Father’s Day, celebrated on the third Sunday in June (June 15 this year), isn’t typically ranked among the most popular holidays in America. According to various published polls, Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Independence Day are much more prominent in terms of widespread participation or cultural significance. Frankly, Father’s Day doesn’t get the recognition it deserves for a variety of reasons.

Fathers bear a significant responsibility in shaping the next generation. When present in the lives of their children, they are crucial in transmitting truth, values, ethics, morality, and dreams. To prevent a “generational shipwreck,” we must intentionally instill a biblical worldview in our children and grandchildren. The principles of Christianity have been foundational to America’s exceptionalism. Fathers must actively teach their children what it means to be a Christian and how to navigate a culture that often rejects biblical morality.

Furthermore, we need to help our children understand how God has blessed America and why Christians have a responsibility to be good citizens. The timeless principles found in Deuteronomy 6:6-9 remain as relevant today as they were thousands of years ago.

Fathers and grandfathers cannot overlook the biblical call to teach their children and grandchildren both biblical and historical truth. This intentional instruction ensures that future generations will not only know these truths but, more importantly, live them out. Without such dedication, Christianity in America risks becoming increasingly diminished, eventually losing its impact as “salt and light” in a culture desperately in need.

We hope and pray that fathers will seize the opportunity to equip their children with discernment in the battle between good and evil, right and wrong. This will help them avoid the pitfalls of contemporary culture and, in turn, empower them to teach their own children, perpetuating a legacy of faith and truth.

This Father’s Day, make a point of ensuring your dad or grandfather knows he is appreciated and highly respected!

Give God Thanks…

• Thank God for the love, sacrifice, wisdom, godly counsel, and leadership of our fathers and grandfathers.

• Thank God for your dad’s specific qualities or actions, like his work ethic, humility, guidance, and strength.

• Thank God for your father’s wisdom in teaching the difference between good and evil, and right and wrong.

• Thank God even if your father has passed away. Thank Him for the legacy he left behind.

• Praise God for the healthy baby girl that was born over the weekend to IFI’s Alyssa Sonnenburg and her husband. Pray that they adjust quickly to their new “normal.”

Pray for fathers…

• That the Lord turn the hearts of fathers to the children, and the hearts of children to their fathers. (Mal 4:6)

• That fathers will intentionally practice patience and not provoke their children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. (Eph 6:4)

• That fathers and grandfathers will be strengthened in God’s Word and prayer so that we can teach and lead our families in truth. (Deut 6:6-8; 1 Tim 2:8) Ask God to guide us to be a source of strength and support for our families as we lean on Him.

• That we faithfully exercise spiritual leadership in the home: for wisdom and understanding to lead our families in godliness, following Christ’s example, and leading our families in following God’s Word. (Eph 6:4, Josh 24:15)

• For faithfulness to God’s Word: we need the Spirit’s help to be consistent in studying, obeying, and applying the Bible in all areas of life. We need to learn to trust its authority and wisdom. (2 Tim 3:16-17, Ps 119:105)

• For God’s protection from temptation, and His grace to walk in purity and integrity. Pray for the strength to resist the temptations of our adversary. (1 Cor 10:13, Matt 6:13)

• For provision and stewardship: for the means to provide for our families, not just physically, but also emotionally, and most importantly, spiritually, all while being wise stewards of God’s provision. (1 Tim 5:8, Matt 6:33)

• For courage to stand: for boldness to uphold biblical Truth in a culture that opposes it by standing securely in the faith and values of God’s Word. (1 Cor 16:13, Eph 6:10-11)

Pray…

• For the pastors at our churches and in our communities: may God grant them unwavering courage to proclaim the Word in its fullness, without hesitation or compromise. Pray that the Holy Spirit will fill them with wisdom, so they may equip and encourage their flock to love and good works. (Heb 10:24-25)

• For Christian citizens in our state and our nation: may God convict them of our duty to be salt and light in this culture. Pray that more like-minded believers work with us as we strive to overcome evil with good.

• Pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ who are suffering persecution for their faith. Christians in countries such as Burma, China, Eritrea, India, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Somalia, Libya, Yemen, Syria, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam face severe violations of religious freedom. Please join us in prayer for their safety, resilience, and deliverance. May the Gospel flourish despite the adversary’s attacks.

• For those in authority (1 Tim 2:1-2):

• • Pray for our federal lawmakers, including President Donald J. Trump and his administration.
  • Pray for our state lawmakers, including Governor JB Pritzker and his administration.
  • Ask God to convict our public officials of their need for divine guidance, wisdom, and direction.
  • Protect them from the snares of idolatry—whether it be power, ambition, or the approval of others.
  • Pray that they seek to lead with integrity, humility, and a heart for biblical truth and justice in every decision they make.
  • Pray for our first responders, especially for law enforcement officials who are under withering attack from woke activists.

• Pray for peace in urban centers across the nation as left-wing mobs violently riot against federal law enforcement officials working to uphold our nation’s immigration laws. May truth, order, and justice prevail in the face of lawlessness.

• Pray for first responders – especially police officers – who will have to serve during the various “No Kings” protests scheduled for cities across the nation for Saturday, June 14th. Illinois locations include Rockford, Freeport, Joliet, Kankakee, Morris, Bloomington, Urbana, Springfield, Alton, O’Fallon, Carbondale, Chicago and many suburbs. Pray that things do not turn violent.

• For the justices of the U.S. Supreme Court as they deliberate and eventually issue a ruling on an important election case from Illinois. Pray for God’s protection over the integrity of our election processes.

• For those who are pushing to defund Planned Parenthood of federal tax money. Pray that the eyes of our leaders would be opened to the truth — that every unborn child is fearfully and wonderfully made. Pray that the Spirit would convict the hearts of lawmakers, judges, and officials to end the flow of taxpayer funds to Planned Parenthood and other organizations that profit off the destruction of life.

• For a greater appreciation of the sanctity of life, from conception to natural death. Pray the public rejects pro-suicide legislation. Pray for a culture that cherishes every human life.

• That God would intervene and bring an end to the use and distribution of the abortion drug in our nation. Pray that the Lord would give us wisdom, discernment, and the opportunities to tear down the lies that portray the abortion pill as safe and simple.

• For the healing of every woman who has suffered as a result of the “pro-choice” agenda.

• For those who are working tirelessly at pregnancy care centers in defense of the preborn. Ask God to raise up more voices to speak truth with courage and compassion.

• That our culture would return to the basics – that God created two genders, equally valuable and with different roles.

• That Christians would realize the importance of being God’s ambassadors in every aspect of our culture, especially the public square.

• For the staff and board members of Illinois Family Institute and Illinois Family Action, that God would send volunteers, resources, and funding to better do what He has called us to do here in Illinois.