45 ! This boy here is helped by God. From A to Z, it is God all the way.
Saints, Today, please help me Thank Him. Give Him all the glory on my behalf.
And proclaim this new year โThe year of The LORDโs favour.
The year of New Beauty. The year of Honour. In Jesusโ name. Amen.
GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST !
โto proclaim the year of the Lordโs favor.โโ
Luke 4:19 NIV
FEAR GOD 2
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. - (Proverbs 1:7)
READ: Daniel 1:8-20
Yesterday, I discussed some benefits of having the fear of God, and today I will discuss how having the fear of God can give you access to the secrets of His heart.
The Bible says in Psalm 25:14 that the secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him, and He will reveal His covenant to them. God shares His secrets with those who fear Him, just like we humans tend to confide in those who believe in us and hold us in high regard.
Abraham was someone who feared the Lord, and in turn, he was given access to the secrets of God's heart. When God wanted to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, He said, "...Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do," (Genesis 18:17). God can only say such about the people who fear Him because He knows that they will cherish His secrets.
Daniel was another person who gained tremendous insights because of how he feared and honoured God. He was taken into captivity at a young age, but his fear of the Lord led him to remain faithful to Him. The Bible says in Daniel 1:8 that he purposed in his heart not to defile himself with the portion of the king's meat. He honoured God by being faithful to Him even in a foreign land and also led his companions to do the same. God, in turn, honoured his decision by making him and his companions ten times better than their peers (Daniel 1:20). When the king had a dream that none of the magicians in the land could tell or interpret, God revealed it to Daniel (Daniel 2:19).
Beloved, when you fear God, you will never lack spiritual knowledge and insight because God will always make sure that you have access to it. Today's memory verse says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, and Psalm 111:10 also says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Everyone who feared the Lord in the Bible had access to uncommon knowledge. If you want to access that kind of knowledge, you have to fear God. If you want God to give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches in secret places, just as He promised in Isaiah 45:3, you must honour Him with your thoughts, decisions, and actions. I pray that the Almighty God will give you access to the secrets of His heart as you honour Him with your life, in Jesus' name.
KEY POINT:
Those who fear God have access to uncommon insights and knowledge.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Ezekiel 9-12
Open Heaven Devotional by Pastor E A Adeboye
NOTHING GOOD TO OFFER
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. - (James 4:7)
READ: Luke 11:24-26
The devil has two types of captives: the willing captives and the unwilling captives. An unwilling captive is someone who has entered either willingly or unwillingly into the trap of the devil but now wants to be delivered. Such a fellow will be set free from the devil's hold when an anointed child of God prays for him or her. A willing captive, on the other hand, is someone who also gets into the devil's hold either willingly or unwillingly but refuses to repent or be delivered because of the perceived benefits he or she is getting by serving satan. Even if such a fellow is forcefully delivered, he or she will return to the devil's camp, and this time around, the bondage will be much worse because the demon(s) that were previously cast out will be multiplied sevenfold (Matthew 12:43-45).
Many years ago, we discovered that a witch was among us in the church. We prayed for her to be delivered; however, she remained in bondage. We then asked her if she wanted to be free, and she said, "No. Do you want me to lose the power that I use to control my husband?" Such thinking is very unfortunate because those who serve the devil are headed for eternal damnation if they do not repent.
A woman whose children were dying one after the other went to seek help from a prophet because she needed him to pray to God for their protection. While waiting for him, his wife asked her why she wanted to see her husband. She explained why she had come, and the prophet's wife gave her a kolanut to eat, telling her it would solve her problem and that she didn't need to wait for her husband again. When she went to sleep that night, she suddenly found herself among some witches in the spirit realm. They welcomed her and promised to protect her children if she joined them. She agreed based on their promise, and after some time, it became her turn to supply the blood that the coven would drink. At that point, she surrendered her husband to be sacrificed. More time passed, and it became her turn again to supply blood. This time, however, the witches asked her to sacrifice her children. That was when she decided to seek God's help to save her children from the devil's plan. Thank God she came to the church, and God delivered her.
