Spiritual Leadership

Many men feel unqualified to lead spiritually. They're not theologians. They don't have all the answers. They struggle with their own faith. So they abdicate. They let their wife handle the spiritual stuff while they handle the practical stuff.

But spiritual leadership isn't about expertise. It's about direction. It's about being the one who says, "This family is going to follow God, and I'm going to lead us there." You don't have to be perfect. You have to be moving.

What Spiritual Leadership Is

Setting the direction: You decide that your family will pursue God. Not just hope it happens, but intentionally move that direction.

Going first: You can't lead where you won't go. Your own pursuit of God sets the pace for your family.

Creating space: You establish rhythms that make spiritual growth possible. Family devotions, prayer, church attendance, whatever fits your family.

Modeling imperfectly: You let your family see you pursuing God, including your struggles, questions, and failures. Authenticity beats performance.

Your family doesn't need a spiritual expert. They need a man who says, "Follow me as I follow Christ." That takes humility, not perfection.

What Gets in the Way

Feeling unqualified: You think you don't know enough. But you know more than you think, and you can learn alongside your family.

Passivity: It's easier to let your wife handle it. But your presence in spiritual leadership matters more than you realize.

Hypocrisy fear: You know your own failures, so leading feels fake. But leading through weakness is more powerful than pretending you don't have any.

Busyness: Spiritual rhythms require time. Without intention, they get crowded out.

Practical Steps

• Own your own growth: You can't give what you don't have. Invest in your own spiritual life first.
• Start small: A five-minute devotion at dinner is better than a perfect plan you never implement.
• Pray with your wife: Even awkwardly. Even briefly. This builds spiritual intimacy.
• Make church a priority: Not something you attend when convenient, but a rhythm you protect.
• Talk about faith: In normal conversation, share what God is teaching you, where you're struggling, what you're learning.

With Your Kids

Your children are watching. They learn what matters to a man by watching you. If faith matters to you, they'll notice. If it's just your wife's thing, they'll notice that too.

You don't have to have all the answers to their questions. "I don't know, let's find out" is a great response. What matters is that they see you caring about the things of God.

Your Action Steps

This week: Pray with your wife at least once. It doesn't have to be eloquent. Just do it.

This month: Establish one family spiritual rhythm. Bedtime prayers, Sunday church, weekly devotion, whatever fits.

This quarter: Invest in your own spiritual growth. Read, listen, find a mentor. You can only lead as far as you've gone.