Parenting. Just one word can bring so much joy and stress at the same time. You love your kids so much that you want to make sure you don’t mess them up. How do you do that?
First, seek Christ and His word. Second, read some great Christian books to help you find the answers you’re seeking. They’ll also help encourage you on days you’ve discovered a big, uh-oh and you’re at whit’s end.
To help you find the book you need to read the following list. These books will help you know you’re not alone and show you that you’re not failing.
1) The Art of Parenting: Aiming Your Child’s Heart Toward God By:
Dennis & Barbara Rainey
About the book: As a Christian parent, a desire on your heart is to help your child pursue and understand Christ. However, knowing how to do so and where to start can be difficult.
Dennis Rainey walks you through how to teach your child about their identity, character, relationships, and mission. He also gives you a Biblical basis for these four points.
About the author: Mr & Mrs. Rainey have been teaching Christian families how to seek the Bible in their marriage and parenting for the past 43 years.
Click here to purchase their book.
2) Grace Based Parenting: Set Your Family Free By: Dr. Tim Kimmel
About the book: Have you read multiple parenting books, but still feel lost? Do you still feel stressed about all of your responsibilities? Grace-Based Parenting shows you how to choose grace over fear in your parenting style.
It teaches you to use the same grace gifted to you by God with your child and still succeed at parenting.
About the author: Dr. Tim Keller has his Doctorate from Westminister Theological Seminary and is a New York Times bestselling author.
To learn more about his book click here.
3) Sacred Parenting: How Raising Children Shapes Our Souls By: Gary Thomas
About the book: Parenting is just an opportunity for you to teach your child the in’s and out’s of life. It’s also an opportunity for you to learn.
Author Gary Thomas teaches you how to learn from your child. Children are a gift from God and He uses them to help us as parents grow in our faith.
About the author: Gary Thomas is a bestselling Christian author who combines the history of the Church, scripture, and Christian practices in his writing.
He focuses his writing on strengthening Christians in their faith and relationship with others.
To purchase his book click here.
4) Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family By: Dr. Paul David Tripp
About the book: Parenting is about so much more than making sure your kids succeed in school and in life. It’s about fulfilling God’s plan for you as a parent.
What is God’s plan? Dr. Tripp’s book will walk you through God’s plan for you as a parent according to the gospel.
About the author: Dr. Paul David Tripp has written 30 books centered around Christian life and is a pastor. He seeks to help others’ lives be transformed through Jesus through his reading and preaching.
To challenge the way you view parenting click here.
5) The Single Dad’s Survival Guide: How To Succeed As A One-Man Parenting By: Mike Klumpp
About the book: Parenting as a single Dad has its own set of struggles. Other parenting books will be helpful as well, but the others won’t be specific towards your situation.
Mike Klumpp’s book is specifically for single Christian dads. Reading this book will remind you that you’re not alone and teach you how to survive through Christ alone as a single father.
About the author: Mike Klumpp has a deep passion for writing and hands-on experience as being a one-man show in parenting.
Click here to discover the secret’s of a single father.
6) God’s Grace for Single Moms By: B&H Editorial Staff
About the book: Being a single Mom can sometimes make you feel alone and I’m sure you feel discouraged at times. You may feel like you can’t give your kids all they need or you don’t know what to do at times.
God’s Grace for Single Moms is a reminder to you that has given you grace in your journey.
This book is packed with scripture to remind you of God’s grace for you even when you feel like you’re failing.
About the author: B&H Publishing is an extension of Lifeway Christian Resources. They create Christ-centered books to help you grow and feel encouraged in your walk with the Lord.
To snag your copy of this book click here.
7) Building Love Together in Blended Families: The 5 Love Languages and Becoming Stepfamily Smart By: Gary Chapman
About the book: Bringing together two separate families isn’t easy. It takes a lot of work, love, and prayer. Gary Chapman’s book is filled with instructions for how to blend your family.
He centers it around Christ and how to focus on love during this time. He hits real issues you’ll face and provides a beneficial way for you to solve them.
About the author: Gary Chapman is well known for his love languages series and is a bestselling author. His books have helped many form healthy relationships and helped them better understand themselves.
Click here to start learning how to best merge your new family.
8) Parenting with Scripture: A Topical Guide for Teachable Moments By: Kara Durbin
About the book: We know that God’s holy word has the answer to every problem we have, but sometimes it can be hard to know where to look for that answer.
Parenting with Scripture helps you work scripture into how you raise your children.
About the author: Kara Durbin has her degree in elementary education and has a passion to teach children according to scripture.
To purchase her book click here.
