I believe for a man to be any good at anything he will need God to guide and direct his path. I believe men who are authentic choose to get real about who and what they believe as well as putting God in the driver’s seat. Real men are proud of these things and allow it to permeate every aspect of their life. These are the real authentic men I know. This is the real authentic man I have become and it’s only because I put God first that I am able to do this.

1. Let God be First in Everything in Our Lives
As I look at the lives we are living nowadays, I am getting so concerned that men are
running away from God. The things of God that we used to value when I was a younger
man seem to be of no value to a lot of us. As head of my family, there are certain Godly
values that I instilled on my children which helped them to be what they are today. We
cannot keep God away or not make Him first in our lives and then expect Him to be on
our side. God must be first in everything in our lives.
Matthew 6:33-34
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to
you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about
itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own”. (NIV)
I have struggled for years to understand how people who don’t follow God or read the
Bible come up with morals and principles. My mind cannot understand how you know if
something is right, is it because someone said so? Do I just believe whatever anything
tells me? If that is the case you will fall for anything.
Personally, I have always wanted someone to prove and back up whatever they tell me.
This is what appeals to me most about God’s word. The Bible is a living and breathing
book that still teaches me something every time I read it and applies to all situations. I
know a lot of people have a difficult time with this and I can completely understand that.
I understand those who profess to be Christians as well as the church body have deeply
wounded and hurt others leaving them feeling betrayed and hating God, Christians and
the church. As a follower of Jesus, someone whom has actively been involved in church
as well as served in leadership, I have experienced deep wounds to the point of wanting
to walk away from it all and never return. This is not a just a one time experience, this
has happened on more occasions that I can count.
As I have gotten older I have come to the realization that we are all sinful, there is no
perfect church and the building where we meet on Sundays is a building composed of
sinful people who will fail us. God is always the same, he never changes.
Hebrews 13:8
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (NIV)
In my life I have been through more than my fair share of trial. The one constant in my
life has been my relationship with God. The experiences I have had to walk through are
not something I would wish on anyone; however they have shaped me into the man I am
today. What I have experienced shouts out there is a God and he is in charge and there is
absolutely no denying this. Time after time I have seen God prove himself in my life
primarily through grace, peace, wisdom and love. The only way I am the person,
husband, father, friend or leader I am today is because of God and his work in my life.

2. James 1:2-3
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because
you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance”. (NIV)
I believe the Bible is relevant today just as when it was written. I do not doubt for one
minute what God said in the beginning doesn’t pertain today. I have learned to look at the
culture it was written to, take out the principles, test them and work them out in my mind,
see how they apply to my life and the culture in which I live. For me the center and core
of my life is designed around God and his word. The morals that guide me as a person all
ties back to what God has called us to be.
For me to spend the rest of my life means daily pursuing God. I’ve always needed it, but
as I have grown and matured, I realize just how valuable it truly is. I strived to be the
example for my children as they were my greatest audience. I took an active role in our
church not just as a leader, but as a participant, I go to church on Sunday, meet with other
brethren and talk openly and honestly about life issues we all face. When I am I talk to
people about life issues we all face and make myself accountable to stay on track. I open
myself up to feedback all the time to make sure I am getting it right. This allows God to
speak into my life through various means.
Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in
all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” (NIV)
I believe that real men need a moral compass to guide and direct their lives. Mine
happens to be God. I can’t imagine what my life would look like without him. I need and
want him everyday. I believe for a man to be any good at anything he will need God to
guide and direct his path. I believe men who are authentic choose to get real about who
and what they believe as well as putting God in the driver’s seat. Real men are proud of
these things and allow it to permeate every aspect of their life. These are the real
authentic men I know. This is the real authentic man I have become and it’s only because
I put God first that I am able to do this.
The biggest question to ask is: “HAVE YOU ALLOWED GOD TO BE FIRST IN
YOUR LIFE?” I can assure you that if God is on your side, though you will face
challenges and storms in your life, you will always take them to Him.
We can take our rightful role as men when we put God first in our lives.