Lessons in Faith

Raising children requires huge chunks of time, prayer, discipline, involvement, and relationship-building.

This list of values and traits from Dennis and Barbara Rainey of FamilyLife can help you focus on biblical priorities in raising children to become mature adults of faith and godly character.

1. Above all, fear God.
2. Respecting authority -- trust and obey your parents.
3. The importance of friendships.
4. Be in love with Christ and focus on your relationship with Him, not just on doctrine or on biblical principles.
5. Have compassion for the poor and orphans.
6. Believe God for too much rather than too little.
7. Real strength is found in serving, not in being served.
8. The power of moral purity and a clean conscience.
9. How to motivate people without manipulating them.
10. How to handle failure.
11. Keeping your promises.
12. The power of the tongue for good or evil.
13. Giving too much rather than too little.
14. The importance of manners and common courtesies.
15. Viewing life through God’s agenda -- the Great Commission and the Great Commandment.
16. Give thanks to God in all things.
17. The importance of prayer.
18. The art of asking good questions, carrying on good conversation.
19. How to grow as a Christian.
20. How to handle temptation.
21. By faith, trusting Christ as your Savior and Lord, and sharing with others how to become a Christian.
22. Seeking wisdom -- a skill in everyday living. Knowing how to make good decisions.
23. Gaining a sense of God’s direction and destiny for your life.
24. Staying teachable and not becoming cynical.
25. Obtaining godly counsel.
26. The importance of flexibility and adaptability to cope in life.
27. Truth is best passed on through relationships.
28. Leaving a legacy of holiness.
29. Keeping life manageable. Prioritizing decisions.
30. Taming selfishness -- learning you can’t always get your way.
31. Choices are yours to make and results are yours to experience.
32. Respecting the dignity of another person and of all people.
33. Being faithful in the little things.
34. Character is the basis of all leadership.
35. Life isn’t fair -- don’t compare with or be jealous of others.
36. Living by commitments, not by feelings.
37. Expressing grace and forgiveness.
38. A strong work ethic.
39. Surrendering to the authority of Christ.
40. How to handle your finances.

As Galatians 6:9 tells us, “And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary.”