My father Henry Blackaby wrote a Christian classic. His real legacy happened at 4 am

By Richard Blackaby, Op-ed contributor Sunday, June 28, 2026

In 1990, my father, Henry Blackaby, wrote Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God.  More than 8 million copies of the Bible study have been printed in English, and thousands more in 80 other languages. This work and his ministry left a lasting impact on individuals globally.

Those who knew him best, however, recognized that his writing and speaking were not what defined his life and legacy. Most of his life consisted of countless hours of seemingly “ordinary” experiences like commuting and gathering around the dinner table with his family. He could have easily gone through the motions, focusing on the next task to check off the list. Yet he approached each day with an awareness of God’s presence, eagerly waiting for the opportunity to participate in God’s activity around him.

Dad habitually rose at 4 a.m. to meet with God. While us kids did not join him that early, he often invited us into his encounter with God, glowing as he shared what the Lord had shown him that morning.

As I reflect on my dad’s example, I recognize two responsibilities fathers share: first, to encounter God personally, and second, to leave a legacy of faith to the next generation.

Encountering God for yourself

One of the greatest barriers we face to experiencing God today is our schedules. A typical schedule as a parent often looks like: wake up, grab a quick breakfast, commute, work, attend a child’s activity (or two), dinner and then finally bedtime, leaving a sliver of time for God before your head hits the pillow. The busyness epidemic takes our eyes off of Christ and leaves us with a never-ending checklist.

This challenge is not identifying what you should remove from your schedule. It’s identifying how you walk with God throughout your day to seek His guidance, listen for His direction, and recognize what He is doing around you.

Maybe you get up 15 minutes earlier to enjoy some solitude and silence to hear God’s voice. You can pray or listen to an audio Bible on your commute. Share with your family what the Lord is teaching you at dinner. As you begin identifying moments where God is present, I think you’ll recognize He’s willing to meet you in more places than you think.

Not only will you experience growth from these habits, but your family will also be impacted. Your children can recognize if faith is just something you talk about sporadically or if you have a daily relationship with God. Your spiritual authenticity sets the tone for your home.

Passing on a legacy of faith

As a father, you have the incredible privilege and responsibility to share your faith with your children. Deuteronomy 6:4-7 says,

“Listen, Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

Children are always watching. They recognize your patterns and habits. They see how you react in times of joy and suffering. Your life is one of their first examples of faith.

My father’s influence on my life did not come from just one sermon or conversation. It was cultivated during years of observing his steadfastness and obedience to seek the Lord daily.

You are undoubtedly leaving a legacy for your children. The question is what kind.

Your children likely won’t remember every achievement or every possession you owned, but they will remember whether they saw a man who had a relationship with God and trusted Him faithfully.