6 Ways You Can Leave a Godly Legacy by LUKE GIBBONS for Charisma News
Father’s Day is the time to honor the men who gave us life. But if you struggle with pornography, perhaps the last thing you want to do is reflect on your early years with your father.
The roots of porn bondage can often be traced back to a dad’s esteem-crushing put-downs, physical or emotional abuse or other hurtful acts towards you. Using porn has been your way of self-medicating the pain from your past. This is not to blame your porn usage on your father, but it helps you understand where it all began.
But now you are in a father role or hope to be someday. You want to make sure your children have completely different types of memories. You have determined that you will break free from pornography and leave a godly legacy for your family.
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No matter how long you have been viewing porn or how shameful and unworthy you think you are to leave a positive legacy, you truly can begin today.
As Tim Challies, the pastor at Grace Fellowship Church in Toronto, Ontario, explained, “Because of the cross of Christ, there is no sin that cannot be washed, and there is no legacy that cannot be redeemed.”
He continued, “Every day, with each passing minute, with every tiny decision, you are forming your legacy. It’s not the grand moments of life but rather unremarkable, unnoticed persistence that forms a legacy. Your detailed plans and good intentions will do no good if you don’t follow them with action. If you want to leave a godly legacy, get started now. Don’t waste another moment and give yourself to eternal investments that will leave the greatest legacy for your children.”
6 Keys to Leaving A Godly Legacy
Your porn usage does not disqualify you from leaving a godly legacy. Actually, as you gain freedom from porn, you can draw on the experiences and feelings you have had. They can teach you how to be a respected and honored father.
You may not have had a positive legacy passed on to you, but here are six keys you can focus on as you begin to build your legacy.
1. Set the example of character traits your children should develop.
Your children will be watching you closely, so practice being honest, faithful, loving, encouraging, compassionate and more. You know what it was like to have a father who didn’t show such characteristics, so let them see how beneficial they can be. As the old saying goes, “More is caught than taught.”
