George Müller—an evangelist who established orphanages in the 1800s—was known for his prayer life. And yet, in addition to his faith in God’s provision, Müller was also a man of action. He wisely said, “Our walk counts far more than our talk, always!”

That’s so true. You may talk to your son about patience, kindness, and self-control, but do your actions demonstrate these characteristics? If a referee makes a bad call, how do you respond? When an elderly neighbor needs help, do you view it as a hassle or an opportunity?

Make sure what you say is backed up by what you do. Consistency in speech and action are a winning combination that your son will want to imitate.

For more encouragement and parenting advice, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Here’s an easy question: What does www stand for? If you answered, “world wide web,” you're right!

But if you think about it, that phrase is actually quite descriptive of online content.

We all know that the Internet is helpful in many different ways. And yet, it’s also a web that easily entangles boys in temptations. Violence, vulgarity, and sexuality are trapping boys in sin.

Don’t let your son get ensnared by the sticky filth found on the web. As a father, protect your son by using content filtering software. And then, when your son is old enough, have a heart-to-heart talk with him about how to react when the world wide web tries to tempt him.

Through careful instruction, you’ll help your son use technology wisely, without getting trapped.

For more encouragement and parenting advice, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

See if you can answer this joke: When leaving for work, what did the daddy buffalo say to his son? . . . Bye-son!  [Bison]

Maybe that joke made you groan, but tell it to your son tonight, and you’ll probably get a smile from him—maybe even a laugh.

Dad jokes are corny, but they’re still fun. Of course, you and your son can have fun in a thousand other ways, but the important thing is that you have fun together.

School, sports, and friendships can be stressful. But by creating an atmosphere of encouragement within the home, your son will learn to relax and trust you for guidance and instruction. Plus, when you smile and laugh together, life is a whole lot more fun.

For more encouragement and parenting advice, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Did you ever play Capture-the-Flag when you were a kid? If so, you know the object of the game is to capture the opposite team’s flag before getting tagged.

It’s one thing to play Capture-the-Flag, but don’t let today’s secular culture capture your son’s heart and mind. The love of money, the desires of the flesh, and the pride of life are all trying to steal his attention. And if they capture it, they’ll imprison him in bondage and despair.

Teach your son that God provides freedom from sin. And even though we’ll have to combat sin as long as we’re alive, placing God first in our lives will help us overcome temptation. When we allow God to capture our heart, we’ll be victorious in life.

For more encouragement and parenting advice, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

On his first day of preschool my son peered into the classroom and said, “Dad, I don’t want to go in there.”

I dropped to one knee in front of him and put my hand on his shoulder. Meeting him eye-to-eye, I reminded him about the first time he had ridden a pony. At first, he had been scared of the horse. But he faced his fear, and had been so glad that he did.

With that memory in mind, my son walked confidently into the preschool classroom.

When your son is filled with insecurity, it’s time to get on his level. Eye to eye, physical touch, focused attention. Replace the fearful thoughts in his mind with reminders of how he is already the brave man that he needs to be.

To find out more about raising boys to become godly men, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Have you seen the video of the football player who ran the wrong way?

I heard about a man who is coaching his 6-year-old son’s flag football team.

He told me his biggest challenge is getting the players to head in the right direction when they get the ball.

Often their first instinct is to head toward the wrong end zone.

Boys today are missing the moral compass needed when they leave the playing field and enter the game of life.

Fifty-eight percent of Americans no longer believe that God and the Bible are the means for determining morality and truth.

As father figures and mentors, we need to point boys to the truth of God’s Word – the Bible.

For more information about a Proven Process that is helping boys grow into godly men, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Parent the boy in front of you.

Books, websites, and friends can be great sources of wisdom for parenting advice. But as you’re listening to others, don’t forget this profound truth– there is no one else on earth who is exactly like your son.

You have been hand selected by God to be your son’s parent. That means there is no one else– no, not even that parenting expert with several degrees– who is better equipped to be the mom or dad your boy needs.

So yes, by all means, seek out Biblically sound parenting advice.  But don’t forget to also spend time in prayer, asking God to give you the specific wisdom you need to make that advice work in the best way for your uniquely created son.

For more ideas on raising boys to be godly men, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Is it more difficult to be a teenaged boy, or a grown adult?

Adult life is stressful. Of course, you have more responsibility than your teen son. But consider this– you also have more freedom, more balanced hormones, and a fully developed brain. Parenting experts say that some of the hardest, most chaotic years of life are between ages 13-18, especially for young men.

Here’s the point. It’s true that your son needs discipline and authority. But don’t forget that what he needs first is love. It’s not easy being a teenage boy, especially in our current society. So the next time you are frustrated with your son, picture yourself at that age. Show him the grace and understanding you so desperately needed back then.

To learn about the five critical needs of boys, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Have you had to wait for something recently, or are you still waiting?

With seven games left in the 2022 Major League Baseball regular season, New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge tied Roger Maris for the American League single-season home run record.

With the world watching, Judge had to wait for five more games before finally breaking the record in the next-to-last game.

Psalm 27:14 tells us to “wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage.”

Waiting on the Lord doesn’t mean we don’t have our part to play. Waiting on the Lord is active. It’s preparing our hearts, being ready to serve, and expecting God to provide.

“And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.”

For more encouragement and parenting advice, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

What did you have for breakfast this morning? Around 49% of people had a quick bowl of cereal. Popular brands include Cheerios, Frosted Flakes, and Raisin Bran. Across the country, Americans enjoy over a hundred types of cereal.

That’s a lot of variety, but there are even more ways of parenting kids. That’s why when it comes to raising your son, understanding his personality is vitally important.

Many boys have tons of energy. They love the excitement of sports and outdoor activities. Other kids prefer small groups where they receive individual attention.

Whatever your son’s personality, take time to talk, laugh, and play with him. By spending time together, you’ll better understand how to guide him through childhood to become a godly young man.

For more encouragement and parenting advice, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.