Men tend to be "doers." We measure our success—and even our worth—by what we're able to accomplish. On a scale of 1 to 10, we strive to be an 11. Of course, the chase for perfection is a race we'll never win. As men of God, we need to realize that the Bible actually puts the focus on being faithful, not being perfect. God knows we'll drop the ball on occasion. That's why He honors faithfulness above flawlessness.

As guys, nothing raises the hair on the back of our necks quite like being told we "have to" do something. It’s just human nature. No one likes to be told what to do—and that includes our kids. Trouble is, it's hard for dads to make the move from a "have to" mentality to a "letting go" mentality with their kids. It’s tough to shift from telling them what to avoid to teaching them how to make wise choices on their own. If you can master that transition from power to influence, though, it's a game changer—for you and your child.

Sometimes in life, storms can strike with little or no warning. Hard times knock us down and keep us off balance like waves in the ocean. The best we can do is fight to keep our heads above water. That's when we need to remember that there's always more to the story. In the middle of our pain and frustration, we can rest assured that God is at work, crafting a bigger narrative for our good and His glory. It may be hard to see in the moment, but it's going to be a beautiful sight on the other side of the stress.

In a world that challenges us to "look out for No. 1," humility can be hard to come by. Especially for guys, putting the needs of others above our own plans and desires can feel unnatural. We’re tempted to write it off as a quaint concept held over from a simpler time. Truth is, genuine humility never goes out of style. It's an eternal virtue that draws people to Jesus because it reflects His character. And, as we'll see in Proverbs 12, it's a character quality God expects men who follow Him to nurture in their lives.