There is no doubt that being a parent is hard work! Many parents question and doubt their abilities in raising their children, and wonder if they are making the right decisions. The outcomes in life are a result of the decisions we make every day, and one of the most important decisions we can make as parents, is how we raise, train and prepare our children for life. As parents, we want to equip our children with the right mindset to make good choices in life so that they can live happy, healthy, vibrant and successful lives!
Proverbs 22:6 says “Train the young in the way they should go; even when old, they will not swerve from it”. As Christian parents, it’s important that we heed these words in order to establish a solid foundation of principles and values that will help our children navigate through life. Without instruction, structure, and proper formation, our children will drift aimlessly, uncertain about who they are and how they should live their lives.
Being a Christian parent can at times seem like it’s all uphill, the pull and pressure of society can be very challenging and overwhelming, especially if you are a single parent. In my 26 years of parenting, I’ve learned that Christian parents need a road map to help them raise their children in accordance with God’s plan. In this post I will share 4 Christian parenting tips that will make a positive impact. A good training foundation that parents can start with includes the following;
Principles
Attitude
Behavior
Character
Living by Principles is a Game Changer!
As a parent I believe it’s important that we give our children a set of Christian principles to live by. Why? Because without them they will wander like lost sheep. Teaching our children Christian principles will help shape their identity and belief system. The reason why this is important is because everything they do will stem from their understanding of their identity and belief system. In raising our 4 children we make it a priority to teach and consistently remind the kids about the importance of learning and embracing different core principles that can help them make good decisions and successfully navigate through life.
One of the core principles we like to remind our children about is “You Reap What You Sow”. I like to refer to 2 Corinthians 9:6 that says “Consider this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully”, and Galatians 6:7 that states “Make no mistake: God is not mocked, for a person will reap only what he sows”.
The power of this principle is that it applies to everyone, whether we believe it or not, we cannot evade it. This is a good principle to teach our kids because they learn that there are consequences in life, good and bad. It’s also very empowering because they can be in control of their outcomes based on the decisions they make. It’s an opportunity for them to take a step back and re-evaluate their outcomes and ask themselves, what types of seeds am I sowing? If they don’t like the results they are getting then maybe it’s time to re-prioritize and sow different seeds. If you want tomatoes …you need to sow tomato seeds. The law of the harvest!
Your Attitude is Everything
I love this quote by Charles Swindoll “The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude… I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you…we are in charge of our attitudes”. Whenever our kids are faced with a challenge or problem, this is another good principle to remind them of. Let’s face it, no one likes to see their kids down and discouraged, it breaks our heart, but as parents, we must be there to support them to lift their spirits and give them hope for a brighter future.
The reality is that life can be difficult, people can be challenging, but how our children respond (their attitude) can make all the difference. Sometimes they cannot change their circumstances or the people they interact with, but they do have control of their attitude. It’s important that our kids realize that no one or anything can steal their joy and hope, unless they allow it.
A positive attitude is attractive and contagious, it’s uplifting and inspiring! Let’s inspire our kids to embrace a positive “I CAN” attitude in everything they do…school work, sports, relationships, and spiritual life. This principle will serve them well throughout their lives to confront the challenges of life and to achieve their aspirations!
Your Beliefs Will Determine Your Behavior
I believe that a person’s actions are a representation of their thoughts and beliefs. As a Christian it can be very difficult at times not to conform to what everyone else is doing, especially for our children. There is the pressure of feeling like an outsider and not being accepted. I get it, no one likes to feel rejected, but as Christians parents, we must help our kids find the courage within themselves and “Dare to Be Different“, to be a light of inspiration to others regardless of how difficult it may be… we are called to do that as Christians.
Romans 12:2 says “Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect”. When our children renew their minds through Holy Scripture, Christian books and music, and proper parental guidance, they will be inspired and empowered to align their behavior with their Christian beliefs. As parents, we should be “Role Models” of good and honorable behavior, to live consistent with our Christian faith…our actions and faith should be congruent.
Your Character Becomes Your Destiny
An invaluable principle we can teach our children is to become a person of character. A person of character is someone who is consistent and committed to living their lives in accordance with their values and principles. As Christian parents, we should set high ethical standards for our kids and encourage them not to compromise them for anyone. Our world so desperately needs to see more examples of integrity, let’s teach our children that their words and actions should be in alignment because their future will depend on it.
