Raising a Christian family should be the priority of any believing parent. The mother plays a vital role in making this happen for her husband, her children, and her home. Here are 15 characteristics we can see from Scripture that a godly mother should possess.
#1 A Godly Mother Will Seek Knowledge
Proverbs 15:14 says, “The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly.”
This proverb can apply to anyone, but it is especially important for a mother. She should seek wise counsel, gaining knowledge and wisdom on how to handle every situation and become the best steward of her home and resources. She will then be most effective in helping her family grow and thrive. Alternatively, listening to foolishness instead of the things of God will lead to ruin apart from God.
#2 A Godly Mother Will Submit to Her Husband
Ephesians 5:22 says, “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.”
A mother’s role should be understood and applied through the lens of submission to her husband. The husband, likewise, will submit himself to his wife, seeking to serve her rather than dominate or exercise oppressive authority – that is also clear biblical teaching. However, submission to the husband is a blessing and honors God’s design and plan for a marriage relationship.
#3 A Godly Mother Fears the Lord
Psalm 111:10 says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!”
This precept is critical to understanding a right relationship with God. When we posture our hearts toward respect and awe for our Creator, we can praise Him properly and live our lives seeking His wisdom above all else.
#4 A Godly Mother Is Content with What God Blesses Her With
1 Timothy 6:6 says, “But godliness with contentment is great gain.”
It is not wrong to want good things for your family. It is not wrong to work hard, save money, and bless your children if you are in a position to do so. However, seeking material wealth is not the end goal in this life. If we can learn to be content whatever the circumstances, and seek godliness and righteousness as our primary goal, then we will have gained treasure in heaven.
#5 A Godly Mother Proactively Cares for Her Home
Proverbs 31:27 says, “She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.”
With a healthy balance of work spread out between the husband and wife, a godly mother will be sure to do her part in caring for her home. This can look different for every mother and every home – and can even shift over time as needs arise and change – but a mother should always seek the good of her home and family first.
#6 A Godly Mother Is Trustworthy
Proverbs 31:11 says, “The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.”
The most important human relationship a mother will have is with her husband. When she behaves in a trustworthy manner, and is respected and proves worthy of the faith placed in her, her husband has nothing to worry about. This honors him in that relationship, but also (and primarily) honors God through her faithful witness and living.
#7 A Godly Mother Does Not Seek External Beauty Alone
1 Peter 3:4 says, “But let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.”
The most beautiful part of a person is their heart and their spirit. A godly mother recognizes this; there is nothing wrong with an attractive appearance, but seeking that above godly character puts things out of balance. God says that a righteous heart is more beautiful and precious than what we look like on the outside.
#8 A Godly Mother Serves Her Family
Titus 2:4-5 says, “And so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.”
The book of Titus contains many wise standards for biblical living, including how we can build one another up in godliness. This portrait of a godly woman and mother is an excellent model to start with, leaning on the rest of Scripture for proper execution. The key here is knowing that your lifestyle will either exalt or revile the word of God; we should strive to honor God with both our words and our lives.
#9 A Godly Mother Gives Her Children Back to God
1 Samuel 1:27-28 says, “For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition that I made to Him. Therefore I have lent him to the LORD. As long as he lives, he is lent to the LORD.”
The story of Hannah is beautiful in her appeal to God for children, then her selflessness in returning her son Samuel back to God for service. She asked God for a son, then honored God’s command to return her firstborn son to God’s service, keeping the promise she had made to the high priest who blessed her for her prayers. Every mother that prays earnestly for her children should be willing to hand them back to God for whatever purposes He has for them.
#10 A Godly Mother Speaks Words of Wisdom and Kindness
Proverbs 31:26 says, “She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.”
Our words are powerful, and using them wisely is a hallmark of kindness and righteousness. When a mother speaks, she should be careful to consider the impact of her words, whether with a friend, a coworker, or especially her husband or children.
#11 A Godly Mother Has a Reputation for Holy Living
1 Timothy 5:10 says, “And having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work.”
It is possible to be known for good works that are devoid of God’s character, but what Paul is describing here is a life lived with God as the purpose and source of your actions. This reinforces what James said about our faith being recognized by our good works; we should live out our faith in tangible ways, so that God may be honored and glorified through them.
#12 A Godly Mother Fears the Lord
Proverbs 31:30 says, “Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.”
The things of this world will not last into eternity. This includes our appearance, our beauty, and our charisma and charm. People will always shift and change in how they respond and relate to us, but if we look to the Lord first above all else, then our other relationships will fall into place. We will stop taking things too personally, knowing that we have an assurance of love and peace from our heavenly Father.
#13 A Godly Mother Lives a Righteous Life
1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 says, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.”
This litany of precepts from Paul is brief but full of deep meaning. A godly mother can orient her life around worship and praise by rejoicing in all things, by continuing daily in prayer, by being grateful to God for His blessings, by yielding to His will, by opening herself to the movement of the Holy Spirit, by being receptive to the Word of God and testing her thoughts and feelings by its standards, by clinging to good things that come from God, and by running from every evil and temptation.
#14 A Godly Mother Looks to God First
Luke 10:41-42 says, “But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.’”
Martha and Mary have been painted as opposing pictures for how we should relate to Jesus: Martha is viewed negatively for her busyness and inattention to Jesus, whereas Mary is honored for simply sitting at His feet. However, both have positive points as well: Mary spent her time listening to her Lord, while Martha did what she could and what she was equipped to do to serve her guests. But Martha’s fault was her anxiousness; she worried about the tasks instead of focusing on God first.
#15 A Godly Mother Builds up Her House
Proverbs 14:1 says, “The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down.”
By looking to the Bible for guidance, and by praying for God’s wisdom, a godly mother will work together with her husband to build a solid foundation for their home and family. However, a foolish life that takes its eyes off of God will lead to destruction and downfall. We should be careful to avoid these pitfalls and try each day to look to God for His will in our lives; this will ensure that our homes and families are secure within His protection and peace.
Source: https://connectusfund.org/15-characteristics-of-a-godly-mother