There is a classic story told by Rus Lawson about a young pastor in Ohio who worked at a feed processing plant to make ends meet. Every night when he arrived home, covered in the heavy residue from the mill, his young boys would look up at him and say, “Boy, Dad, you sure are dusty!” He would grumble to himself initially, but then smile and reply, “Yes, I sure am dusty.”

One Saturday morning, while washing his car, the pastor noticed his four-year-old son picking up small stones from the driveway and rubbing them vigorously into his pants. Curious, the father asked, “What are you doing?” The boy looked up and replied, “I want to be dusty like you, Dad.”

Telling the story later, the pastor reflected: “At that time, I realized that if a son would look up to his father for being dusty, he would look up to dad for anything. What a responsibility.”

Outside of being recognized as a child of God and a husband, my absolute favorite title in this world is Dad. When I read that phrase—what a responsibility—my eyes swell with water, and my heart pounds with a profound sense of duty. It is a daily mandate to lead and leave a spiritual legacy for my children and the generations beyond.

My hope is to encourage and inspire men, fathers, and leaders everywhere to build a legacy that glorifies our Lord Jesus Christ. By examining the life of Joshua, we can uncover five foundational lessons for leading our families intentionally for the Kingdom of God.

1. Live In the Presence of the Lord

To lead your family spiritually, you must first learn to sit at the feet of the Father. Consider Joshua’s formative years under Moses:

“Inside the Tent of Meeting, the LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Afterward Moses would return to the camp, but the young man who assisted him, Joshua son of Nun, would remain behind in the Tent of Meeting.” — Exodus 33:11 NLT

Joshua observed Moses’ example and witnessed firsthand what it meant to abide in God’s presence. As fathers, our families observe us too, whether we realize it or not. Living in the presence of the Lord translates practically to daily, intentional communion with Him—in short, a robust prayer life.

Scripture provides clear guardrails for this lifestyle:

• Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NLT)
• Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand… (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT)

What keeps us from entering this deep level of prayer and seeking His presence? Ultimately, it is a prideful heart that convinces us we can manage on our own.

2. Unwavering Faith

When the twelve spies returned from exploring Canaan, ten reported terrifying giants and fortified walls, spreading fear throughout Israel. But Joshua and Caleb stood on the promises of God, refusing to bow to fear. They tore their clothes in grief over the people’s rebellion and declared:

“The land we traveled through and explored is a wonderful land! And if the LORD is pleased with us, he will bring us safely into that land and give it to us… Do not rebel against the LORD, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land. They are only helpless prey to us! They have no protection, but the LORD is with us! Don’t be afraid of them!” — Numbers 14:7-9 NLT

Hebrews 11:1 reminds us that faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. Just as Joshua had faith that the Lord would conquer the Promised Land, we must possess an unwavering faith that God can transform our lives, our families, and our communities.

Do not lose heart or abandon your faith simply because the current cultural or situational odds appear stacked against you. Even in the deepest personal trials—such as my own journey through the heartbreaking loss of two children—faith anchors us to the reality of God’s sovereignty.

3. Obedience to His Word

When Joshua took over the leadership of Israel, God didn’t give him a complex military strategy layout; He gave him a book of instruction and a command to obey.

“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it.” — Joshua 1:7-8 NLT

Men need to lead their families in truth and love according to what the Word of God dictates. You cannot use the excuse of not holding an official ministry title to avoid leading your home. As fathers, we are biblically mandated to pass down the truth:

“We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the LORD… He commanded our ancestors to teach them to their children, so the next generation might know them—even the children not yet born—and they in turn will teach their own children.” — Psalm 78:4-6 NLT

Putting It Into Practice:

1. Daily Scripture Reading: Pick a specific book of the Bible (such as 1 John). Read a small section aloud together as a family and discuss what it means.
2. Real-Life Connections: Find opportunities to connect everyday activities to spiritual principles. Look for ways to intentionally edify your spouse and children through truth.
3. Children’s Resources: Utilize faith-based children’s books that point directly back to biblical principles. (I see this fruit unfolding beautifully in my own life through what the Lord is currently doing in my child, J.J.).

I do not teach my children the Bible because I happen to be a minister. I teach them because I desperately want the Holy Spirit to draw them into an everlasting relationship with Jesus Christ at a much younger age than I did.

4. A Devoted Heart

Near the end of his life, Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel together and challenged them to throw away compromise:

“So fear the LORD and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped… Serve the LORD alone. But if you refuse to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve… But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD.” — Joshua 24:14-15 NLT

That last phrase has unfortunately become a bit of a cliché—a cute piece of wall decor we hang in our hallways. But Joshua’s declaration was far more than lip service. It was a spiritual banner flying defiantly over his household.

A devoted heart establishes that Jesus is our exclusive priority and that no cultural idols are permitted a foothold. When a man raises that spiritual banner, he declares that Satan and the forces of darkness cannot have his family, because they belong under the saving blood and absolute authority of Jesus Christ.

5. A Courageous Spirit

Throughout the first chapter of Joshua, a rhythmic command echoes repeatedly from the Lord: “Be strong and courageous” (v. 6), “Be strong and very courageous” (v. 7), and “This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged” (v. 9).

It is time for Christian men to stop leading out of a spirit of fear and start leading with the power that comes from the Holy Spirit.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” — 2 Timothy 1:7 NLT

Let us define these terms accurately: Fear amounts to cowardice, often caused by a lack of moral strength. Timidity acts as a sluggishness or hesitation that can ultimately invite ruin and corruption into a family dynamic. We must stop worshipping the idol of fear through our personal inactivity.

I am incredibly passionate about this because for a major portion of my early life, I allowed a spirit of fear to dictate my thoughts, actions, and reactions. That fear led me toward paths of sin that damaged both my own life and the lives of those around me. But God breaks that cycle.

Moving Forward: Your Next Steps

You no longer have to live under the control of a dark shadow of fear, past failures, or hesitation. Christ is ready to step in as your guiding light and set you completely free. Through the Holy Spirit, He will provide the supernatural power you need to live a loving, disciplined, and courageous life for the Kingdom of God.

How will you respond today?

• Surrender: If Jesus Christ is asking you to follow Him today, stop delaying. Say yes to Him.
• Get Into Community: Immerse yourself in the Word of God. Join a connect group or find an intentional group of godly men to hold you accountable.
• Practice Presence: Carve out dedicated time daily to step away from the noise and rest in the presence of the Lord through prayer.
• Pray for Courage: Ask the Lord specifically to uproot fear and anchor a courageous spirit within your heart.

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