OPEN HEAVENS FOR 17TH JUNE 2026
TOPIC: CHILDREN BELONG TO GOD
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MEMORISE:
Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. — Psalm 127:3
READ: Judges 13:6-14 (KJV)
Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, A man of God came unto me, and his countenance was like the countenance of an angel of God, very terrible: but I asked him not whence he was, neither told he me his name:
But he said unto me, Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, neither eat any unclean thing: for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb to the day of his death.
Then Manoah intreated the Lord, and said, O my Lord, let the man of God which thou didst send come again unto us, and teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born.
And God hearkened to the voice of Manoah; and the angel of God came again unto the woman as she sat in the field: but Manoah her husband was not with her.
And the woman made haste, and ran, and shewed her husband, and said unto him, Behold, the man hath appeared unto me, that came unto me the other day.
And Manoah arose, and went after his wife, and came to the man, and said unto him, Art thou the man that spakest unto the woman? And he said, I am.
And Manoah said, Now let thy words come to pass. How shall we order the child, and how shall we do unto him?
And the angel of the Lord said unto Manoah, Of all that I said unto the woman let her beware.
She may not eat of any thing that cometh of the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing: all that I commanded her let her observe.
MESSAGE:
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.
KEY POINT:
Parents must let God guide them in how to raise the children He has entrusted to their care.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Psalms 69-72
HYMN 33: GUIDE ME, O THOU GREAT JEHOVAH!
Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but Thou art mighty;
Hold me with Thy pow'rful hand;
Bread of heaven, bread of heaven,
Feed me till I want no more,
Feed me till I want no more.Open now the crystal fountain,
Whence the healing stream doth flow;
Let the fire and cloudy pillar
Lead me all my journey through;
Strong Deliv'rer, strong Deliv'rer,
Be Thou still my strength and shield,
Be Thou still my strength and shield.When I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears subside;
Death of death, and hell's Destruction,
Land me safe on Canaan's side;
Songs of praises, songs of praises,
I will ever give to Thee,
I will ever give to Thee.
About RCCG and Open Heavens
The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) is a global Pentecostal denomination founded in 1952 by Reverend Josiah Akindayomi and now led by Pastor E. A. Adeboye as General Overseer. Headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria, RCCG has spread to over 200 countries with millions of worshippers worldwide.
Open Heavens is the daily devotional of RCCG, written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye. First published in 2003, it has become one of the most widely read daily devotionals in the world. Each edition includes a memory verse, Bible reading, message, prayer point, and hymn. The devotional is known for its practical, Bible-based teachings that address everyday Christian living, spiritual warfare, and faith.
The devotional for 17th June 2026 reminds parents that children belong to God and must be raised according to His specific instructions, not merely human wisdom.
BRIEF COMMENTARY
Based on Open Heavens 17th June 2026 – "Children Belong to God"
Daddy Adeboye's Testimony: The Son Who Would Not Heal
In today's devotional, Pastor Adeboye shares a powerful personal testimony about his own child. One of his children fell terribly ill. The family had already made Jesus their Great Physician, so whenever anyone fell sick, they would simply pray and God would heal them. But this time, he prayed, worshipped, and did everything he knew to do, yet the boy did not get better.
In frustration, he asked, "Lord, why have You refused to heal my son?" God responded, "He is your son; why don't you heal him yourself?" Pastor Adeboye immediately realised his 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.
The moment he corrected his confession—from "my son" to "Your son"—the healing came. This is not magic; it is alignment with divine truth. God heals His own children. When you acknowledge that your children belong to Him, He takes full responsibility for them.
The Parent as Caretaker, Not Owner
The memory verse from Psalm 127:3 establishes the divine ownership of children. The word "heritage" (or "inheritance") indicates something given in trust, not something owned outright. Children are not possessions; they are a sacred trust from God. They are "His reward"—meaning God is the giver, and He remains the ultimate owner. Parents are stewards, caretakers, and guardians, but never owners.
Parents do not own their children; they are only caretakers. Children are gifts from God, so the owner of children is God Himself; 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.
Manoah's Model Question
When an angel appeared to Manoah and his wife to tell them they would give birth to a son, Manoah asked a crucial question that every parent should ask: "How shall we order the child, and how shall we do unto him?" (Judges 13:12).
Manoah understood that the child 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. He asked, and the angel gave him and his wife specific instructions on what to avoid during 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.
Every Child Has Customised Instructions
No two children are exactly alike. What works for one child may not work for another. Strict discipline may be needed for one, while gentle guidance works for another. Academic pressure may help one child, while vocational encouragement may be better for another.
God's instructions for raising a child may involve spiritual matters (setting the child apart from worldly patterns), educational decisions (choosing the right school or approach), social boundaries (protecting from certain friendships while encouraging others), vocational direction (revealing a path different from what parents assume), and discipline methods (finding the balance between breaking the spirit and being too lenient).
If you are a parent, ask God to show you how He wants you to raise His child(ren) in your custody.
How to Raise God-Owned Children
First, change your confession. Stop saying "my child" as if you are the owner. Say instead: "the child God has entrusted to me" or "God's child in my care." Your confession shapes your mentality. When you speak of your children as God's property, you will treat them as God's property.
Second, ask the crucial question. For every major decision (and many minor ones), involve God. Ask Him: How shall I discipline this child? What school should they attend? What friends should I encourage or discourage? What gifts are hidden in them that I need to develop?
Third, receive specific instructions. Do not settle for general principles. Manoah did not ask for general parenting advice. He asked for specific instructions for this child. God gave them. Expect the same.
Fourth, follow the instructions even when they don't make sense. The angel's instructions included things that seemed unusual (no razor on the child's head, no wine for the mother during pregnancy). Similarly, God's instructions for your child may not align with what other parents are doing. Obey anyway.
Fifth, trust the true Owner with the results. When you acknowledge that your children belong to God, your anxiety decreases. You are not ultimately responsible for how they turn out—God is. You are responsible for obedience; He is responsible for the outcome.
Warning: The Danger of Owning Your Children
The temptation to own your children is strong. You carried them, birthed them, fed them, sacrificed for them. It feels like they are yours. But the feeling is deceit. They are His. He just let you borrow them for a time.
Don't be tempted to own the children God has put in your care. Always involve Him in your decisions concerning His children, and He will help you to raise them to fulfil His purpose for their lives.
Conclusion
Pastor Adeboye closes with a prayer that God will help you raise His children to fulfil His purpose.
Key Point from the Devotional:
Parents must let God guide them in how to raise the children He has entrusted to their care.
Action Steps
The ownership audit – examine your heart. Do you secretly think of your children as your property? Write down the areas where you have made decisions without consulting God. Confess the sin of ownership.
The Manoah question – set aside one hour this week to pray specifically for each child in your care. Ask God: "How shall I order this child?" Write down whatever impression, Scripture, or instruction comes to mind. Act on it.
The confession change – for the next 30 days, deliberately refer to your children as "God's child in my care" rather than "my child." Let your words retrain your heart.
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