Beloved, the devil offers nothing good or lasting. For everything he gives, he takes a thousandfold in return. I pray that God grants you the grace to avoid his traps, and if he currently has any hold over you and you are willing to be set free, I decree your liberty now, in Jesus' name.
KEY POINT:
The devil has nothing good to give. Those who serve him are headed for eternal damnation.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Ezekiel 1-4
Open Heaven Devotional by Pastor E A Adeboye
GOD'S COVENANT OF PROTECTION
For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her. - (Zechariah 2:5)
READ: Psalm 91:1-16
The devil lures many people into evil covenants with the promise of protection; however, complete protection only exists in God. Romans 8:31 says, "... If God be for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:37 further says that we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us. This means that, if you are in a covenant with God, you will not have to fight any battle, because He will always fight for you. Many times, you would have won the battle before you even realise that someone was trying to attack you.
I ran away from my village after some people threatened that they were going to 'eat me for breakfast,' and for 13 years, I could not return. However, after I met the Lord Jesus Christ, I was able to visit my village, and I even attended a wedding where I saw many of the people who had threatened to kill me through diabolical means. I was much younger in the faith at the time, so I had a lot of zeal but not much wisdom. I was asked to preach at the wedding, and I delivered a powerful sermon that hit them hard with the word of God. Some months later, those people went to the mother of the lady who got married and told her that it was her daughter's wedding that provided a platform for me to insult them. They further said that they had been waiting for an opportunity for revenge, and the opportunity had presented itself now that her daughter was pregnant. They told her, "We will see if your daughter will give birth, unless we are not the ones in charge here on earth." The lady's mother became frightened and came to me. I told her not to worry and assured her that on the day her daughter would give birth, all those who had threatened her would fall asleep. To the glory of God, things turned out exactly as I said; her daughter gave birth while those who threatened her were sleeping. The baby they swore would not be born is now a medical doctor.
Beloved, God said that He will be a wall of fire around you in today's memory verse, and anyone who chooses to confront the Consuming Fire will not live to tell the story. Never be afraid of any force, person, or situation that threatens to harm you. Cry out to God in such cases, and He will show up to defend you and give you victory.
KEY POINT:
God is a wall of fire around those who are in a covenant with Him.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Jeremiah 49
Ooen Heaven Devotional by Pastor E A Adeboye
THE WEIGHT OF COVENANTS 1
My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. - (Psalm 89:34)
READ: Genesis 17:1-8
In today's Bible reading, God made a covenant with Abram and promised to make him a father of many nations, then changed his name to Abraham. God never lies, so all the promises that He made to Abraham were fulfilled. Numbers 23:19 says: "God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?" When God makes a covenant with a person, He always fulfils His part, and this gives the fellow access to everything he or she will ever need on earth. These things include long life, prosperity, favour, blessings, joy, peace, divine health, and everything good. The devil, on the other hand, is unable to keep any covenant he makes. He breaks his promises at will because he is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44).
People often enter into covenants with other parties to receive something from them, while also giving something in return. The real weight of a covenant, however, comes when one of the parties involved is unable to fulfil their obligations. In most cases, a heavy weight of death is the consequence for breaking a covenant.
When people join secret societies, they enter into covenants. When they do not do the things they are asked to do in the group, the penalty is usually death. You might be asking yourself, "Why would anybody want to join a cult knowing that it could lead to their death?" Some people claim that they join secret societies because they need protection, while others say that it is for prosperity and other benefits. It is important to note that the devil lures them into such societies with the promise of those things, but in return, he takes their souls and destroys them. What shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul (Matthew 16:26)? A soul is too heavy a weight for anyone to surrender to the devil.
Beloved, do not allow the devil to tempt you into establishing an evil covenant with empty promises, and if you have entered into any covenant with hell and signed a pact with satan, Jesus can set you free if you run to Him. He will not cast away anyone who comes to Him (John 6:37). I pray that the Lord will establish His covenant of peace with you and your household, in Jesus' name.