This is a great quote from Frank Outlaw to share with your kids, it reads:
“Watch your thoughts, they become words;
watch your words, they become actions;
watch your actions, they become habits;
watch your habits, they become character;
watch your character, for it becomes your destiny”.
Equip Our Kids to Win in Life!
Parenting is about leadership, we have a duty and obligation to lead and equip our children to win in life. To lay a solid foundation of morals, values, and principles. We MUST make it a priority in our lives to invest time and energy in properly raising our kids by teaching them Christian principles and the A (attitude), B (behavior), C (character) of life!
18 thoughts on “Christian Parenting Tips To Make a Positive Impact”
Tamika Mosby| ReplyI love the advice and this is perfect for me because I have a two-year-old and I know with how this world is headed she is going to need Christian guidance. Thank you for this post
Jeff| ReplyHi Tamika – Glad you enjoyed the post. The world is changing at a very fast pace so it’s critical that our children have the right mindset and training to make good decisions that will help them be the best-version of themselves. Thanks for stopping by. Best wishes!
Andy| ReplyThanks for a very inspiring and thought provoking piece. There is definitely useful material here to be posted up on our virtual bathroom mirrors as daily reminders. Parenting is a huge responsibility. Our daughter is still young so we are still dealing with – small children small problems – knowing that as the years go by before we know it, it will be – big children big problems! Best wishes to you.
Jeff| ReplyHi Andy – Happy to hear you found the tips to be inspiring and helpful. Completely agree with your point about parenting being a huge responsibility, and it gets more challenging as they get older….the stakes are higher. That’s why it’s so important to start when they are very young, set that solid foundation and be relentless in reminding them of their value and standards. Best wishes!
Courtney| ReplyYou have given great advice. My kids are now 18 and 20 and they think that they know everything. There actions and words to me can be harsh but I never talk back in a disparaging way. You see, their mother and me divorced when the kids were very young. They were 1 and 4 years old. I had a stroke and she did not want to look after a vegetable. So she asked me for a divorce one month after I got home from the hospital. She hooked up with a man who conned his way through life. He raised my kids badly. Constantly yelled and did drugs in their household and didn’t have a job yet my ex-wife stood my him and had two more kids out of wedlock with him. They were really messed up. My kids were raised up in that environment. Since they spent their formative years in that household. I knew that my every other weekend would not help much. Me and my family took them on as many outings as we could. I did two weeks of homework with them during my time with them. We tried to teach them the same principles you have mentioned but my time with them was too short. The damage to my kids I think are irreversible. My ex eventually dumped her boyfriend but I think that the damage has been done. I wish that my kids had turned out more balanced, but I’m still trying to improve their lives through pushing education, character building and having the principals to go through life. I will never be finished but I will continue to try.Thanks for a valuable article.
Jeff| ReplyHi Courtney – Thanks for stopping by. I am sorry to hear about the many challenges you’ve faced, breaks my heart. I admire your perseverance given your circumstances. You were still there for your kids and did the best you could as their father and you should be proud of that. There is nothing you can do about the “past” but you can always remain hopeful and look to a brighter future…that is possible! As a Christian, I believe in the power of prayer…nothing is impossible for God…so I encourage you to continue in your perseverance in loving your children with all your heart and soul, model the attitude and behavior you want them to emulate, and of course pray for them. I’ve heard of many transformative stories…it’s never too late. Keep the faith!! Best wishes.
Leona| ReplyGood overall article. Being a Bible believer myself, I work with our youngest grandson to teach him, mostly by my actions, as he is a rambunctious 2 year old, and his daddy has stepped away from the faith at present. I agree that it is our obligation to train up a child, and I feel that is best accomplished through our actions. They will, in time, ask why we do what we do. Of course, as a parent of adult children who [some] are currently finding their way back to Him, I still teach my adult children through my actions, especially in this global pandemic situation, I have an obligation to operate by faith, not fear. Our children depend on it!
Jeff| ReplyHi Leona – Thank you for your comments. I am happy to hear you are already working with your grandson on modeling the behavior you hope he will follow as he gets older. I am a big believer that parents need to start at a very early stage because before you know it, the years go by fast and then it’s much more difficult (but not impossible) to work with them. Our kids are like sponges…they absorb everything they see and hear, so yes, especially in times of tribulations they will watch and observe how we respond…our attitude, actions, and faith. Thanks for stopping by and sharing. Best wishes!
