“The fruit of prayerful, intentional investment in your daughter is spiritual, emotional, and relational.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – June 11, 2025
These commandments… are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road. Deuteronomy 6:6-7
My friend Woody has three daughters, and I have four. For the past three decades, we have prayed together, learned together, and grown together as dads. On the days when I felt dazed and confused, Woody remained clear-minded, and on the days he felt sad and unsure, I was able to encourage him. We were born “blue,” so living in a world completely immersed in “pink” was not our native language. Having another dad to walk with on this journey of loving our daughters well was essential. Born out of a vision to be with his daughters, Woody started a daddy/daughter dance in the Atlanta area. Appropriately scheduled around Valentine’s Day, dads began dating their daughters for the first time. Regular date nights with our girls fostered a beautiful bond, helping our precious ones experience how a man should care for their hearts and respect them as God’s beloved daughters. The fruit of this intentional investment in our girls is spiritual, emotional, and relational. Spiritually, they love the Lord, are emotionally aware, and relationally know others.
Something almost magical happens when a father looks his daughter in the eyes over a milkshake and asks about her day, really asks, then listens like her answers hold the secrets of the universe. Because in many ways, they do. We started “date nights” with our daughters when they could barely see over the restaurant table. Now, with adult girls, we understand what transpired on all those ice cream outings, shopping, and bookstore adventures. We weren’t just keeping them entertained—we were writing their expectations for how men should treat them.
Every time you open her car door, you show her she deserves respect. When you put your phone away and give her your full attention, you teach her that her thoughts matter. Each time you keep a promise to her, no matter how small, you demonstrate that her trust is worth protecting. These seemingly simple rituals create sacred space where daughters learn to recognize genuine love—because they’ve experienced it firsthand from the first man in their lives. The 24-hour rule helped our home when we disagreed and emotions were on edge. When one or more of us became upset, on the verge of saying something we would regret, we hit the pause button on our conversation. By having a good night’s sleep, we were able to let the sun go down to slow us down and, the next day, be in a much better frame of mind and heart to lovingly communicate with one another.
The dividends start slowly, then exponentially. You notice it when she confidently expresses her faith, unashamed of her relationship with God. You see it when she navigates disappointment with emotional intelligence beyond her years. You witness it in her healthy friendships and her ability to set boundaries with those who don’t honor her worth. What looks like “just” getting pancakes together on Saturday mornings is actually a father painting an invisible portrait of her heavenly Father’s heart. You’re showing her what love should feel like—patient, kind, protective without being possessive, strong without being controlling. Your daughter doesn’t need a perfect dad. She needs a present one who treats her mother well, apologizes when he’s wrong, and consistently communicates her immeasurable worth, not through extravagance, but through faithful presence. This is how we raise women who know their value is being a beloved daughter of the King, in whom He is well pleased. Dance with and date your daughter. She deserves you!
Prayer
Lord, help me love and care for my daughter with wisdom, patience, and tenderness. Guide my words and actions to reflect Your heart, shaping her with grace and truth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Application
Consider starting a regular date time/night with your daughter.
Related Reading
Psalm 103:13; Proverbs 22:6; Ephesians 6:4; Colossians 3:21
Worship Resource
Will Dempsey: Best Parts of Me
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