Why Dads Need to Protect Their Heart

So many dads are leading from shame instead of strength.

In this powerful episode, Alec walks through the breastplate of righteousness in Ephesians 6 and how it protects one of the most vulnerable parts of fatherhood—your heart.

📖 Ephesians 6:14“With the breastplate of righteousness in place…”This episode is for the dad who: Feels disqualified by past mistakes Keeps trying to prove he’s enough Needs to hear that he’s already covered

🧠 Weekly Challenge: Ask yourself: “Am I leading from shame or righteousness? ”Write down this verse and say it daily this week:👉 “In Him, I am the righteousness of God.” (2 Cor. 5:21)

🌱 Join Rooted in Brotherhood: This is what we’re about: covering each other, standing firm, and leading with identity. Join Rooted in Brotherhood, our free Facebook group for faith-filled dads.

👇 Click here to join:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/282732511309028

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Shame will keep you quiet in righteousness will help you
lead. What's up guys?
Welcome back to fatherhood unscripted.
We are in part three of our armor up series here in father
like to father. So last week we talked about
standing firm and how the truth is what holds everything
together. This week we're going to be
looking at the breastplate of righteousness and this is a big
one because it's something that guards something super essential

(00:24):
your heart and in Ephesians 614.It's really short this week, but
Paul says with the breast pair of righteousness in place, OK,
what it covers is your core, your chest, your heart, the very
thing that gets hit most in the battle.
And let's be honest, like most of us dads are walking around

(00:45):
with unprotected hearts. They're carrying shame, guilt,
regret. They're leading while still
believing old lies. The lies that, you know, we're
not enough. We've messed up way too many
times. God's probably disappointed at
me right? Maybe.
Have you done that one like and when you believe that you go
silent, you isolate. I've done that.

(01:07):
You numb out you, you try to hide behind doing more instead
of becoming more. But that's why Paul says put on
righteousness, not self righteousness, not perfection,
but the right standing that comes from God and Jesus.
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us become

(01:27):
righteousness of God. Second Corinthians 512 You're
not protected because of what you've done, you're protected
because of who he is. You know, we all go through the
same thing where we leave from same shame sometimes and we feel
like we have to make up for everything that we failed.
And the more we try to prove ourselves, the more we get

(01:51):
exhausted from it. And it's not until we realize
that we're already covered not by our performance, but by
Christ's righteousness, and thatwe can lead in peace.
Righteousness doesn't make you arrogant, It makes you anchored.
So this week the challenge is, Iwant you to ask yourself

(02:13):
something. Am I leading from shame or from
righteousness? If shame's been your motivator,
bring it to God. And I know I said this every
week, you guys got to should have got a journal by now, but
write down this verse and say itout loud every morning in him.
I am the righteousness of God. That's Second Corinthians 521

(02:37):
and let that cover your heart this week.
If this is you in the chest, it's because your heart matters.
And we built rooted in brotherhood for dads who are
done leading from insecurity andare ready to lead from identity.
If that's you, you guys can jointhe community.
It's free. The link is in the show notes.

(02:59):
I'd love to see you in there. And as always, I will see you
guys in next week's episode. Love you.