Saane| ReplyWhat a valuable article for not only Christians, but anyone who has children. I have three children of my own and one has just turned 20. I totally agree with what you have written, especially the topic you have described beautifully: Your beliefs will determine your behavior. This is something I teach my own children, which helps them to become stronger in their own decisions to stand for what is right amongst peer pressure. This type of article is what is needed in a time of drastic changes for our young people.
Jeff| ReplyHi Saane – Thanks for your comments, appreciate the feedback! Completely agree with your point on helping our children have confidence in their own decisions and to stand for what is true and right in the midst of peer pressure. We certainly need to see more of that vs. just going along with what everyone else is doing. Glad you enjoyed the post. Thank you for sharing and stopping by. Best wishes!
Ilaisaane Tuakalau| ReplyAwesome parenting tips. I myself am a firm believer in bringing up children with strong Christian/biblical values. I especially like how you have explained that what you believe determines how you behave, I have three children, two teens and one who has just turned 20. I have always taught them, not to go by status quo or be pressured to do what they see other do, but to take the stand and do what is right by what they believe is true by their faith.Thank you for such a rich and empowering article for parents. We need to read and be continually reminded these values and principles, especially in these times of change.
Jeff| ReplyHi IIaisaane – Appreciate you stopping by and leaving a comment. Happy to hear that you enjoyed the post! The world is getting much more challenging for parents, so It’s extremely important that parents take a leadership role to equip their kids with the right mindset and tools to make good choices in life. It’s not easy but it’s a MUST to get engaged and fight for our kids’ future so that they can do the same for their children and the generations to follow. Thanks for sharing. Best wishes!
Doug| ReplyJeff, great information. I think you make a very good point in that it all starts with us as parents, and it has to start at a very early age. Helping our children create good habits early on in life will help them avoid bad habits in the future. Our words can mean a lot to our children, but our actions can leave a lasting impression.
Jeff| ReplyHey Doug! Thanks for your comments. On your point about habits, it’s so true..get them to practice good habits early on so that eventually they just become a part of their daily lives and not fall into bad habits and decisions. As parents, we sometimes forget that our kids are watching and picking up on our “good” and “bad” habits, so it’s important to remember your point about our actions leaving a lasting impression. Thanks for sharing. Best wishes!
Mark Harris| ReplyHi Jeff, this is very good advice and it’s how I raised my kids using bible principles. As I read your site it brings back memories of how the principles you talked about I used to shape my kids mindset. This is very good advices that parents and grandparents should use to shape our kids today. We have to be careful not to leave our kids to this world to shape their minds, bible principles gives them a choice. Very good advice, thanks.
Jeff| ReplyHi Mark! Thank you for stopping by and sharing, appreciate it. Thank you for mentioning grandparents! They too can have a tremendous influence on their grandchildren, absolutely. Mindset is so fundamental in getting our children to look at life and themselves with a different perspective. As a Christian, I believe and tell my kids that all the answers to life are in the bible…it’s the manual you should read to teach you how to think, behave, and make good decisions. Happy to see that you have taught your kids biblical principles, it will serve them well in life! Best wishes!
Joseph Stasaitis| ReplyYes attitude is everything. I have enjoyed working over the years with kids in education as well as the mental health area. Some of these children had faced great challenges early in their lives, but it was an honor to work with them and plant a few encouraging seeds. Over time they taught me much more about myself than what I was able to offer them.Our beliefs most certainly determine our behavior and I have been able to help children change some of their less than ideas beliefs picked up when they were young and vulnerable. You have provided some very good sound advice for others to emulate. Thanks so much for this valuable information. Joseph
Jeff| ReplyHi Joseph – Thank you for your dedication in working with our youth, that is so important and meaningful work, especially in the area of mental health. You are so right in that many kids unfortunately pick up negative beliefs when they are young and vulnerable, that really breaks my heart because they carry it with them for so many years. It brings me joy and hope to know there are people like yourself in the world sowing seeds of encouragement into the hearts of young kids giving them faith and hope for a brighter future. Thanks for sharing! Best wishes!
