How can I raise godly children in today’s world?

Parenting only seems to get more and more complicated, especially with so many different approaches, methods, and theories floating around. We are flooded with information on social media that is often conflicting, and it can be hard to know who or what to trust. And this is in addition to changing family and social structures, shifting morals, and confusing messages about identity, values, and beliefs. That’s why so many Christian parents are asking: How can I raise godly children who stand firm in faith?

The good news is, you are not alone. Many parents are on this same journey, and God promises to give us wisdom.

Thankfully, one book we can always count on to guide us is the Bible. While you will not find a step-by-step instruction booklet, you will find a roadmap of practical, spiritual principles that can enrich your parenting strategies and help you establish a solid, loving foundation for child-rearing.

In this guide, we will walk through practical, Bible-based steps to raise children who are strong in character and living with Christ as their example, but also prepared for a productive life in the real world.

You’ll learn how to:

• Model faith at home so your child sees God in action
• Teach biblical values in creative, everyday ways
• Help your kids navigate cultural and spiritual challenges
• Build emotional and spiritual resilience
• Stay spiritually refreshed while parenting with purpose

Let’s walk this journey together—one Bible verse, one intentional decision, and one faithful step at a time.

Start with the proper foundation—model faith at home

Most instruction doesn’t root itself in the mind without an example. Your relationship with God sets the spiritual tone for your home. Long before they understand deep theology, children understand what matters to you by how you live.

We see this in the way God instructed His people in the Bible when He said:

“And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children” (Deuteronomy 6:6-7, NKJV).

Faith becomes real when children see it in action—through your forgiveness, your prayers, your patience, and how you respond to both joy and trial.

Some of the ways to model faith at home include having:

• Family worship: These are moments when the family comes together to praise God and learn from His Word. For example, you can read a short Bible passage, ask and discuss a thought-provoking question, and pray together. Some families might also sing songs, listen to a sermon or spiritual podcast, or come up with some sort of worship activity that matches their interests and convictions.
• Trusting God together: You can model trust in God by cultivating an attitude of peace instead of fear, having faith that God is guiding you and your family even when times get tough. You can also invite your children to pray with you when facing a tough decision, or thanking God for a good day.
• Consistent personal walk with God: Model consistency with church attendance, worship, and quiet time.

Next, let’s talk about how to teach biblical values that your children can actively live by.

Teach biblical values consistently and creatively

Children need clear, consistent moral guidance. But more than that, they need to see biblical values lived out, explained in real life, and celebrated in everyday decisions.

Values such as honesty, compassion, integrity, and humility. These values shape character and identity—but only when they’re reinforced regularly in practical, memorable ways. And as they grow up, they will become the anchor for their lives.

As the Bible says,

“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6, NKJV).

So, what are some ways to teach biblical values consistently and creatively?

• From stories of Bible characters: For example, talk about David’s courage, Esther’s boldness, or Joseph’s integrity during family time.
• Focus on a given value at a time: For example, you can have “value of the week.” Then you can make posters, use relevant verses, and give praise or a reward when your child demonstrates it.
• Role-play dilemmas: Demonstrate how to respond to certain situations, like if a friend lies to you, or says something mean, or if you see someone hurting another person. You can also ask things like, “How would Jesus respond to someone being left out or bullied in school?”

Beyond showing your children how to apply the values in their daily encounters, there’s also a need to teach them how to resist the different negative influences that surround them.

Guide them through modern challenges with wisdom

Your child is growing up in a world that normalises rebellion, questions values, and elevates feelings and achievements over faith. From social media and streaming platforms to friends at school, modern culture is shaping their worldview, and often faster than we realise.

Paul reminded us to watch out for these influences when He said,

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2, NKJV).

As Christian parents, we can’t always control what our children are exposed to, but we can teach them how to think biblically, discern truth, and ask questions from a vantage point.

You can guide your children wisely to deal with modern challenges through:

• Having tech talks: Discuss what they’re watching and scrolling through. Ask questions like, “What message do you think that video was promoting?”
• Create boundaries together: Instead of enforcing rigid rules, co-create screen limits, social media policies, and entertainment filters as a family.
• Talk about peer pressure: Share stories of when you faced tough choices, and how God helped you choose well.

Through such strategies, we can teach children to stand firm no matter what kind of social culture they find themselves in.

Beyond external influences, it’s important to help children develop internal strength to face life’s disappointments and struggles with grace and faith.

Let’s look at that next.

Build emotional and spiritual resilience

Even the most godly children will face failure, doubt, frustration, loneliness, or rejection. But a child grounded in Christ will find comfort in their walk with God, and find strength to rise again if they stumble.

That’s why emotional and spiritual resilience go hand in hand in raising godly children.

Help your child find a friend in Jesus and trust His abiding presence. Let them learn to hear and believe the words of God when He says to them,

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God” (Isaiah 41:10, NKJV).

Help your children understand that challenges are a part of life, and God is always near and present. Your job isn’t to shield them from pain, but to help them deal with challenges with a bigger perspective, helping them know that life is about so much more than what we’re currently struggling with.

Ways that you can help them build emotional and spiritual resilience include:

• Teaching prayer as a lifeline: Show them how to bring every emotion—joy, anger, fear—to God in honest prayer.
• Affirming identity in Christ: Share biblical truths like “You are chosen,” “You are fearfully and wonderfully made,” and “You are never alone.”
• Story-based strengthening: Share biblical and personal stories of perseverance and answered prayers.

And while you guide your children toward spiritual maturity, don’t forget to care for your own spiritual walk, because you can only give what you have. Always remember that your strength as a parent begins with your connection with God, and He will be your source of strength when any parenting challenge arises.

Stay spiritually nourished as a parent

Parenting can be exhausting, especially when you’re doing your best to raise godly children in a world that often pulls in the opposite direction. But do your best to ensure you are also receiving nourishment from communion with God so that you don’t have to pour from an empty cup.

Jesus invites us all to come to Him to be filled when He says,

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28, NKJV).

Looking after your spiritual health is not selfish—it’s essential. A spiritually nourished parent is better equipped to lead, love, and disciple effectively.

As a parent, you can stay spiritually fueled by:

• Having daily time with God: Even if it’s brief, read from the Bible and pray over your children each day.
• Finding support: Join a prayer group, parenting circle, or online faith forum to find strength in community.
• Embracing weekly days rest: Guard one day each week as sacred family time—no errands, no chaos, just presence.

Remember, you don’t need to do everything at once, as long as you are growing each day. Even small, intentional steps can lead to a powerful, godly legacy.

Raising lights in a dark world

You don’t need to be a perfect parent to raise godly children—you just need to be walking with God.

God doesn’t expect you to know all the answers, but He invites you to come to Him and let Him teach you each day how to lead your family in love, prayer, and truth.

You can start simple by choosing one principle from this guide and putting it into practice this week. Whether it’s beginning to have family devotions, praying more openly, or creating a values chart, these small seeds of faith will lead to lifelong fruit and harvest.

As the wise King Solomon said,

“The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him” (Proverbs 20:7, NKJV).

Your influence matters. Your example matters. And by God’s grace, your children can grow up to become leaders who love Jesus and reflect His light in a dark world.

Ready to build a Christ-centred home?

Related pages:

• Secrets to cultivating healthy relationships
• Does marriage work in this generation?
• What does it mean to honor and respect your elders?