KEY POINT:
Any covenant that is made with the devil is based on lies.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Jeremiah 33-36
Open Heaven Devotional by Pastor E A Adeboye
THE ANOINTING IS NOT FOR SALE
Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. - (Matthew 10:8)
READ: 1 Peter 5:2-4
When God anoints a person, He expects him or her to use the anointing to edify His people and spread the gospel. As we see in today's Bible reading, God does not want the anointing to be used for personal gain.
I often tell the pastors under my supervision that when God uses them to perform a miracle, they must never demand or expect any reward from the person who received the miracle. In today's memory verse, Jesus told his disciples that they had received the anointing freely and they should also give it out freely. The One who performs miracles is God, not the people He has anointed. Therefore, you should never feel entitled to anything from anyone who gets a miracle from God through His anointing upon you. Some self-professing ministers of God even go as far as selling olive oil, water, handkerchiefs, and other similar items that they claim have been anointed to those who come to them for prayers. Such conduct reveals that they are hirelings who are looking to exploit God's sheep rather than being shepherds who should nurture and feed them.
Beloved, you are not to use the anointing that God bestowed on you to manipulate people. Some people demand that they should be called 'Father in the Lord' just because God has used them to heal headaches. Being anointed does not qualify anyone to become a lord over others; rather, the anointing ought to be used to serve people. Peter knew that such temptations would arise, which was why he told some church leaders in today's Bible reading to feed the flock of God willingly and with a ready mind. He also warned them not to use God's anointing upon their lives for selfish gain.
Jesus Christ, our perfect example, exemplified how to use the anointing God bestows upon a person. He went about doing good and healing those who were oppressed by the devil (Acts 10:38), and also served His followers (John 13:3-15). Beloved, like Jesus, use the anointing you have received from God to bless those He has sent you to; do not use it to exploit or victimise others. Jesus is the Chief Shepherd, and you will give an account of all the things He has given to you one day. Always remember that the anointing you have received from God is a tool to serve Him, edify His people, cater to their needs, and spread the gospel to the ends of the earth.
KEY POINT:
The anointing is not meant to be used for personal gain but to serve the will and purpose of the One who gave it.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Jeremiah 18-21
Open Heaven Devotional by Pastor E A Adeboye
NOT BY MIGHT
Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. - (Zechariah 4:6)
READ: Ecclesiastes 9:11-12
What a person will become during his or her sojourn on earth will not depend solely on the fellow's efforts. African elders have an adage that says, 'Hustling and bustling does not translate to wealth.' This is true because, for instance, dockworkers who offload cargo from a ship from sunrise to sunset typically would earn only a fraction of what the Chief Executive Officer of a wharf, who sits in an air-conditioned office, sipping tea and merely signing documents, would earn. At the end of a month, the fellow's salary might even be more than what a hefty, hardworking dockworker will earn in a whole year!
Today's Bible reading makes it clear that the fact that a fellow can run swiftly does not mean that he or she will win a race, and the fact that a fellow is strong does not mean that he or she will defeat an enemy. The passage goes on to say that bread is not to the wise, neither are riches to men of understanding. This means that a fellow's advanced level of education alone will not determine how wealthy he or she will become.
I recall that I was in Redemption Camp (now Redemption City) sometime between 1983 and 1984, spending time alone with God, and crying to Him. I said, "God, I'm not asking for clothes, a car, or a house. I was minding my business as a lecturer at the university when You asked me to come and serve You. I agreed, and I really want to serve You; however, I need power to do Your work. I don't want to be an ordinary pastor; I want to excel." In desperation, I added, "God, it is either You empower me, or You take me home." My prayer touched Him, and that night, the entire campground shook due to an earthquake that sent tremors as far as ljebu Ode, a town several kilometres away. The Lord visited me and empowered me with His anointing to excel.
Beloved, you need God's anointing to excel. It is God who gives power to get wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18), it is only His anointing that can teach you everything you need to know (1 John 2:27), and it is only through Him that you can do all things (Philippians 4:13). This is why you must cry out to God to anoint you just as I did several years ago. I pray that my Daddy will empower you to excel, in Jesus' name.
