Open Heaven 14 May 2026: Mind Your Footprint 2
MEMORISE: A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.
READ: Matthew 7:16-20
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Read Other Open Heaven Devotional Here
If a fellow constantly takes the wrong steps in life, there is a high tendency that his or her children will do the same. However, if the fellow takes good steps in life by making the right decisions, his or her children will also have a greater chance of taking good steps in life. This is because children naturally follow their parents’ footprints.
For example, in society today, there are many men who, despite hating their fathers for beating their mothers, have become wife-beaters themselves. This is because the moment their fathers opened themselves up to the spirit behind that violent and evil act, they allowed that spirit to have access to their sons also. Years ago, a single mother asked my wife to speak to her daughters to stop engaging in illicit relationships with men. When my wife started speaking to the girls, one of them said, “Please, counsel our mother to also stop bringing all sorts of men to the house.” The daughters were only taking after their mother, and they knew that as long as she continued in that behaviour, it would be difficult for them to stop.
If you want to be a good parent, decide today to leave a good legacy for your children to follow. Don’t become a bad example to them; rather, determine to be the kind of parent they can look up to and emulate. Some parents think they can do certain things in secret without their children knowing, but believe me, children know far more than people think they know. They can sense many things that are going on around them.
Sometimes, children inherit certain traits from their parents even before they are born. For example, in Genesis 20:2, Abraham lied to Abimelech that Sarah was his sister. Several years later, Isaac, who had not yet been born when Abraham lied to Abimelech, repeated the same lie (Genesis 26:7). Isaac’s son, Jacob, continued the pattern of deception when he stole his brother’s blessing by lying to his father (Genesis 27:1-29), while Jacob’s sons conspired to deceive their father about what happened to Joseph, their brother (Genesis 37:31-33).
Beloved, don’t cultivate unhealthy patterns and habits because your children will be in line to inherit them from you, and unless God intervenes, such negative patterns will continue from generation to generation. Determine today to leave footprints of godliness and righteousness that your children can follow. I pray that the Almighty God will help you as you commit to this, in Jesus’ name.
REFLECTION
What kind of legacy do you want to leave behind for your children?
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
2 Chronicles 25-28
Open Heaven 14 May 2026
