As Christian parents, we want to set our children on a path of righteousness, in the way they should go according to God’s Word because God has given parents the authority over their children, and it’s their responsibility to lead them on the right path.
Proverbs 22:6 NIV says “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they won’t turn from it.”
Children have minds like sponges that soak in everything they learn, they have an innocent way of trusting whatever they are told. As Christian parents, we should guard and protect our children from the deceptive ways of living for the world. Instead, we want to set them on the straight, narrow path of righteousness that leads to abundant hope in Christ.
Hebrews 12:11 NIV says “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful, later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”
They are to be set apart from the world, living in it but not of it (John 15:19 NIV), because God has called them out of the darkness and into His glorious light. As Christian parents, we have the blessing and honor of showing our children the way that leads to eternal life in Christ. We can be intentional and plant God’s truth in their hearts, and instill in them what it looks like to live a righteous and holy life that pleases the Lord.
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If you are a Christian parent and you desire to raise your children to be set on a path of righteousness and holiness that sets them apart for the Lord, then below are 20 tips for raising children who live a righteous life.
What Are Ways To Set Children On A Path Of Righteousness?
1) Teach Them To Live According To The Bible As The Ultimate Truth
Hebrews 4:12 NIV says “For the Word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
As Christian parents, we can teach our children the power of living according to God’s Word as the ultimate authority. When they learn to view the Bible as the book they run to for guidance, direction, answers, and wisdom; they will learn to apply its truth to their lives.
2) Instill In Them A Passion For Doing Things That Please God
Colossians 3:23 NIV says “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord; not for human masters.”
A part of raising children in righteousness is teaching them to do things from a pure heart unto the Lord. Anything they do can be for God’s glory, when they view living their lives for God as a priority, the pressure to people please will dissolve and they will find fulfillment in pleasing the Lord.
3) Help Them View Life In Light Of Eternity
2 Corinthians 4:18 NIV says “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
To set children on the path of righteousness, raise them to view life in light of eternity. Because this life is fleeting, and true life begins in eternity. Teach children to make the most of their time, and live knowing that what they do here will impact their eternity.
4) Encourage Them To Live A Prayerful Life
James 5:16 NIV says “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
Encourage children to live a prayerful life, always turning to God in all situations. Part of living a life of righteousness is being in constant communication with the Lord and making Him a big part of each day. Prayer is powerful and it’s a blessing to be able to come before the Lord anytime and anywhere with a pure heart. This kids prayer journal is a way to encourage children to write down their thoughts and prayers to God and it helps them learn the importance of spending time with the Lord in prayer.
5) Help Them Learn To Worship The Lord Through The Way They Live Their Lives
Romans 12:1 NIV says “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God- this is your true and proper worship.”
Help raise children in righteousness by teaching them that in anything they do, they can do it as worship to the Lord. if they submit whatever they do to God, it is a form of worship and they can use what God has given them to bring Him praise.
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6) Instill In Them Biblical Morals And Values To Live By
Matthew 4:4 NIV says “It is written: Man shall not live by bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
A big part of living a righteous life is living by biblical morals and values, and actively living to please the Lord. Christian parents can instill in their children a desire to live according to God’s ways and take off the pressures from the world. Because you can’t live to please both God and man, so living unto the Lord will set their feet on a path of hope. There are great Bible stories for kids that make it easy to share biblical truths with your children.
7) Help Them Understand That They Are To Be Set Apart From The World
Galatians 2:20 NIV says “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
As Christians, we are to be set apart from the world, we are to shine in the darkness and look different. We can teach our children to live in the world but with an understanding that they are not of this world because God has called them to His glorious hope which is greater than this world.
8) Teach Them To Follow Jesus And Desire To Be Like Him In All They Do
1 John 2:6 NIV says “Whoever claims to live in Him must live as Jesus did.”
Teach children the importance of following Jesus and striving to be like Him in all they do. Jesus is the standard of righteousness to try to live by, and we can instill in our children a desire to live their lives following Jesus in everything, words, actions, and striving to live a godly life.
9) Fill Their Hearts With The Hope Of The Gospel Message
Romans 15:13 NIV says “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Fill their hearts with the hope of the gospel, and make it a big part of their lives, so they grow up KNOWING who they are in Christ and how they always have a glorious hope in Him. It adds purpose and meaning to their lives and fills them with unexplainable joy and peace that can only come from God.
10) Plant God’s Word In Their Hearts That They Can Stand Strong Against The Sinful Nature
Psalm 119:11 NIV says “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.”
Plant God’s Word in their hearts starting from a young age, because children are never too young to start learning the gospel message. Let it be a normal part of their childhood and raise them in biblical values and truths. May they learn to turn to God’s Word when they need strength, courage, and whatever may come their way. Hide God’s Word in their hearts to keep their feet on the path of righteousness and to help them overcome the sinful desires that they may be tempted by.
