Ever heard the phrase, “Do as I say, not as I do”? Perhaps you’ve said it yourself. The truth is, we cannot separate our words from our actions.

In this message, Dr. Stanley challenges fathers to evaluate themselves against a list of characteristics that children need to see in their dads, including:

- Unconditional love
- Leadership
- Discipline
- Forgiveness
- Gratitude
- Prayerfulness
- And many more

The list may seem overwhelming at first, but Dr. Stanley teaches it is better to deal with your shortcomings now and receive the praise of your children later in life, than to avoid the pain and live with the lifelong consequences of ignoring your faults.

The good news is that you don’t have to live up to these expectations on your own. Through Christ, your heavenly Father will guide you and help you become the kind of father you need to be. Then, you can experience a family love like you’ve never known before.

This message is part of the series "How-Tos for Fathers."