RCCG Open Heaven 19 October 2026 Daily Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye – SHIELD YOUR CHILDREN I
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.
READ: Deuteronomy 6:6-14
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;Explore Faiths
RCCG OPEN HEAVENS 19 OCTOBER 2026 TODAY 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.Explore Faiths
PRAYER POINT
Father, please help me to be a godly example to my children,
and shield them from every evil influence, in Jesus’ name.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
Mark 14
HYMN: Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL 19 OCTOBER 2026 COMMENTARY
Today’s devotional, “Shield Your Children I,” begins a new series on parenting — and it is a wake-up call for every parent. Your assignment is to train your child(and children) in a godly manner.
But many parents today have handed that assignment over to television, social media, and entertainment. And the enemy is waiting to destroy children through those very channels.
Parents cannot afford to be careless. You must shield your children.
1. Parenting Is an Assignment from God
Parenting is not easy. But it is also a divine assignment. When God gives you a child, He is entrusting you with a life that has purpose. Your job is not just to feed, clothe, and educate that child — it is to train them in the way of the Lord.Explore Faiths
Many parents focus on their children’s academics, careers, and comfort — but neglect their spiritual formation. But the most important thing you can give your child is not a good school or a comfortable life. It is a foundation of faith. That is your assignment. Don’t outsource it.
2. You Are Your Children’s First Role Model
As a parent, you are your children’s first role model. Children are observant and learn by imitation. They remember what they see more than what they hear. They watch your actions at home and replicate them.
Daddy shares a story of a particular woman’s children, who could not sing a single worship song. Daddy later discovered that their mother could not sing one either. Children imitate what they see, not what they are told.
This shows that you cannot teach your children what you do not live. If you want them to pray, let them see you pray. If you want them to read the Bible, let them see you reading it. If you want them to worship, let them hear you sing. Your life is the lesson.Explore Faiths
3. A City Without Walls Cannot Protect Its Inhabitants
Daddy warns that some parents live so carelessly that they make it easy for the devil to visit their children. If a parent feasts on immoral pictures and videos daily, it will be hard to protect the children from sinful influences. If a parent watches skits with vulgar language, the parent will find it hard to shield the children from corrupt speech.
A city without walls cannot protect its inhabitants. If you are a parent, do not be like a city without walls for your children.
What you allow into your home through your phone, your TV, and your conversations becomes a gateway for your children. You cannot entertain darkness and expect your children to walk in light. Guard your gates. Build walls of prayer, holiness, and godly examples around your family.
Relating This to Your Everyday Life
Parenting is hard. There is no perfect parent. But there is a faithful parent — one who takes the assignment seriously, who lives what they teach, and who builds walls of protection around their children.
You cannot shield your children from everything in the world. But you can shield them by living a godly life before them, by praying for them daily, by filling your home with the Word of God, and by guarding what enters through your gates.Explore Faiths
Take your relationship with God seriously so that He can fortify, empower, and teach you how to train your children in the way they should go.
Action Steps
1. Live What You Teach — Your children are watching. Make sure your life at home matches the faith you profess. If you want them to love God, let them see you loving God.
2. Guard Your Gates — Be intentional about what enters your home through screens, music, and conversations. Build walls of protection around your family.
3. Pray for Your Children Daily — Commit to praying for each child by name every day. Ask God to shield them, guide them, and draw them to Himself.
Prayer Points
Father, I thank You for the gift of children and for the privilege of parenting. Thank You for entrusting me with this sacred assignment, in Jesus’ name.
Lord, forgive me for the times I have been careless as a parent. Forgive me for neglecting my children’s spiritual training or for living in ways that contradict Your Word, in Jesus’ name.
Father, make me a godly role model. Let my children see Christ in me — in my words, my actions, and my character, in Jesus’ name.
Lord, help me to build walls of protection around my children. Shield them from the demonic influences of this world — from bad influences, harmful content, and evil company, in Jesus’ name.
Father, I commit my children into Your hands. Draw them to Yourself. Let them know You and love You from their youth, in Jesus’ name.
Lord, give me wisdom to train my children in the way they should go. Teach me how to parent them according to Your will, in Jesus’ name.
Father, I decree that my children shall not depart from Your ways. They shall serve You all the days of their lives, in Jesus’ name.
