Biblical Parenting

Have you ever wondered what God has to say about being a good mom or dad? Here are some verses on the subject. 

Proverbs 14:26 

"In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge."

The more you fear God, the better your life will be, the safer you will be. The more safe you are, the more safe your children will be. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." Create a refuge in your home for your kids. Fear God. Stay safe. Keep Satan away from your home and your children and yourself. 

Joshua 24:15 

"Choose this day whom you will serve...as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

The whole world is going to hell in a handbasket it seems, but your family should be different. Will you serve the Lord? Even if the rest of the world is serving Satan, serve God, no matter what. 

Psalm 68:5 

"Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation."

Maybe you don't know how to parent well because you either had bad or absent parents. God can father you. God can show you how to be a correct parent with great parenting skills. Ask for his help. He loves to help his children with whatever they need help with. 

Proverbs 23:22 

"Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old."

This verse has always stuck out to me. Apparently, it's possible to despise your mom when she is old. Don't do that. Be understanding that getting old is very hard. Be patient with your elderly parents. 

Proverbs 31:26-27 

"A woman of noble character... opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness."

There is always something that needs to get done. Never be an idle mother. Keep your house clean. Care for your children and yourself well. Speak words of wisdom anytime you can. "Life and death are in the power of your tongue." Speak words of life to your family. 

Ephesians 6:4 

"Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."

It's possible for mothers to do this too. Be gentle toward your kids always. 

Proverbs 17:6 

"Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers."

I love this. Being a grandma makes you royalty. What does the second part mean? Children feel more glory when they have a good dad who stays with them. Fathers are very important to children. 

Psalm 127:3-5 

"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate."

God is rewarding you if he gives you kids. Anyone who gets pregnant is meant to raise that kid. I believe God only has the women who deserve it most become moms. It is God saying that you are worthy to be a mom. 

1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 

"For you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God."

Fathers are in charge of training kids to be good law abiding citizens. May they all do that job well. 

Proverbs 31:28 

"Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her."

Good mothers are told by their kids how lucky they are. They are praised by their husbands. This is not common occurrence now. Be a kind of mother that your husband will want to praise. 

Colossians 3:21 

"Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged."

When dads are overly harsh with their kids, they give up. Try to be more encouraging rather than discouraging. 

Proverbs 22:6 

"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it."

He may depart for a season, but he will come back to God and to church eventually. Don't give up hope. 

Titus 2:1-15 

"Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands."

Moms, work just at home if you can. Always submit to your man. Your life will be happier if you do. It is not meant to be some dogmatic curse on women. It just makes a home safer if the woman submits to the man. 

More verses about being a good parent:

Psalm 139:13 

God you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.

Proverbs 23:22-25 

The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him. Let your father and mother be glad; let her who bore you rejoice.

2 Timothy 1:5 

I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.

3 John 1:4 

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

Proverbs 31:25 

A woman of noble character who can find? ...Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.

Proverbs 29:15 

The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.

Proverbs 6:20 

My son, keep your father's commandment, and forsake not your mother's teaching.

Leviticus 19:3 

Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and you shall keep my Sabbaths: I am the Lord your God.

1 Peter 3:4 

Let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.

Psalm 113:9 

He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the Lord!

Proverbs 13:24 

Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 

These words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.