If we ask, God will give us prophetic insight for our children. But our first focus should be growing up in Jesus to be the spiritual fathers God wants us to be. In Jesus, the New Testament provides two road maps (1 John 2 and 2 Peter 1) to spiritual maturity, and with careful attention and diligence, by the blood of Jesus, our road to spiritual fatherhood need not be as rough as Israel's.

Spiritual children have had their sins forgiven by grace through trust in the name of Jesus. (1 John 2:12) Scripture encourages spiritual children to participate in the divine nature (that is, grow to fatherhood) and “make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control...” (2 Peter 1:6-8)

Once spiritual children add goodness, knowledge, and self-control to their faith, they qualify as spiritual young men if they “are strong” and “the word of God lives in” them, and they “have overcome the evil one.” (1 John 2:14) Without these characteristics, one is likely still in the childhood stage of spiritual maturity. Once we qualify as spiritual young men, we can grow toward fatherhood by making every effort to add to our self-control, “perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness ...” (2 Peter 1:6-8)

Once spiritual young men add perseverance, godliness, and brotherly kindness to their character of being strong because the word of God lives in them and they have overcome the evil one, they are in a position to know Jesus, not as a child upon his knee, but by having grown to the level of love that can lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13) When we add love to our brotherly kindness as the most mature character quality, this is the love that gives and gives and serves and serves and endures hardship and difficulty growing to the love that covers a multitude of sins.

Dear Heavenly Father,

I confess that I have often over-estimated my spiritual maturity. I thank You that if we confess our sins, You are faithful and just to forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. Please Lord, help me to honestly assess where I am and how I can grow from here into the spiritual father You want me to be. In the Name of Jesus, I Pray. Amen.

Contact your three most trusted spiritual advisers. Ask them to fill out a maturity report card for you. That is, ask them to give you a brutally honest letter grade (A, B, C, D, F) in each of these areas, as the Bible describes them: faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, love.