PRAYER POINT:
Dear Lord, please visit me and empower me to excel, in Jesus' name.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Jeremiah 9-11
Open Heaven Devotional by Pastor E A Adeboye
TOPIC: BE OPEN TO FEEDBACK
A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: - (Proverbs 1:5)
READ: Acts 18:24-28 (KJV)
MESSAGE:
In Yorubaland, where I come from, the elders have an adage that says, 'The lantern cannot see its own bottom.' What they mean by this saying is that, no matter how knowledgeable a fellow is, there are areas in the fellow's life that will be hidden from his or her view. This is why you must be willing to receive feedback from others who can see you more objectively than you can see yourself.
In Revelation 3:15-17, the Lord said that some people, according to their own judgment, believed they had everything going well for them because they were rich and appeared not to lack anything; however, by His own standards, they were wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.
If a person is too proud to receive feedback, people will see the fellow walking towards a ditch and leave him or her to fall into it. Proverbs 24:6 says that in the multitude of counsellors, there is safety. People who are open to corrections and feedback tend to escape many troubles, while those who think they know it all often stumble into avoidable problems.
Jesus is described as the wisdom and power of God in (1 Corinthians 1:24), yet when He came to earth, He sat under teachers, listening to them and asking them questions (Luke 2:46-47), and the Bible recorded that He grew in wisdom (Luke 2:52). He was also open to feedback, as we see in Matthew 16:13-16, where He asked His disciples to tell Him what other men, and even they themselves think of Him.
In today's Bible reading, Apollos was already an established teacher of the word before he met Aquilla and Priscilla. When they heard him teach, however, they recognised that he needed further insight and knowledge of God's word. As a result, they took him aside to expound the way of the Lord to him more perfectly. Submitting to their mentorship and feedback helped Apollos become a better teacher of the word, who mightily proved to the Jews through the Scriptures that Jesus is the Saviour.
Beyond submitting to mentors and being open to learning and growth, how a fellow receives and processes feedback will determine whether he or she will grow or remain stagnant. Beloved, if you want to grow in wisdom, you must be willing to humble yourself to listen and learn from others. You should also ask the Holy Spirit for guidance at all times. I pray you will continue to grow in wisdom and favour before God and man, in Jesus' name.
REFLECTION:
Are you open to learning from others and receiving feedback?
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Jeremiah 6-8
Open Heaven Devotional by Pastor E A Adeboye
HE WHO THINKS HE STANDS 1
Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness. - (Luke 11:35)
READ: 1 Timothy 4:13-16
(1 Corinthians 10:12) says that any man who thinks he is standing should take heed, or else he will fall. That tells us that a person can be standing today and fall tomorrow if he or she is not careful. Overconfidence can make someone who has been standing in the Lord for a long time fall. In my 53-year walk with God, I have witnessed many people fall due to overconfidence. They believe that because they have been standing in the Lord for a long time, they are now above certain temptations, and typically, such a mindset would make them careless.
As a Christian, the devil is watching you at all times; if you become careless in any area, he can use that to bring you down. I have heard some men of God boast that they can be in the same room with a naked woman, and nothing will happen. My question is, why is a man of God in a room with a naked woman that isn't his wife in the first place? If a man of God puts himself in such a position, he is already on the verge of falling. I always tell my children that under no circumstances should a man have a female secretary or personal assistant. This is because the man will spend long hours working with the fellow, possibly into the night at times. If such a man places so much confidence in his ability to resist temptation, it may eventually become his undoing.
Overconfidence has also led many people to ignore the basics of their salvation. For example, some ministers of God believe that some Bible study meetings are now beneath them because of their anointing. Some others believe that they don't need to listen or take notes when someone they consider to be below them in hierarchy is preaching. Some even hold other meetings during praise and worship sessions. Actions like these show overconfidence and often lead to a fall.
Beloved, never allow yourself to become overconfident in your walk with God. Do not let any exploits that you may have done in the past distract you from following the basics of your salvation. You can never outgrow walking circumspectly, studying the word of God, fasting, and fellowshipping with other believers. No matter your level of growth in the Lord, you can't outgrow these things. I pray that the Almighty God will keep you standing in Him unto the end of your race here on earth, in Jesus' name.
