Jentezen Franklin Daily Devotional (September 3, 2025) Footprints That Lead Home.
“The righteous man walks in his integrity. Blessed are his children after him.” Proverbs 20:7
Sometimes the greatest way you teach your children is not in your successes but in your failures. They see you stumble, they see you wrestle with weakness, they see you mess up. But they also see you repent. They see you keep coming to church, keep coming to the altar, and keep coming to Jesus even after a hard week. That persistence preaches louder than any words you say.
You may feel like your shortcomings disqualify you. Yet God uses your humility as a teaching tool. When your children watch you fall and get back up, they learn that failure is not final when you turn to Jesus. The long view matters more than the moment. You are not just living for here and now; you are shaping a legacy. There is something better than heaven. It is seeing your family there with you. There is something worse than hell. It is realizing you led your family there through hardness of heart.
Think of David. He left behind songs of worship and the story of a giant slain. But perhaps his greatest legacy was Psalm 51, written after his deepest failure. In his repentance, he showed us that God forgives parents who fall short. He showed us how to return to the Lord with a broken heart and find restoration. That is a lesson your children need as much as any sermon you preach.
Like little ones taking their first steps, your children are following your footprints. They stumble, they fall, but they are watching the direction of your life. Every choice you make leaves a trail for them to walk. They will notice if you keep getting back up and if you keep pursuing Jesus. That is why the decisions you make matter. Grace covers when you fail, but grace is not an excuse to live in sin. You are shaping more than your own story; you are shaping theirs. So lift your heart today and choose life. Choose integrity.
Choose to leave a path worth following. God is moving in this generation, and your faithfulness plays a part in it.
Prayer: Lord, thank You that even in my failures You give me grace to stand again. Teach me to walk in integrity so that my children may be blessed after me. Let my life leave clear footprints toward You. Cover this generation with Your Spirit and keep us close to You. Amen.
