How to Grow in Godly Character

We need to encourage the growth of godly character in our kids. Positive feedback and gentle correction go a long way toward developing character as we raise them.

Why is it important to know how to plant seeds of encouragement and grow godly character in your children? Encouragement motivates right behavior far more effectively than constant criticism and correction.

I don’t know about you, but I was often quick to notice the negative behavior in my children and point it out—but much slower to recognize and praise their good behavior.

Mardy Freeman, in Children of Character, says it this way:

“If getting to the root of a problem is like pulling weeds from a garden, then praising character is like watering it. Both weeding and watering are necessary for healthy growth, but watering is much less work.” (p. 81)

Practical Ways to Encourage Godly Character in Your Kids

Here are some simple but powerful ways to plant seeds of encouragement and help your kids grow in godly character. I was so focused on helping my children develop Godly character that I often failed to see, let alone acknowledge, their efforts.

I remember one day in particular when one of my girls was having a rough day, and I kept correcting her over and over. All of a sudden I realized how much I had been getting after her, and I realized that if I didn’t find something positive to say, she was going to get discouraged and give up.

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I realized that in little small ways she really WAS trying to improve in the areas of character that we had been working on. The problem was that my focus was on what I saw wrong, rather than what I saw that was right.

Do you ever struggle with that?

How do you plant seeds of encouragement and grow Godly character in your children?

1. Ask God to help you see the good in your children.

If you have a difficult child, sometimes it is HARD to find something to encourage them about.

Ask God to show you something – anything – that indicates they truly do desire to do better, and are trying. Look more at their heart than their behavior. Encourage them for their desire to try to improve.

Say Goodbye to Whining, Complaining, and Bad Attitudes... in You and Your Kids Passionate Parenting: Enjoying the Journey of Parenting Teens Solving A Crisis in Christian Parenting: Why so many prodigals?[(Child Training Tips : What I Wish I Knew When My Children Were Young)] [By (author) Reb Bradley] published on (August, 2014)

When you see that effort to show character, let them know that you noticed, and encourage them for making progress.

2. Let them know what pleases you.

When you see a child being kind, showing initiative, or trying to do better in whatever you have been working on, let them know how pleased you are!

Kids LOVE to please their parents, but often we make them feel like they just can’t please us! They never hear those positive, encouraging words they long for.

Encourage them and let them know how happy you are with the little or big steps of growth. They will try to repeat it, knowing that it makes you happy, and that it pleases God when they grow in character.

3. Brag on their character growth to your spouse when they can hear you.

When your spouse comes home from work, say something along the lines of “Guess what (child’s name) did today?! She obeyed right away with a good attitude when I asked her to __________. She was SO obedient!”

4. Use charts to keep track of their progress.

Charts are a great way to keep kids motivated and are a great way to keep track of the progress that your kids are making in their character growth. They will help you know how your kids are doing in different areas of character, and also help to keep them encouraged and motivated.

We created and used character charts when our children were young, and then had character celebrations to celebrate their progress. You can read how we did that in this post: Character Charts To Encourage Growth.

You can sign up below to get a free download of the character charts:

Nothing is more discouraging than feeling like you aren’t making any progress in an area, or that no one is aware of your efforts. Your children will blossom when you recognize their efforts and praise them, so make sure to plant seeds of encouragement daily!

Encouraging Growth Of Godly Character

Growth happens in small, daily steps. Nothing is more discouraging for kids than feeling like their efforts aren’t noticed. But when we take time to encourage—even in little ways—they blossom.

Simple Character Developing Challenge:

1. Ask God to help you see the efforts your children are making today.

2. Praise each of your children for at least one area of character that you see them growing in today.

3. Print the character charts, and begin to use them.

Frequently Asked Questions About Growing Godly Character

What does the Bible say about building godly character?

The Bible reminds us that character is shaped through trials and daily choices. “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope” (Romans 5:3–4, ESV). God uses both encouragement and correction to form Christlike character in us.

How can parents model godly character?

The best way to teach character is to live it out. Show honesty, kindness, forgiveness, and patience in your everyday life. When you fail, let your kids see you admit it and make it right. Modeling humility and integrity teaches more than lectures ever could.

How can I help my child build resilience after a setback?

Encourage your child to see mistakes as opportunities to grow. Remind them of Philippians 4:13 (ESV): “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Celebrate effort, not just results, and point them back to God’s strength when they feel discouraged.

What are some practical ways to encourage godly behavior?

Praise your child’s efforts, not just outcomes
Celebrate small wins with words, hugs, or family recognition
Use visual tools like character charts to track growth
Pray daily with your child, asking God to help them grow

How do I encourage my child without spoiling them?

Encouragement focuses on effort, growth, and godly attitudes—not just rewarding results or giving material things. True encouragement points your child back to God and reinforces their identity in Christ, not just their performance.

Final Thoughts

Parenting with encouragement doesn’t mean ignoring correction—it means balancing correction with affirming the good. When we do this, we not only strengthen our children but also model what it looks like to grow in godly character ourselves.

If you’re wondering how to grow in godly character, the answer is simple: notice the good, water it daily with encouragement, and trust God to bring the growth.

Quick Takeaways

Encouragement motivates character growth more than criticism
Ask God to help you see the good in your child
Speak words of praise when you notice growth
Share their progress with your spouse in front of them
Use character charts to track and celebrate growth
Balance correction with daily encouragement
Trust God to develop lasting godly character in your children

More Resources for Growing Godly Character:

Did you miss the other posts in the series? Visit here to read more!

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