KEY POINT:
No one can ever outgrow the basics of salvation.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Jeremiah 1-3
Open Heaven Devotional by Pastor E A Adeboye
OVERCOMING TEMPTATIONS 3
And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. - (Luke 6:12)
READ: Matthew 26:37-41
This statement 'A prayerless Christian is a powerless Christian' is not a direct quote from the Bible, but I have found it to be very accurate. If you don't make prayer your lifestyle, you will be too weak to overcome the devil's temptations when they come. In Matthew 26:41, Jesus told His disciples:
Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Some people claim that they want to live above temptations, but they always find themselves failing. If you check carefully, many individuals who face this challenge often have a weak prayer life. Even though they desire to live a holy life, they are too weak to withstand the devil's temptations because they are not prayerful. For example, Peter failed to pray sufficiently at the Garden of Gethsemane, so it was not surprising that he denied Jesus three times after he had claimed that he was willing to die with Him. If Jesus had not prayed for Peter, the devil would have succeeded in sifting him away (Luke 22:31-32,39-46).
As a Christian, you must gather strength in the place of prayer to remain standing when temptation arises. Proverbs 24:10 says that if you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. People who sleep when they ought to pray will faint in the day of adversity because they didn't build strength in the day of peace. Every human being will face a day of adversity. Jesus faced His at Golgotha, but He was well prepared for it. Before His crucifixion, He prayed intensely to the point that His sweat was as great drops of blood (Luke 22:44). Therefore, when Judas betrayed Him, Peter denied Him, and the other disciples deserted Him, He responded with love and kindness. Even when He was crucified, He asked God to forgive those who crucified Him (Luke 22:34). Only someone who has developed spiritual strength and stamina in the days of peace can respond like Jesus did in the day of adversity.
Beloved, do you know why Apostle Paul urged you to pray without ceasing in (1 Thessalonians 5:17)? It is because you have a relentless foe, the devil, who will tempt you without ceasing. However, being a prayerful Christian will give you a constant edge over him and ensure that you are not caught unawares in any way. Like the apostles in Acts 6:4, give yourself continually to prayer. May the Almighty God continue to strengthen you, in Jesus' name.
ACTION POINT:
Take time to assess your current prayer life and commit to making the necessary adjustments where needed.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Isaiah 64-66
Open Heaven Devotional by Pastor E A Adeboye
OVERCOMING TEMPTATIONS 2
Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: - (Ephesians 6:16-17)
READ: Psalm 119:9-17
A believer who does not study the Bible regularly will not know the right way to respond to temptations, and hence, will keep falling in and out of sin. I know this because Jesus overcame all the temptations of the devil by quoting the Scriptures (Luke 4:1-12). From our memory verses for today, we see that after faith and salvation, a believer needs to take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Any Christian who does not study his or her Bible regularly is a soldier who is without a sword. The word of God is both a weapon of offence and defence against the temptations the enemy throws at you.
David said in Psalm 119:11:
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
The verse above tells us that to overcome sin, a person's heart must be filled with the word of God; therefore, you must keep studying the word of God and meditating on it at all times. Living according to the word of God sets us apart from the world and makes us sanctified vessels unto God (John 17:17). As you keep studying God's word and obeying it, you will discover that the things of the world that used to entice you are no longer enticing to you. When the devil comes to offer you those things, you will be able to respond, "It is written," and he will have to leave you alone for a while. God's word empowers you to be sensitive to the traps of the devil and overcome them. The more you immerse yourself in God's word, the more fortified you will become against the devil's attacks.
Proverbs 1:17 says that it is vain to spread a net in the sight of any bird. Just as a bird will not enter a net that it knows to have been spread to capture and kill it, God's word will make you sensitive to see the traps of the devil. It is your victory kit over satan's wiles. Do not neglect your weapon of victory; study your Bible constantly. Know God's word concerning every aspect of your life so that when the devil tries to deceive you in any area, you will know what has been written about it and be able to use that knowledge to shut him up. At that point, sin will no longer have any power over you.
KEY POINT:
God's word is your defence and victory kit over temptations.
