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Dads, Five Ways to Make Your Words Count

by Desiring God
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Desiring God

by Jonathan Parnell

Crawford Loritts reflects on five lessons he learned from his father on how to speak so that your children take your words seriously:

  1. Don't waste words. Don't add a lot of apologies or unnecessary detail that make you look timid.
  2. Don't threaten.
  3. Be clear about expectations. When you tell someone, especially a child, how to behave or what to do, make sure you both are very clear about what you expect.
  4. Be clear about consequences, particularly if your expectations involve an area with which that child has struggled in the past.
  5. Take clear, decisive action. . . .

Say what you mean and back up your words with action. It's a testimony to your integrity and an example your children will carry with them throughout their lives.

Never Walk Away, (Chicago: Moody, 1997), 96, emphasis mine.

Crawford Loritts will share more lessons he learned from his father on biblical manhood at our 2012 Conference for Pastors (Jan 30 – Feb 1). Registration is now open.

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Desiring God exists to say, "God's ultimate goal is to glorify himself...and that's good news." Everything they do aims to spread a passion for the supremacy of God in all things for the joy of all peoples through Jesus Christ. Desiring God provides free access to the preaching and teaching resources of John Piper, pastor for preaching at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis and author of over 30 books on ministry.

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