Week 4-THUR

Day 19 – Dream Big, Pray Bigger

Verses:

Philippians 4:6 – “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Lesson:  As Christian fathers, we want our children to be ambitious, to set big goals, pursue excellence, and chase their potential. This ambition is a reflection of the amazing potential God has placed within them. However, earthly striving can quickly become a source of anxiety and selfishness if it's not anchored to God. Our job is to teach our kids to Dream Big, setting massive, exciting goals, while simultaneously teaching them to Pray Bigger, trusting God’s plan and timing more than their own effort. A dream rooted in self is fragile; a dream submitted to God is indestructible. We must model for them the difference between chasing a goal for pride and pursuing excellence for purpose.

Reflection: Ask yourself: “Am I teaching my children to define success by what they achieve or by how much they trust God in the process?” Often, our own anxiety about their future is driven by our fear of earthly failure, not by a concern for their spiritual growth. Spend time with your child discussing a big goal they have (a school project, a sports objective, a future career). Encourage them to pray specifically about the effort and the obstacles they might face, asking God for wisdom and persistence, not just the win.

Insight: When Scottie Scheffler won the 2022 Masters, the world saw calm confidence, but behind the green jacket was a man completely surrendered to God’s will. The morning of his final round, Scottie admitted to his wife that he was crying from anxiety, confessing, “I don’t think I’m ready for this.” Her reply was simple and powerful: “If you win today, if you lose today, I’m still going to love you, and Jesus is still going to love you.”

That truth steadied him. Scottie said later, “I felt peace knowing that God was in control no matter the outcome.” And then he went out and won the biggest tournament of his life. His story reminds us that faith doesn’t erase ambition, it refines it. Dream big, yes. But pray bigger. The goal isn’t just to achieve; it’s to align our dreams with the One who gives them meaning.

Family Mantra: “God’s plan is bigger than our dreams.”

Prayer: Almighty Father, You have placed limitless potential in my children. Give them the courage to dream ambitious dreams and the humility to submit those dreams to Your perfect will. When they face obstacles, remind them that their strength comes from You alone. Help them find their delight in You, so that their greatest desires are aligned with Your eternal purpose. Amen.