Open Heaven Devotional by Pastor E A Adeboye
OPEN HEAVENS 2026 DEVOTIONAL
DATE: TUE, JUL 28, 2026
TOPIC: HEAVENLY HOME
MEMORISE:
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am am, there ye may be also. - (John 14:3)
READ: Revelation 21:1-11 (KJV)
MESSAGE:
Yesterday, I mentioned that some people treat the earth as their home and final resting place. There is, however, another set of people who see heaven as their home and conduct their lives in a way that ensures they will end up there. I am one of such people. I also mentioned yesterday that the earth and everything inside it are temporal. In Revelation 21:1, the Bible says that this earth will pass away someday, then verse 2 says:
And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
The Scripture above makes us understand that when the earth passes away, people who did not take the earth as their home, those who remained faithful to Jesus Christ, the Husband of the Church, will be in a new Jerusalem that will descend from God out of heaven. When you read the passage in today's Bible reading further, you will find out that as genuine Christians, we will dwell with God in the same city and be with Him at all times. There will be no more sorrow or weeping for us forever. This is why I do not mind sacrificing anything in this world as long as I make it to heaven. This is because I know that when I get there, it will be joy forevermore. Indeed, as Romans 8:35-39 says, nothing will ever separate me from the love of my Father, and I am determined to spend eternity with Him. This earth is not my home; therefore, nothing here is as important as my goal of making it to heaven. When people see me still going on long prayer walks at my age, travelling from place to place to preach the gospel, giving to the poor, and spending and being spent for God, they may not know it or understand it, but I am laying up treasures for myself in heaven because that is my final destination; that is my home.
I have been shown glimpses of heaven in visions a few times before. Anyone who has experienced the beauty of heaven will not desire to be anywhere else because God's glory lightens the city, and the Lamb is the light in it (Revelation 21:23). Beloved, do everything possible to ensure that you make it to heaven. I pray that I will see you there, in Jesus' name.
KEY POINT:
Do everything possible to ensure that you make it to heaven.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Isaiah 47-49
Open Heaven Devotional by Pastor E A Adeboye
EARTHLY HOME
While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. - (2 Corinthians 4:18)
READ: Isaiah 24:1-6
Many people today conduct their lives as if the earth is their home and final resting place. Such people focus solely on gathering treasures here on earth and practically worship material things. For them, the things that they see and own are far more important than everything else. They want to drive the best cars, live in the biggest houses, eat the most exotic foods, and gather as much money as they can at all costs. All they care about are vain things, and nothing else matters to them.
The Bible tells us in James 4:4 that friendship with this world is enmity with God. This means that anyone who loves the things of this world more than anything else, cares so deeply about material things, and is willing to do practically anything to acquire material possessions is an enemy of God. The same Scripture refers to such a fellow as an adulterer or adulteress. This is because, as Christians, God, our Maker, is our Husband (Isaiah 54:4), and He is the One who owns us. Therefore, if someone or something else succeeds in taking our hearts away from our Husband, we are committing adultery.
Beloved, I would like you to read today's memory verse carefully and ensure you memorise it. I would love it if you could make it your watchword henceforth, because it is important to understand that all the things you see around you are temporal. For instance, a car that used to be flashy ten years ago is no longer flashy now. Likewise, the most sophisticated phone ten years ago has become outdated today. The things of this world are temporal and have no eternal value. However, the devil uses them as bait to distract people from things that are truly valuable and those that have eternal consequences. For instance, many young ladies have been lured into engaging in illicit sexual activities because they want to use the latest phones and wear the best clothes. They traded their virginity for material possessions, and they can never recover what they have lost, whereas they can lose what they thought they gained.
Child of God, take heed to the words of Jesus in Mark 8:36-37. Nothing on earth today is as valuable as your soul, and nothing is worth losing your soul in hell over. Don't fall for the devil's lies; keep your focus on God and His kingdom rather than the things of the world. Earth is not your home; you're only passing through!
