The perfect wife and mother is one who puts God first in her life. She will be a woman that God can work miracle power through to increase His blessings and favor for her family. Hundreds of scriptures deal with this, so I've put together some of them to get you started. As you study these scriptures pray that God opens your mind and heart to the revelation that will fulfill the needs for you family now and in the future.

Knowing God's Word, along with prayer and obedience to what you know, will make you strong and stable as a wife and mother. No matter where you are in your walk with the Lord, this allows the Holy Spirit to intervene and help you to do the right thing when needed. With His direction, you can help each person in your family the same way Jesus helped thousands of people when he walked on Earth. You will have His eyes to see your family's needs even before those needs appear, His mind to solve their problems and to encourage them in every way that is right, and His strength to endure every trial. When you truly put God first and seek His ways, you may find you have more battles than other Christians around you. However, you have so much more of God's power that the victories are just overwhelming. I am always amazed at how God works things out for me. He does things so much better than I ever could. It's the only way to live! Obeying God's spiritual laws produces supernatural results with great harvests.

I have so many scriptures to refer you to that will allow the Holy Spirit to touch your life and strengthen you as a wife and mother. As you read them, look at each scripture as something very personal written from God to you. God's Word brings growth, and growth is change. When you treat the Word of God this way, the Holy Spirit can help to make the process of growing and changing easier, giving you strength to subdue the sinful nature all humans are born with, and lifting you up during times of struggle.

Because God is love (1John 4:16) we must use his love to reach others. As we learn God's ways, our families are strengthened though our relationship with God.

Romans 12:9-21 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer . Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary: " If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

2Corinthians 1:3-4 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort , who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God . Comfort from God reaches deep into a person's soul and lodges there, changing them forever. If we desire to comfort our families with the comfort God gives us, the answers we give them must come from God.

2Corinthians 5:17-21 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ , not counting men's sins against them . And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us , so that in him we might become the righteousness of God .

2Corinthians 6:14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers . For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever ? (Watch relationships that you have formed with non-Christians that they don't pull you away from God and the power to keep your family save in His arms.)

Ephesians 4:22-32 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness . Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. " In your anger do not sin " : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold . He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need . Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Ephesians 5:1-14 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality , or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving . For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person--such a man is an idolater--has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."

Ephesians 5:15-24 Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity , because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. (Complete fullness of the Holy Spirit is a gift. The Book of Acts describes how to receive that gift.) Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church , his body, of which he is the Savior. (This scripture says "as" Christ is the head. You do not let an unsaved husband or wife rule over you and pull you away from God.) Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

Ephesians 5:25-33 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church-- for we are members of his body. "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." This is a profound mystery--but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Ephesians 6: 1-4 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother"--which is the first commandment with a promise-- "that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth. "

Ephesians 6: Fathers, do not exasperate (i.e., anger) your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. (There are scriptures that instruct a parent to punish their children when needed, however, you will find that teaching them, praying with them, loving and respecting them will bring them to a place where they won't need to be punished very often.)

A mother is both a ruler and a servant in her own home. Ephesians 6 describes the way God expects those in service to behave, as if their service is to Him, and explains what God expects from those in charge.

Ephesians 6:5-13 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear (fear is to reverence) , and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free. And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him. Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms . Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground , and after you have done everything, to stand.

Armor Of God

Ephesians 6:14-18 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace . In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith , with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God . And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Test yourself continually against the scriptures because what you do is what your children and husband will do. I am a firm believer that the woman sets the tone in her home. That tone should reflect the love of God at all times. If a woman will not take the responsibility then the husband must make up for what the wife is lacking. Children need both parents, and when one parent fails to provide them with Godly direction, the other must make up the difference to save the children from the influence of Satan's evil.

Philippians 2:3-4 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves . Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Colossians 3:5-14 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry . Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other , since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator... Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another . Forgive as the Lord forgave you . And over all these virtues put on love , which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Colossians 3:15-21 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful . Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him . Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not embitter (make resentful, frustrate, torment) your children, or they will become discouraged . (Children need good explanations for everything. Take the time to teach them at the moment they need it; which is nearly every time they're in your presence.)

Colossians 4:2-6 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful...Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

1Thessalonians 4:11-12 Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands , just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

1Thessalonians 5:12-24 Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you . Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other . And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, (We're not thankful for the troubles that come our way in life, God doesn't send us troubles. We're thankful for his grace that never leaves us, and his strength to overcome.) for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not put out the Spirit's fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil . May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it . (The Holy Spirit wants to help you through every step of your Christian walk.)

Prayer is so important. God never forgets any part of any prayer you have prayed since you've been saved. 1Timothy 2:1-4 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone -- for kings (or these days, for our government officials) and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. (Our prayers for others also bring about blessings for us and our families.)

1Timothy 2:8-10 I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing . I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety , not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, (God is not against looking your best, but our looks is not to take priority over the things of God.) but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God .

1Timothy 3:1-13 Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer , (We should all desire to be as holy as an overseer to please God.) he desires a noble task. Now the overseer must be above reproach , the husband of but one wife (or wife of only one husband) , temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect . (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap . Deacons, likewise, are to be men (or women) worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience . They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons. In the same way, their wives are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything. A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well . Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.

These are qualities that are close to God's heart. We should strive to be what He likes.

1Timothy 4:7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

1Timothy 4:11-12 Command and teach these things. Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.

Continue reading in 1Timothy Chapter 4, taking special note of anything that can pertain to your life and the lives of those you love. If you see something that is not pleasing to God, pray about it. God is listening. Your family watches everything you do and it's so important to set a good example for them.

You don't have to end up being an elder, deacon, or even in a place of authority in a church but to be used by God to the fullest you need to make your path as straight and clear as any church leader would. Then God can use you when and where he needs you. When we learn to obey God's direction regarding how we treat others, we should start with our immediate family. That is the first step to being a good wife and mother.

Read the book of 2Timothy next . It has many good scriptures that will build you up in the Lord. I found these two scriptures particularly uplifting:

2Timothy 2: 3-5 Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs--he wants to please his commanding officer. Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules. (Don't live your Christian life as though you belong to the world, live according to the Word in spite of how you feel or the circumstances that surround you.)

2Timothy 2:14-15 ... Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth (The Bible) .

Next read the short book of Titus . This is anther wonderful book filled with instructions from the Lord that will bless you and your family.

Putting into action what you know and setting an example for others will bring about maturity in your life. Every Christian should teach others; the more you know, the more you have to teach. Never stop teaching, people's eternity can be changed by what you say and do.

Hebrews 6:1-2 Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity , not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. (Repent of any mistakes you make after being born again and learn from those mistakes. Move on into a deeper knowledge of the Word of God, becoming someone who can help others into the Kingdom.)

Now continuing reading Hebrews chapters 11, 12 and 13. They will be great for giving you strength and knowledge. Also, read the Book of James, 1st and 2nd Peter, and 1st and 2nd John. I consider them as "must read" books for every Christian.

Now you are ready to start in the Book of Proverbs in the Old Testament. As you study the Book of Proverbs you will see the importance of God's ways especially in getting wisdom from His Word. Many of these scriptures express the reward or penalty for people's actions; which are for sinners as well as Christians. There are scriptures describing the characteristics of what a person should be; how to think, how to feel and act; scriptures like:

Proverbs 14:1 The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.

Proverbs 14:21 He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who is kind to the needy.

Proverbs 10:27 The fear (to reverence, honor, great respect) of the Lord adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.

I pray that God will richly bless you and your family. The series I have just started, "How To Solve Problems Using God's Power", should be helpful in the future for you.