9) The 10 Best Decisions Every Parent Can Make By: Bill & Pam Ferrel
About the book: Sometimes as a parent you just don’t know what to do to help your child. That’s okay, but you’re not the only one who’s been there. Bill & Pam Ferrel share your struggles as parents and who they go through them.
They share how to best love a child who has special needs, one’s who is headstrong, and even the ones who go astray.
About the author: Bill and Pam Ferrel are a couple who aim to inspire couples. They have written many books together and separately aimed towards relationships and growing closer to Christ.
Click here to get the answers you’ve been waiting for.
10) Boundaries with Kids: How Healthy Choices Grow Healthy Children By: Henry Cloud and John Townsend
About the book: Do you struggle with saying no to your child? Or even saying all the time? This book by Dr. Cloud and Dr. Townsend teaches you why saying no to your kid is a healthy boundary that you need to implement.
This book teaches you how to set healthy boundaries with your kids and how to teach them their own.
About the author: Dr. Cloud and Townsend have written many books to teach Christians how to set healthy boundaries. They both are bestselling authors and are known for their life-changing advice.
To begin to set boundaries with your children click here.
11) Building Confidence in Your Child By: Dr. James Dobson
About the book: Does your child lack confidence? Do they struggle to make decisions, friends, or with negative self-talk? These are areas that we still need to work on in our faith.
Building Confidence in Your Child reviews why it’s common for children to have low self-esteem and how we need to change that as parents.
We need to anchor our children in Biblical values and show them that their confidence comes from Christ.
About the author: Dr. James Dobson was the original founder of “Focus on The Family” until 2010 and has focused on bringing Biblical truth to children and families since 1977.
To learn how to boost your child’s confidence click here.
12) Dad Tired and Loving It: Stumbling Your Way to Spiritual Leadership By:
Jerrad Lopes
About the book: Dads get tired too and need something that applies specifically to them, so this one for the Dad’s. Jerrad Lopes’ book helps Dads who are feeling both physically and spiritually tired to become revitalized in their faith.
He shares his own struggles as a Dad and how he worked through them.
About the author: Jerrad Lopes has a website called “Dadtired.com” that he uses to share his struggles with other Dad’s while also encouraging them through God’s word.
Click here if you’re Dadtired.
13) 8 Simple Tools for Raising Great Kids By: Dr. Todd Cartmell
About the book: If you’re needing some extra tools for your tool belt this book is for you. Todd Cartmell has 20 years of professional experience that he used to create the tools listed in his book.
He’s seen the benefits they’ve brought to other parents and even to his own children. This book is made for busy parents and has application tips that are quick and easy.
About the author: Todd Cartmell is a child psychologist who is also in love with the Lord. He shares his skills that he’s learned and developed with others to share with parents to help them learn the ins and outs of parenthood.
To buy his book click here.
14) Discipline That Connects With Your Child’s Heart By: Jim and Lynne Jackson
About the book: As a parent if you discipline your child you get looks from others, but if you don’t then you’re told you need to learn how to control your kids.
Instead of worrying about others, you have to find a way that works best for your kid.
The Jackson’s use their book to show you how to find what type of discipline will work for your kids. You’ll learn how to improve their behavior without having to be afraid of harming your relationship.
About the author: Jim and Lynne began focusing on teaching other parents after their own struggles in parents. They know how difficult it can be and want to help other parents find a healthy balance in their parenting journey.
Click here to get the book.
15) For Better Or For Kids By: Patrick and Ruth Schwenk
About the book: Are having trouble with prioritizing your marriage now that you have kids? For Better or for kids helps you to focus on your marriage in the midst of parenting.
Patrick and Ruth Schwenk remind you to keep your marriage centered on Christ to make it through daily struggles.
If you focus on each other for the strength you’ll end up with more struggles in your marriage. Relying on the Lord will help you to rely on a source that never runs dry.
About the author: Ruth Schwenk has her own blog titled “TheBetterMom.com” and focuses on Godly parenting.
To help you balance your marriage and parenting click here.
Honorable Mentions:
- Kids, Parents, and Power Struggles: Winning for a Lifetime
- Sleepless in America: Is Your Child Misbehaving…or Missing Sleep?
If you are looking for a book from God’s own Word I recommend reading the book of Leviticus. We often overlook this book because it does not seem applicable to us at first. However, the book of Leviticus will bring you sanctification to help you grow as a parent.
To the dads and moms out there know that you are so incredibly appreciated. You are doing an amazing thing by raising up a new generation of Christ-followers.
I know some days are really hard but don’t lose hope. Keep you’re eyes on Him. He is with you.