6 Godly Tips to Thrive as Christian Parents

1. Lean on God

We cannot raise our children in the Lord apart from leaning on God. The Bible is clear that we must trust in the Lord and lean not on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6). Leaning on our own understanding will be following the cultural norms of the day, just like my parents did. Instead of raising my sisters and I in the Lord, we were raised in pop culture and the secular world. My parents were not leaning on the Lord but on their own understanding.

While parents might try their best, it is never a good idea not to involve God in our plans. If we choose not to lean on God and ignore His directions, our family will suffer. If we are going to thrive as Christian parents, we must make the decision now to lean on Him. By leaning on God, we will acknowledge our dependence on Him, the beautiful plans He has for our lives, and the way He can help our children's lives flourish.

Go to God in prayer today and ask for His help. He is faithful, and He will answer your prayers in accordance with His will. He loves your children even more than you do, therefore, don't be afraid to consult Him in prayer and lean on Him. Parenting can get hard, but we are never alone in our parenting journey. God is always with us, cheering us on.

2. Live in Obedience to God

As Christian parents, we need to live in obedience to God. We will not be able to thrive if we are actively living in sin and rebellion against God. This will only cause long-term problems and heartache for everyone involved. Living in obedience to God means loving our spouse, loving our children, and treating everyone with kindness (Luke 6:31; John 15:13). It also means following God's teachings in the Bible.

It is easy to become frustrated when our child stresses us out, but we don't need to get angry with them. Instead, we need to return love to them. Building a family on God means building a family on the attribute of love. Loving our family will truly cover all wrongs and help each member feel valued. Our children need our love and support. If they never experience our love, kindness, and support, they will struggle.

By choosing to live in obedience to God, it will help you show the love of Him in your actions and words. Even if we are going through the stage where our teens are rebellious, we still need to extend unconditional love and kindness. In so doing, we will be the hands and feet of the Lord to our family. This, in turn, will help us to thrive as Christian parents.

3. Build Your Children Up; Don't Tear Them Down

The Bible tells us, "Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged" (Colossians 3:21). As the Apostle Paul tells us, we don't need to embitter our children. This will only cause them to become discouraged. When I was a teen, I was often embittered by my parents due to their actions, and this caused me to become discouraged. Don't do this to your own children. It will only lead them to anger, resentment, and self-hate.

Rather than tearing our children down, we need to build them up. We need to tell our children how proud we are of them, how they make us smile, and how they are doing a great job at life. If we tear down their spirits, it will impact them in the long-run. As parents, we have an important role to play in our children's life and we need to be wise in how we treat our children.

This week, we need to think of ways we can build up our children. Whether our child is a few weeks old or eighteen years old, we need to build them up in the Lord. Pay them compliments, show up for their recitals, and help them know they are loved. These small acts of kindness go a long way and help our children feel valued as members of the family.

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4. Teach Your Children about the Bible and the Lord

We cannot thrive as Christian parents apart from teaching our children about the Bible and the Lord. Even if our children are young, we can start teaching them about the Bible and Jesus. We can start small and work up to more advanced teachings as they get older. A few Bible stories to start your child with are Noah's Ark, the Coat of Many Colors, and the Feeding of the Five Thousand.

As our children grow older, we can start sharing the gospel with them. Even if they don't accept the gospel right away, we can share it with them, answer any questions they may have, and pray for them. With time, your children may become more interested in placing faith in Jesus and becoming followers of the Lord, too. Continue to teach your children about the Bible, Jesus, and the gospel throughout each year of their lives.

5. Don't Define Your Child by Their Shortcomings

Defining our children by their shortcomings will hinder them and cause their confidence to suffer. If we are going to thrive as Christian parents, we don't need to define our children by their shortcomings or mistakes. As a teen, my parents defined me by my mental health struggles, which only resulted in self-hate. I'm an adult now, but if there was something I could do, it would be to go back and help my younger self know she is not defined by her mistakes.

In Christ, we have become a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). No longer are we defined by our sin or our mistakes. We are defined by Jesus. We need to teach our children this and help them know their worth is in Christ. In Christ, we have been given fullness (Colossians 2:10). While salvation and a new life in Christ can be challenging for a child or a teen to understand, the best thing we can do as parents is by choosing to not define them by their mistakes.

We need to see the best in our children and surround them with support. This will build our children in the Lord and help them bloom into the people He created them to be. As Christian parents, we need to avoid being judgmental to our children, as this will only be hurtful to them. Instead of being judgmental, looking down on them, or defining them by their shortcomings, we need to simply love them for them.

6. Avoid Starting Fights or Arguments

As Christians, we must not start quarrels, fights, or arguments with others (2 Timothy 2:23), including our own children. Even if our child or teen starts picking a fight with us, we don't need to feed into these things. We need to take the higher road and be kind. Instead of holding onto unforgiveness, anger, or hate, we need to be kind and compassionate just as the Lord has been to us (Ephesians 4:32).

Mature parents know how to talk to their children in a healthy way without adding fuel to the fire. Listen to your children, sit with them in their struggles, and be patient. Just because you don't understand the pain your child is going through doesn't mean their pain is invalid. Be a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on for your children. In this way, you will show Jesus' love to them and steer away from causing any further issues.