Raising Children in Torah - Yahuah's Way
For Parents & GuardiansChildren are not accidents, burdens, or inconveniences - they are GIFTS from Yahuah, entrusted to parents for a sacred purpose. Parenting is one of the highest callings given to humanity.
We live in a culture that is actively working AGAINST biblical values. Schools, media, peers, and government promote ideologies that oppose Yahuah. Parents must be intentional and proactive - passive parenting will result in children conformed to the world.
You are not merely raising children - you are raising future parents, spouses, leaders, and kingdom citizens. The investment you make today echoes through generations.
This passage is the foundational text for biblical parenting. Let's break it down:
"These words... shall be in THINE heart" - You cannot give what you do not have. Before teaching your children, YOU must love Yahuah and know His Word. Your personal walk is the prerequisite.
The Hebrew word שָׁנַן (shanan) means to sharpen, pierce, or incise. This is not casual mention - it is intentional, repeated, deep instruction that makes a lasting mark.
Teaching happens:
EVERY moment is an opportunity for spiritual instruction.
Biblical parenting doesn't separate "religious time" from "regular time." Yahuah is part of every conversation, every decision, every activity.
On a scale of 1-10, rate yourself:
What is one area where you will commit to grow?
Scripture places primary spiritual responsibility on FATHERS. This does not diminish mothers, but establishes the order Yahuah designed.
| Role | Description | Scripture |
|---|---|---|
| Priest of the Home | Leads family worship, prayer, and spiritual instruction | Joshua 24:15 |
| Provider | Meets physical needs of the family | 1 Timothy 5:8 |
| Protector | Guards the family physically and spiritually | Nehemiah 4:14 |
| Teacher | Instructs children in Torah and wisdom | Proverbs 4:1-4 |
| Disciplinarian | Corrects with love and consistency | Proverbs 13:24 |
| Model | Lives what he teaches; children follow example | 1 Corinthians 11:1 |
Statistics show children without involved fathers are:
The enemy knows the power of fathers - that's why he attacks fatherhood so aggressively.
Earthly fathers are meant to reflect the Heavenly Father. How you treat your children shapes their understanding of Yahuah.
The role of mother is one of the highest callings, despite the world's attempts to devalue it. Mothers shape the hearts and daily lives of children in irreplaceable ways.
| Role | Description | Scripture |
|---|---|---|
| Nurturer | Provides emotional security, comfort, tenderness | Isaiah 66:13 |
| Teacher | Day-to-day instruction and character formation | Proverbs 1:8 |
| Homemaker | Creates a peaceful, ordered home environment | Titus 2:4-5 |
| Helper to Husband | Supports and assists her husband's leadership | Genesis 2:18 |
| Model of Virtue | Demonstrates godly womanhood to children | Proverbs 31 |
| Prayer Warrior | Intercedes for her family continually | 1 Samuel 1-2 (Hannah) |
This passage reveals that loving husband and children must be TAUGHT - it doesn't always come naturally. Older women are to mentor younger women in these arts.
Modern culture tells women that motherhood is less valuable than career, that staying home is "wasting potential," and that children are obstacles to fulfillment.
The Truth: There is no higher calling than raising the next generation for Yahuah. The hand that rocks the cradle shapes eternity.
Discipline is one of the most misunderstood aspects of parenting. It is an ACT OF LOVE, not anger.
If you are angry, wait until you are calm. Discipline should come from love for the child's future, not from frustrated reaction.
Inconsistency creates confusion and insecurity. If something is wrong today, it should be wrong tomorrow. Follow through on what you say.
A defiant 4-year-old and a disobedient 14-year-old require different approaches. Match the discipline to the child's age, temperament, and the nature of the offense.
Always explain WHY the behavior was wrong. After discipline, restore the relationship with affection. End with prayer together.
External compliance without heart change is not the goal. We want children to WANT to obey because they understand why.
| Category | Content |
|---|---|
| Scripture | Torah, Prophets, Writings, Gospels, Letters |
| Character | Honesty, integrity, kindness, self-control, courage |
| Wisdom | Decision-making, discernment, consequences |
| Life Skills | Work ethic, money management, household skills |
| Worldview | Biblical lens for understanding everything |
| Identity | Who they are in Yahusha, their purpose |
Children learn more from what they SEE than what they HEAR. Your life is the loudest sermon. Live what you teach.
Talk about Yahuah naturally throughout the day. "Did you see that sunset? That's Yahuah showing His creativity!" Make Him part of normal conversation.
Set aside specific times for Bible study, memory verses, catechism-style questions. This should be regular and consistent.
Let children experience serving others, giving, fasting, prayer answers. Head knowledge must become heart knowledge through experience.
Use life situations as teaching opportunities. When things go wrong, when others fail, when you see news - connect everything to Scripture.
Children develop through stages, and training should match their capacity:
Primary Need: Security, love, attachment
Training Focus: Establishing trust, introducing simple patterns (prayer before meals, songs)
Key Scripture: "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee" - Jeremiah 1:5
Primary Need: Boundaries, exploration within limits
Training Focus: Simple obedience, basic right/wrong, Bible stories, simple prayers
Key Scripture: "Children, obey your parents" - Colossians 3:20
Primary Need: Learning industry, purpose
Training Focus: Character development, memory verses, chores, worship participation
Key Scripture: "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth" - Ecclesiastes 12:1
Primary Need: Competence, friendship
Training Focus: Deeper Scripture study, serving others, navigating peer relationships, developing gifts
Key Scripture: "Thy word have I hid in mine heart" - Psalm 119:11
Primary Need: Identity, independence within boundaries
Training Focus: Making faith their own, handling temptation, purity, apologetics
Key Scripture: "Let no man despise thy youth" - 1 Timothy 4:12
Primary Need: Preparing for adulthood
Training Focus: Ownership of faith, life decisions, courtship, vocation, launching
Key Scripture: "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?" - Psalm 119:9
Early childhood is the most formative period. By age 7, much of a child's worldview is already established. Start early! The teenage years are too late to begin instilling values - you should be REINFORCING what was already planted.
We live in enemy territory. The world's system actively works to corrupt our children. Parents must be vigilant gatekeepers.
| Threat | Action |
|---|---|
| Media | Control screens, review content, discuss what they see, limit exposure |
| Education | Know what's taught, supplement/correct as needed, consider homeschool |
| Peers | Know their friends, host gatherings at your home, cultivate godly friendships |
| Internet | Parental controls, no private devices in bedrooms, accountability software |
| Social Media | Delay as long as possible, supervise, discuss dangers |
| Sexual Content | Be proactive in teaching purity BEFORE exposure |
| False Teaching | Teach discernment, discuss heresies, build strong foundation |
Young plants are raised in greenhouses - protected environments - until they are strong enough to survive outside. Similarly, children need protection while they are developing. As they mature and demonstrate wisdom, gradually give more exposure and freedom.
This is NOT overprotection - it is wise cultivation.
Biblical parenting is not just about your immediate children - it's about the generations that follow.
Many parents carry wounds from their own upbringing. Through Yahuah's grace:
What positive patterns from your family will you continue?
What negative patterns will you break?
What do you want your grandchildren to say about the faith passed down?
Prayer is the most powerful tool parents have. You can do more for your children on your knees than any other activity.
I commit to praying for my children:
Biblical parenting is not easy - it requires everything you have. But there is no higher calling, no greater investment, no more eternal work than raising children who know and love Yahuah.
May Yahuah bless you as you raise the next generation for His glory!