The Heart of a Father: Living God’s Promises in Family and Business

The old “Precious Promises” box — a reminder that God’s Word is overflowing with promises for us.

This past Father’s Day, our church shared a message that stirred me deeply. It wasn’t just for dads — it was for anyone who longs to live and lead with the heart of a father: steady, faithful, loving, and relational. And it struck me how much this applies not only to family life, but also to how we build our businesses as Christians.

A Box of Promises

The message began with a small, 100-year-old promise box, filled with tiny scrolls — each one a promise from God’s Word. What a picture: the Bible is not just a book of history or instruction, but a book overflowing with promises. Promises of provision, peace, strength, and wisdom — providing us with a comforting and stable foundation.

What if we opened the Bible like that? Not just to gather knowledge, but to treasure God’s promises and pass them on — to our children, to our clients, and to everyone we influence.

“I am writing this not to shame you but to warn you as my dear children. Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. Therefore I urge you to imitate me.”

— 1 Corinthians 4:14-17

In this passage, Paul writes with the heart of a father. He doesn’t just pass down facts. He shares his life, his love, and his example. That’s what true leadership looks like — not information, but imitation; not just teaching, but showing.

And it makes me ask: how do we lead like that today? What does father-hearted, faith-led leadership look like in our homes, in our churches, and even in our businesses?

It looks like mentoring with patience, not pressure. It looks like guiding others not only with knowledge but with compassion. In business, it might mean showing your clients how biblical values shape the way you serve them. It might mean being transparent about mistakes and modeling how faith helps you keep moving forward.

True leadership is relational. It says, “Walk with me, and I’ll show you.”

Father’s Day: Joy and Ache

For me, Father’s Day carries a mixture of joy and ache. As a widow and a mum, it’s a tender reminder that my daughter’s dad is in heaven.

Days like these make me lean harder into God’s promises.

They’re not just words on a page — they are the anchor that steadies us and the comfort that carries us when the absence feels sharp. In those moments, I remember we still have a Father who never leaves us, empowering us to overcome even the most challenging times.

And yet, even in the ache, God has shown us His faithfulness in such tangible ways.

My dad, stepping in as a beautiful father figure for my daughter — a picture of God’s faithfulness in our family.

This photo is one of my favourites — my daughter with my dad, who has stepped up in such a beautiful way as a father figure in her life. He makes space for her laughter, imagination, and even fairy wings.

While no one can ever replace her dad, God still provides. He has woven His promises into our story, into our everyday lives, through the steady love of a grandfather.

It’s one more reminder that God truly is “a Father to the fatherless” (Psalm 68:5), and that His promises never return empty.

Knowledge in Relationship

Proverbs 22:6 reminds us:

“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”

It’s not about downloading information into a child (or a client). It’s about walking in relationship. Teaching forgiveness, kindness, and love — not just as concepts, but through lived example.

Think about it in business: You can hand someone a “hammer” of knowledge, but unless they see how it’s used, they won’t know what to do with it. Just like a toddler with a hammer, they need to be shown, guided, and nurtured on how to use it — otherwise, it might just end up in their mouth as a chew toy instead of fulfilling its true purpose of hammering nails. Therefore, act as the guide in your business, gently show your clients where your knowledge can empower and lead them.

That’s what discipleship looks like.

And that’s what faithful business leadership looks like too. Just as discipleship is about guiding and nurturing others in their faith, faithful business leadership is about guiding and nurturing your clients in values and principles rooted in God’s Word.

The Father’s Heart in Business

Whether in family or business, your role is not just to give knowledge but to live it out. Your clients, your children, your team — they will learn more from your example than your words.

• Show them what integrity looks like.
• Demonstrate how faith informs decisions.
• Model forgiveness, grace, and perseverance.

The promises of God aren’t meant to sit in a box. They’re meant to be lived, shared, and embodied.

“Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days.”

— Ecclesiastes 11:1

Every seed of God’s Word that you live out — in your parenting, your serving, your business — is a promise planted. In time, God brings the harvest. That truth should inspire us to live out God’s Word in every part of our lives.

Gems to Pass On

The Father’s Day message ended with a reminder: within the Word of God are gems that will set up your children for life. Gems that will also anchor your business in unshakable values.

The heart of a father isn’t just about teaching. It’s about walking alongside, showing, and loving. That’s how legacies are built. That’s how faith is passed down. And that’s how a Christian business becomes more than a transaction — it becomes a testimony.

Mini Devotional

📜 Verse:

“As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.”

— Psalm 103:13

🕊 Reflection:

Even when earthly fathers are absent, imperfect, or gone too soon, the compassion of our Heavenly Father is constant. His promises never fail, and His love always steps in. We see His father-heart reflected in the people He places in our lives — whether through a parent, a grandparent, or spiritual mentors who guide us and show us His love.

🙏 Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your promises that steady us in every season. Thank You for being the Father who never leaves us and for showing Your love through those who step in with compassion and care. Help me to live out Your promises with integrity — in my family, in my business, and in every relationship. Amen.

Stay Blessed,

Deborah 💛

Ready to take your first step?

Starting an online business doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. I created a free guide with 21 Faith-Aligned Niche Ideas to help you build a successful online business with confidence, clarity, and faith.

👉 YES! Send Me the FREE Guide