’s Word promises to give us that wisdom (Proverbs 3:5-6; Joshua 1:8; Psalm 119:105).

Finally, it purifies us.

Clearly, our sins are only removed through the atoning work of Jesus Christ. Jesus cleanses us. Our spiritual debt was paid and His work purifies us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:7).

Yet, consider John 15:3, when Jesus said, “…you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.” Or, Psalm 119:9 which asks and answers, “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.” Paul exhorted husbands to “cleanse” their wives by washing them in the water of the Word as he compared this to the work of Jesus for the church (Ephesians 5:25-32). Interestingly, John called Jesus the Word of God (John 1:1-4).

God’s word is an agent of purification: in the person of Jesus Himself, the inner working of the Holy Spirit, and the Scriptures. This may seem to be simple advice – even naive. But, I’ve worked with thousands of dads. You know the one dad I’ve never met? The one who knew too much of God’s Word!

Biblical malnourishment is real, and many dads are afflicted. If you’re a dad who wants to walk worthy, knowing the Bible is the master key that unlocks many doors.

Happy Father’s Day.

Kent Evans is the Executive Director and co-founder of the Christian nonprofit Manhood Journey. The ministry equips fathers to lead their families biblically, providing resources like Bible studies, courses, eBooks, and the Father on Purpose podcast. He’s an author and former business executive who now guides dads on the essential journey of discipling their children. His work is rooted in his own life as a happily married husband of April’s for more than three decades. He’s a father to five kids and two daughters-in-law. He’s dedicated to helping dads become intentional disciple-makers, a mission he believes is the greatest earthly hope for the next generation.