Tamika Mosby| ReplyI love the advice and this is perfect for me because I have a two-year-old and I know with how this world is headed she is going to need Christian guidance. Thank you for this post
Andy| ReplyThanks for a very inspiring and thought provoking piece. There is definitely useful material here to be posted up on our virtual bathroom mirrors as daily reminders. Parenting is a huge responsibility. Our daughter is still young so we are still dealing with – small children small problems – knowing that as the years go by before we know it, it will be – big children big problems! Best wishes to you.
Jeff| ReplyHi Andy – Happy to hear you found the tips to be inspiring and helpful. Completely agree with your point about parenting being a huge responsibility, and it gets more challenging as they get older….the stakes are higher. That’s why it’s so important to start when they are very young, set that solid foundation and be relentless in reminding them of their value and standards. Best wishes!
Courtney| ReplyYou have given great advice. My kids are now 18 and 20 and they think that they know everything. There actions and words to me can be harsh but I never talk back in a disparaging way. You see, their mother and me divorced when the kids were very young. They were 1 and 4 years old. I had a stroke and she did not want to look after a vegetable. So she asked me for a divorce one month after I got home from the hospital. She hooked up with a man who conned his way through life. He raised my kids badly. Constantly yelled and did drugs in their household and didn’t have a job yet my ex-wife stood my him and had two more kids out of wedlock with him. They were really messed up. My kids were raised up in that environment. Since they spent their formative years in that household. I knew that my every other weekend would not help much. Me and my family took them on as many outings as we could. I did two weeks of homework with them during my time with them. We tried to teach them the same principles you have mentioned but my time with them was too short. The damage to my kids I think are irreversible. My ex eventually dumped her boyfriend but I think that the damage has been done. I wish that my kids had turned out more balanced, but I’m still trying to improve their lives through pushing education, character building and having the principals to go through life. I will never be finished but I will continue to try.Thanks for a valuable article.
Leona| ReplyGood overall article. Being a Bible believer myself, I work with our youngest grandson to teach him, mostly by my actions, as he is a rambunctious 2 year old, and his daddy has stepped away from the faith at present. I agree that it is our obligation to train up a child, and I feel that is best accomplished through our actions. They will, in time, ask why we do what we do. Of course, as a parent of adult children who [some] are currently finding their way back to Him, I still teach my adult children through my actions, especially in this global pandemic situation, I have an obligation to operate by faith, not fear. Our children depend on it!
Saane| ReplyWhat a valuable article for not only Christians, but anyone who has children. I have three children of my own and one has just turned 20. I totally agree with what you have written, especially the topic you have described beautifully: Your beliefs will determine your behavior. This is something I teach my own children, which helps them to become stronger in their own decisions to stand for what is right amongst peer pressure. This type of article is what is needed in a time of drastic changes for our young people.
Ilaisaane Tuakalau| ReplyAwesome parenting tips. I myself am a firm believer in bringing up children with strong Christian/biblical values. I especially like how you have explained that what you believe determines how you behave, I have three children, two teens and one who has just turned 20. I have always taught them, not to go by status quo or be pressured to do what they see other do, but to take the stand and do what is right by what they believe is true by their faith.Thank you for such a rich and empowering article for parents. We need to read and be continually reminded these values and principles, especially in these times of change.
Doug| ReplyJeff, great information. I think you make a very good point in that it all starts with us as parents, and it has to start at a very early age. Helping our children create good habits early on in life will help them avoid bad habits in the future. Our words can mean a lot to our children, but our actions can leave a lasting impression.
Mark Harris| ReplyHi Jeff, this is very good advice and it’s how I raised my kids using bible principles. As I read your site it brings back memories of how the principles you talked about I used to shape my kids mindset. This is very good advices that parents and grandparents should use to shape our kids today. We have to be careful not to leave our kids to this world to shape their minds, bible principles gives them a choice. Very good advice, thanks.
Joseph Stasaitis| ReplyYes attitude is everything. I have enjoyed working over the years with kids in education as well as the mental health area. Some of these children had faced great challenges early in their lives, but it was an honor to work with them and plant a few encouraging seeds. Over time they taught me much more about myself than what I was able to offer them.Our beliefs most certainly determine our behavior and I have been able to help children change some of their less than ideas beliefs picked up when they were young and vulnerable. You have provided some very good sound advice for others to emulate. Thanks so much for this valuable information. Joseph
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