11) Teach Them To Do Everything As Unto The Lord, Not Concerned With Pleasing Man
1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV says “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
Teach them that in all they do it can be as unto the Lord. Whether small or big tasks, all of their life can be a form of worship to God. Commit to Him whatever they do and God will establish their plans (Proverbs 16:3 NIV). Remind them that they should live their lives to please God and not worry about pleasing man, because God is the One who we live for.
12) Encourage Them To Guard Their Hearts, And Be Cautious Of What They Set Before Their Eyes And Ears
Proverbs 4:23 NIV says “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
Encourage them to guard their hearts, and to be mindful of what they set before their eyes and ears. To understand that what they watch and listen to will have an impact on them and they should strive to take part in things that are pleasing to God.
13) Teach Them The Importance Of Obeying The Lord’s Commandments
1 John 2:5-6 NIV says “But if anyone obeys His Word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in Him: Whoever claims to live in Him must live as Jesus did.”
As Christian parents, we can teach our children the importance of obeying the Lord’s commandments and living a life that is pleasing in His sight. Because we will all stand before the Lord one day, and we must all give an account of what we did with our lives on earth (2 Corinthians 5:10 NIV). So training them in the righteousness of the Lord and according to His commands is a way to raise godly children.
14) Instill In Them A Holy Fear Of God, So They Acknowledge Him In All Their Ways
Proverbs 9:10 NIV says “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
Teach children to have a holy fear of God, to acknowledge Him in their daily lives, and to give Him the credit and praise He is worthy of. The Bible says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, God wants to be a part of our lives and the Bible says we should love Him with ALL of our hearts, souls, and minds (Matthew 22:37 NIV) which means making Him the most important part of your life! So teaching children to make God a priority in their life and acknowledge Him as the sovereign Lord!
15) Help Them See The Value Of Being A Part Of A Local Church Community And Being An Active Part Of The Body Of Christ
1 Corinthians 12:12-14 NIV says “Just as the body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit to form one body- whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free- and we were given the one Spirit to drink. Even so, the body is not made of up one part but of many.”
We can instill in our children a desire to be a part of a local church community, willing to serve and actively participate. Because it’s an important part of living a life of faith, putting faith into action. The body of Christ when united together is a blessing, loving and serving one another as unto the Lord. Teaching children the importance of attending church is a big part of setting them on the path of righteousness that they will continue to do as they grow.
16) Teach Them To Be Open To Correction, Learning, And Personal Development
Hebrews 12:11 NIV says “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”
An important part of raising children in righteousness is helping them learn the value of being open to correction, having a heart always willing to learn and grow, and seeing personal development as a journey they will venture on their entire lives. Helping them see that they will never fully “arrive” while on this earth, but they can have a heart of willingness to mature and grow in their faith, and God will shape their character through it all.
17) Help Them To See Others As God’s Creation, And To Treat Them As God’s Beloved
Proverbs 139:14 NIV says “I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
Raise children in the righteous ways of the Lord by helping them see the value in others. They are God’s marvelous creation and one’s who the Lord loves greatly. Children can learn to view others how God sees them and to treat them with compassion and respect.
18) Teach Them To Guard Their Tongues, And To Always Use Wisdom In The Words They Speak
Proverbs 21:23 NIV says “Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.”
Teaching children to guard their tongues is an important part of raising them in righteousness. Because words hold power and matter, our words can bring life or death (Proverbs 18:21 NIV), and it is not fitting for anyone who claims to be a follower of Christ to praise and curse from the same mouth. Children can learn the immense value of speaking words of hope, life, and encouragement to others.
19) Plant In Them A Desire To Grow In Biblical Wisdom And Understanding
James 1:5 NIV says “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask of God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”
As Christian parents, we can encourage our children to seek the Lord and ask Him to bless them with biblical wisdom and understanding. We can teach them the importance of gaining an understanding of the Bible and how living a life with godly wisdom helps them apply biblical truths to their lives.
20) Help Them See How Fleeting Life Is, And How They Should Make The Most Of The Time God Blessed Them With
James 4:14 NIV says “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”
Instilling in children the reality of this life, how fleeting time is, and how we should make the most of the precious time God gave us. Because the enemy will try to steal our time and take our focus off of God’s ways, but learning the importance of making the most of time will help children see life as temporary. Teaching them that we can use our time to glorify God, and live for the Lord in all we do.
There are ways to set children on a path of righteousness that helps them be on the right track in their lives. Raising them in God’s ways and according to biblical values and morals, they become godly people who use their time wisely for the Lord. This life is fleeting, and the things we choose to do while here on earth matter in eternity, so instilling in our children a passion for truth is setting their feet on the path of hope and righteousness in Christ.
