11 Christian Parenting Advice Tips (for busy mums)

I’m a Christian mum with two children in their early twenties. Raising kids is a gift but not always easy. Life continues to give me the joys, ups and downs, and lots of ‘aha’ moments, and I’m still learning and leaning into my faith while navigating parenthood. If you think parenthood all ends when they are 18, think again! With lots of prayer and reflection, here are my 11 Christian parenting advice tips for encouraging busy mums.

11 Christian Parenting Advice Tips (for busy mums)

1. Intentional Parenting

Be intentional. Talk about your faith in the ordinary day-to-day of life.

Find ways to demonstrate your faith in the ordinary. Don’t just reserve Jesus for Church, bedtime prayers, and a few children’s bible stories.

Look to demonstrate your relationship with Jesus in the ordinary day to day of life. Be open to being open, encourage discussion, and find ways to be more intentional, from praying out loud for a safe journey to thanking God when something good happens. Point your children back to Jesus and prayer. When facing a big decision or trying to figure out a problem, find ways to include God in the everyday.

I love the story of Susannah Wesley and her apron.

Mother of evangelists John and Charles Wesley she would throw her apron over her head and lean over the kitchen table to pray. Her children knew that whenever she had the apron over her head it meant that she was praying and not to be disturbed. A wonderful and open demonstration of a mother of faith and prayer.

2. When challenges come-still be open & intentional

I remember my mum often questioning God out loud. She would ask, ‘Why God?’ if something was bothering her or had gone wrong. She wasn’t afraid to show her relationship with God, which ultimately encouraged me. It was never a secret faith, and this helped me in my own walk as a child.

3. Show love and encourage

Jesus loves us unconditionally. When we get things wrong, he still loves us, and when we mess up, he still loves and forgives us. 

We love our children in the same way. Showing and telling your children that you love them is an expression of your faith. Jesus loves, so we love. Show unconditional love.

4. Expect outside influence

Expect outside influence to come. Even though we have raised our children in a Christian home, there have been plenty of times they have pushed boundaries along the way, especially when they went through high school and were influenced by what others were doing or other people’s bad behaviour. 

Christian parenting advice-Discipline in Love

See it as character development and hold on to your faith and Christian principles. Remind them in love what is right and wrong and encourage them to think about their decisions and, more importantly, about consequences. Don’t be afraid of discipline- but discipline in love. Every decision they make has a life consequence. As my children have entered adulthood, I know they sometimes make decisions that I wouldn’t. We can’t always control what they do, but we can always be the lighthouse. We can constantly guide in faith and give godly, helpful advice and encouragement. 

5. Be the lighthouse

There is a picture by the photographer Jean Guichard of a lighthouse that I love. Outside the lighthouse, the ocean’s waters are crashing against the walls. On the ledge of the lighthouse, a man stands outside on the balcony, untouched by the stormy waters but protected by the lighthouse. The picture reminds me so much of my faith and Jesus. We can’t stop the storms in life from coming, but we know that Jesus (the lighthouse) is standing with us and is our protector.

We can be the lighthouse for our children and set a good example. When troubles come (which they will), we can stand by our faith and point them back to a God who loves and knows them. Time and time again, I have done this. It’s when troubles come that we need to show our faith and encourage them to read the word of God and trust in God.

On a practical level, I will;

• Text encouraging bible verses
• Pray with my children; tell them I am praying about their problem or situation
• Remind them to give the situation to Jesus and to pray about it
• Remind them that God is ‘working on it in the background.’
• Remind them that God loves them and is ‘for’ them
• Encourage them to read the Bible and point them toward specific verses
• Provide practical advice based on biblical wisdom

6. Join A Church

When my daughter was born, I wanted to find a good local church. I didn’t drive at the time (it took me six driving tests)! My husband often worked on a Sunday, so I knew this was something I needed to do myself. I remember setting off with my daughter in the pram and walking to the nearest local Church. Walking into a church I had never been to before wasn’t easy.

On different Sundays, I tried a few other churches. I eventually found a Baptist church about a 30-minute walk from our house. The walk included a long, steep hill, which was not fun on a rainy day! We eventually all attended there as a family for over ten years before we moved house. Both my children were baptised there as babies and went through the different children’s church groups. 

Attending a good local church will;

• Give your children the foundations to grow their faith.
• Let them learn about Jesus and the stories of God in the children’s church, a place of safety and love.
• Have family worship time.
• Give them a sense of belonging to a community and a church family that loves Jesus, and points them to God’s love.
• Help build your own faith and provide support as a Christian mum

If you have doubts about going to a local church, I would encourage you to look again. Many churches now have online services on Sundays, so you can watch and connect initially online before going.

If your wondering how to find a good church try reading How do I find a good church? by John Piper.

Every church is different

Know that every church is different and has its own personality, just like every home is different. Pray and ask God for wisdom in your choice, do your own research, and God will lead you to the right Church. 

7. Walk your walk

Maybe you have a partner who loves God; perhaps you don’t. Maybe some of your family members believe in God, and perhaps they don’t. Whatever your situation, the one thing you can control is your own Christian walk.

Walk your walk, regardless of what everyone around you is doing. As a mum, I am aware that my children are watching my walk. How I live my life can be a good or bad example.

The perfect parent?

No, I am not a perfect parent, but God has given me the gift of two beautiful children, and I want them to know that there is a God who loves them. I want them to see God working in my life in the big and small ways and in the joys and struggles of life. Most importantly, I want them to see I have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and that it’s available to them, too.

8. Prayer

Pray for your children, pray about their future, pray about their education, pray with them, and encourage them to pray. As the Bible says,

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:6-7

9. Bible Studies-Encourage your children to read the Bible

• Create early habits with your young children. Start with a children’s Bible, but as they grow up, remember to gift them age-appropriate Bibles at Christmas or on their birthdays. This will allow them to stay engaged with God’s word. 
• The teenage years: A quick look on Amazon shows that there are so many Bibles for young people to choose from. There are youth Bibles for teens, youth Bibles for girls and boys, and special study Bibles. If they struggle with reading, get them to download an app allowing them to listen to the Bible. Most Bible apps also have an audio function. YouTube also has lots of Bible channels that you can encourage them to listen to. 

10. Give God the glory

When things go well, be vocal about thanking God and giving God thanks and the Glory (ie give Jesus the credit). This practice also helps them understand that their varieties of gifts, unique talents, and blessings all come from God. It sows seeds of humility and encourages them to see God in everything. It helps them stay connected to what Jesus is doing and how the Holy Spirit works in their lives.

11. Focus on heart and character

Jesus is interested in our hearts and our character. Focus on nurturing your child’s heart and character. Practically, this means encouraging the fruit of the spirit and God’s character. 

Galatians 5:22-23 says

“But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…”

As mums, we can help our children learn about and develop these fruits. We can help them practice kindness and patience to others. We can help them see God’s faithfulness in all the ways God blesses them. See the fruits of the spirit as your parenting toolbox.

11 Christian Parenting Advice Tips (for busy mums)-Final words on Biblical parenting

As Christian parents, we are not going to get it right all the time; we are not perfect. Yet how we live our personal lives and our family life can be a constant flashlight, like the light in the lighthouse that points them back to Jesus again and again. Showing our children God’s way gives them a road map for their lives.

What are your best parenting tips? Let me know in the comment box below.

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