Today’s Open Heaven devotional carries a timely reminder for every parent, guardian, or anyone who has been entrusted with the life of a child: those little ones were God’s idea before they were yours. Pastor E.A. Adeboye opens with a deeply personal moment that reshapes how we pray over and parent the children in our homes. If you have ever felt the weight of raising a child and wondered whether you were doing it right, today’s word is for you.
Open Heaven for June 17, 2026
Topic: Children Belong To God
Devotional: Open Heaven (RCCG)
Date: 2026-06-17
Bible reading: Judges 13:6-14 (KJV)
Memory verse: Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. – Psalm 127:3 (KJV)
Many years ago, when my children were still little, one of them fell terribly ill. We had already made Jesus our Great Physician, so whenever anyone fell sick in our family, we would simply pray, and God would heal the fellow. In this instance, however, I prayed to God, worshipped Him, and did everything I knew to do for the boy’s health to be restored, but he did not get better. In my frustration, I asked, “Lord, why have You refused to heal my son?” and God responded, “He is your son; why don’t you heal him yourself?” I immediately realised my mistake and said, “I’m sorry, Lord, he is Your son; please heal Your son.” Within an hour, the boy was back on his feet, playing around.
Parents do not own their children; they are only caretakers. Children are gifts from God, so the owner of children is God Himself (Psalm 127:3); therefore, they are to be taken care of according to His will. Parents who fail to realise that their children belong to God will tend to raise them contrary to His plan. When an angel appeared to Manoah and his wife to tell them that they would give birth to a son, Manoah asked a crucial question that every parent should ask about the children God gives them:
…How shall we order the child, and how shall we do unto him? – Judges 13:12
Manoah understood that the child they were about to give birth to was from God and belonged to Him. He knew that he was limited as a person in knowing the best way to teach and nurture the child. After asking the crucial question above, the angel gave him and his wife specific instructions on what to avoid during her pregnancy, and how to raise the child after birth.
Parents should not lean on their understanding when raising children. They should not try to raise the children God has committed into their care the way others are doing it, because He has customised instructions for raising every child. If you are a parent, ask God to show you how He wants you to raise His child(ren) in your custody. Furthermore, don’t be tempted to own the child(ren) God has put in your care. Always involve Him in your decisions concerning His child(ren), and He will help you to raise them to fulfil His purpose for their lives, in Jesus’ name.
Source: Open Heaven (RCCG) — official devotional
Open Heaven Prayer Points for Today
These Open Heaven prayer points for today are original PrayerPrompt content — declarations and a reflection to turn today’s message into prayer.
Prayer Points
- Lord, shift my perspective — help me see every child in my home not as my possession but as a sacred trust You have placed in my hands.
- Father, just as Manoah asked for guidance, I ask You today: show me the specific, customised plan You have for each child You have committed to my care.
- God, forgive me for every moment I relied on my own wisdom, cultural expectations, or peer pressure instead of seeking Your face about how to raise Your children.
- Holy Spirit, be the lead parent in my household. Go before me in every decision — from discipline to education to the friendships my children keep.
- Lord, when sickness, fear, or crisis touches a child in my care, remind me quickly that I am approaching You as a steward bringing Your child to You, not as an owner demanding from You.
- Father, raise up children in our generation who know their God-given purpose early, because they were parented according to Your design and not the world's template.
- God, protect the children in our churches, communities, and nations from every influence that would pull them away from the destiny You wrote for them before birth.
- Lord, strengthen single parents, overwhelmed guardians, and grieving families — let them experience Your partnership in raising the children You have not abandoned.
Declarations
- I am a steward, not an owner — the children in my life belong to God, and I parent them in partnership with Him.
- I will not lean on my own understanding when making decisions about the children God has placed in my care; I will seek His face first.
- Every child connected to me is covered by the same God who designed them, and I trust His customised plan for their lives.
- I declare that my home is a place where God's voice is welcomed and His instructions for our children are obeyed.
- Because I acknowledge God in the raising of His children, He will direct my steps and ensure they fulfil every purpose He ordained for them.
Reflection
Take a quiet moment today and think of one child in your life — your own, a niece, a nephew, a student, or a child you mentor. Ask yourself honestly: am I raising or guiding this child according to what is convenient for me, or according to what God has actually shown me? The gap between those two answers is where today’s devotional lives. You do not need to have everything figured out; Manoah did not either. What you need is the willingness to ask the question he asked — and the humility to wait for the answer.
Pray With PrayerPrompt Today
Test Your Understanding
Answer these 5 questions on today's devotional, then see how you did.
