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Welcome to the Raising Up Fathers Podcast. We are here to champion men to thrive in their four main roles: son, husband, father, and brother.
Through testimonies and best practices. Our goal is to help you look a little more like Jesus in the areas that matter the most. Our vision is to raise up ten thousand fathers in the name of Jesus. You can find out more at raisingupfathers.com
If what you heard today encouraged you, please share it with a friend.
So every year, my family and I make a trip to Nashville, Tennessee to see some of the most important people in my life. The ten hour drive is costly, but the return is a year's worth of inspiration, wisdom, and encouragement. My stop, this guy named Don Finto. You see, Don's a 95 year old former pastor who's met presidents, led one of Nashville's largest churches, and has impacted thousands of people. But to me, he's a gentleman of deep faith.
Zach:A man from generational brokenness who simply believes God is who he says he is and lives like it every single day. Don's joy is infectious. His heart is pure. This is a man worth emulating. After Don, I hit up my mentor, Steve Allen.
Zach:Steve was born on the mission field. He's a man who's made discipleship his life. He's the most intentional man I know. He's raised up godly husbands and fathers as evident in the lives of his six children. His ten year battle with ALS has taken his ability to move, but not his unshakable faith.
Zach:Steve is the epitome of perseverance, courage, and hope. Then we spent the week with my brother Ben, his beautiful wife, and their five children. Ben is a powerful man, full of dreams and the courage to chase them. He comes from a long line of wild men who leave a mark, some for good, some for bad. But Ben has let the Lord break the mustang inside him to be a force for godliness.
Zach:See, Ben's highs are highs, his lows are lows. But through it all, he stays generous, humble, and full of hope. He has a high tolerance for risk, which always leaves me questioning if I'm being risky enough in my own life. You see, every year, the lord uses these three men to make me a better man. There's a saying that goes, more is caught than taught, and that's exactly how I feel when I'm with these three guys.
Zach:And during our time together, there's no lessons being taught, only conversations being had. But a powerful thing happens when you surround yourself with men whose hearts are on fire for the Lord. They live lives fully committed to God, intimacy with the father that leads to action. They're led by the spirit and unafraid of scary things like risk, confession, and repentance. When they talk, they always share what God is doing.
Zach:They talk about what he's saying, what he's calling them to. Everything they do, it always points back to him. So on my way home, my wife and I talked about what the Lord did during our trip. And it hit me that a sentence here and a story there had completely shifted my perspective. I told Don how I've been prioritizing my marriage and seeing great fruit.
Zach:What was his response? Well, isn't that the most important relationship you have on Earth? Bam. When he said that, I felt like I was on the right track. It's like his words gave me permission to keep going, that I was doing a good job.
Zach:With Steve, Steve prayed over every topic we discussed. Note taken, the prayers of the righteous are powerful and effective. Watching Steve prayed made me want to pray more. It stirred up my desires for prayer. I'm more prone to action than prayer, and Steve's example brought me back to center.
Zach:And Ben. Well, Ben gave me space to voice the dreams I've been too scared to share. We champion each other to do what only God can do, reminding one another that God is faithful and that he has not failed us yet. Our relationship truly is iron sharpening iron. And being with Ben gives me the courage to obey God even when the outcome is unclear.
Zach:To live a life where I'm dead in the water if the Lord doesn't show up. I used to think this you are the culmination of your five closest friends was just a cute quote. But the more I live, the more I know that it really is true. You will slide backward without men who call you up to more. And may it always be so with me.
Zach:I pray I never stop growing. I pray I never stop becoming more like Jesus. And the best way I know to do that is to be around men who push me into his presence, who make intimacy with Jesus and life in the spirit feel normal. Because what's the alternative? To go at it alone?
Zach:Good luck. Surround yourself with passive or negative men? Have fun with that. It's not gonna turn out well. You see, Don and Steve are my generals, showing me how to be a godly man.
Zach:Ben is my training partner, calling me up every time he pushes himself. So I ask you a question today. Who are you following? And who is calling you up to more? Because godliness does not happen by accident.
Zach:No one stumbles into holiness. You make it happen. So go find older men to emulate. Surround yourself with brothers who are thriving in your weakest area. Talk about the important stuff.
Zach:Ask the hard questions. See if they'll tell you what they see in you whenever they look at your your life and your priorities. Men like this, they're hard to find, and you'll need courage to ask to hang out with them, but I promise it'll change your life. And you can do it. It's never too late to become the man God created you to be.
Zach:If you need help or don't know where to take the step, we're here for you. But no but make no mistake. It's on you. You can delegate a lot of things in life, but this is not one of them. Because the man you're becoming is shaped by the men you surround yourself with.
Zach:So don't settle. Don't wait. Pursue godliness like your life depends on it because it does.