OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DATE: MONDAY OCTOBER 19TH 2026
TOPIC: SHIELD YOUR CHILDREN I
MEMORISE
Specially the day that thou stoodest before the LORD thy God in Horeb, when the LORD said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children. - (Deuteronomy 4:10)
BIBLE READING: DEUTERONOMY 6:6-14 (KJV)
6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.
9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
10 And it shall be, when the Lord thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not,
11 And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full;
12 Then beware lest thou forget the Lord, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.
13 Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.
14 Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you;
MESSAGE
Parenting is not an easy task; it is a demanding and challenging responsibility. The moment God gives a fellow a child, He has given that fellow an assignment, and the assignment is to train the child in a godly manner. Proverbs 22:6 says, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."
Nowadays, parents often allow television, social media, and other forms of entertainment to shape their children's lives. Sadly, what they do not know is that there are numerous evils out there waiting to destroy the lives of children all over the world. This is why parents cannot afford to be careless. They must ensure that they shield their children from the deadly and demonic influencers that are out to destroy them and make them deviate from God's purpose for their lives.
If you are a parent, then you are your children's first role model. Children are very observant; they typically remember what they see more than what they hear. They observe the actions of their parents at home and tend to replicate them. Therefore, you must ensure that you exhibit Christlike attributes at all times if you really want to train your children in the way of the Lord. I remember an occasion when a group of children were asked to sing a worship song each. When it was the turn of a particular woman's children, the three of them were unable to sing a worship song. I later discovered that their mother could also not sing a single worship song. Children typically imitate what they see their parents do, rather than what they are told to do.
Some parents live so carelessly that they make it easy for the devil to visit their children. For example, if a parent feasts on immoral pictures and videos daily, it will be hard to protect his or her children from the sinful influences of the world. Also, if a parent watches skits and videos where vulgar language is used, the parent will find it difficult to shield his or her children from corrupt speech.
Beloved, a city without walls cannot protect its inhabitants. If you are a parent, do not be like a city without walls for your children. Take your relationship with God seriously so that He can fortify, empower, and teach you how to train them up in the way they should go.
KEY POINT
Parents should exhibit Christlike attributes that their children can emulate.
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR MARK 14
HYMN 14 - O WHAT A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL DAY
1. O what a wonderful, wonderful day Day I will never forget; after I'd wandered in darkness away, Jesus my Saviour I met. O what a tender, compassionate friend He met the need of my heart; Shadows dispelling, With joy I am telling, He made all the darkness depart !
CHORUS
Heaven came down and glory fill my soul, When at the cross the Saviour made me whole; My Sins were washed away And my night was tuned to day Heaven came down and glory filled my soul!
2. Born of the Spirit with life from above Into God's family divine, justified fully thru Calvary's love, o what a standing is mine! And the transaction so quickly was made When as a sinner I came, Took of the offer Of grace He did proffer He saved me, 0 praise His dear name!
3. Now I've a hope that will surely endure After the passing of time; I have a future in heaven for sure, There in those mansions sublime. And it's because of that wonderful day When at the cross I believed; Riches eternal And blessings supernal From His precious hand I received.