PRAYER POINT:
Father, please help me to fix my eyes on You alone and not on the things of the world, in Jesus' name.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Isaiah 44-46
Open Heaven Devotional by Pastor E A Adeboye
#Pray Almighty Father, breaks all bars, dissolves all chains, opens all prisons. Send Your power of deliverance to set free all those with issues of depression, mental illnesses and insanity in Jesus Name. #Amen
HE FIGHTS YOUR BATTLES
The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name. - (Exodus 15:3)
READ: Deuteronomy 20:1-4
I am always praising God, and there are several reasons I do so and will continue doing so. One of the reasons I always give praise to the Almighty is that He always fights my battles for me. He is the Mighty Man of War, as today's memory verse tells us.
While I was a lecturer at the University of Ilorin in Kwara State, Nigeria, I would often return home from the school campus in the afternoons to have lunch and rest for a while before returning for my evening lectures. One particular afternoon, I finished my lunch and lay on the couch in the living room to rest. At that time, I was also the pastor of a parish, and many people would often come and go from my living room. I knew that if anyone saw my eyes closed, they would think I was sleeping and wouldn't bother me, so I closed my eyes, put my hands together and put them under my head like a pillow. Suddenly, someone came into the room and grabbed my hands with one hand and my legs with the other hand while attempting to kiss me. At first, I thought it was my wife, but I realised that a person who could hold my hands and legs at the same time must be very tall, so it couldn't be her. I opened my eyes, and the being vanished. Instantly, I felt a cold sensation all over my body. I got up, got into my car, and drove to the campus for my evening lectures. Not long after, I began to vomit and pass stool at the same time. When I returned home, I had to crawl out of the car to go to the toilet, and I asked, "Daddy, what is this? I am Your son. Why is this happening to me?" God replied, "Son, I just want you to see a little bit of the battles I am fighting for you."
Many people think that they are alive because they are wise. However, if God allows them to experience a little bit of the battles He fights for them daily, they will know that they are alive only because of His grace. Beloved, you are alive today, not because you can keep yourself alive, but because God is fighting your battles for you. This is why you must thank Him always. He neither slumbers nor sleeps (Psalm 121:4), and that is why He can fight your battles even when you are asleep.
PRAYER POINT:
Father, I thank You for fighting my battles for me, in Jesus' name.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Isaiah 41-43
OPEN Heaven Devotional by Pastor E A Adeboye
PUT JESUS FIRST
I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. - (Psalm 16:8)
READ: 1 Kings 17:8-16
One of the ways that believers can preserve and maintain their position as children of God is by putting Him first in everything. In Genesis 22:1-18, God tested Abraham to find out who was more important in his life: God's gift to him (Isaac) or the Giver of the gift (God). He asked Abraham to sacrifice his only son, and he passed the test. Abraham put God first and chose to obey Him. He knew that the God who quickened his dead body to bear a son could also raise his son from death (Hebrews 11:17-19). When he passed the test, the Almighty God made a promise to multiply him exceedingly, and today, Abraham's seed can be found everywhere. When you put God first, He will single you out for mighty miracles.
In today's Bible reading, a man of God met a widow and asked her for food. The widow responded that all she had was just enough for her and her son to make one last meal before they die. However, she eventually gave up the meal to feed the prophet, and for the rest of the famine, she and her son didn't suffer hunger. In Luke 4:25-26, the Bible tells us that there were many widows in the land of Israel whom Elijah could have been sent to at that time. However, I believe that God singled her out for an unending supply because He knew that she would put Him first.
One way to put God first in your life is to give Him your firstfruits. I find it surprising when some people struggle to offer their firstfruits to God. In Proverbs 3:9-10, God says that when you honour Him with your firstfruits, your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine. You cannot put God first in your finances and experience scarcity or lack. Just do as God has said and leave the rest to Him.
Another way to put God first is to make His priorities your priority. One of the most important things to God is the salvation of souls. In Luke 19:10, Jesus said that He came to seek and save the lost. Winning souls and making disciples are important to God; therefore, they should be important to you also. Beloved, tell others about Jesus today, and become actively involved in their spiritual growth. Go the extra mile to ensure that someone else follows Jesus, and the Almighty God will single you out for His marvellous miracles.
PRAYER POINT:
Father, please help me to put You first in every area of my life, in Jesus' name.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Isaiah 38-40
Open Heaven Devotional by Pastor E A Adeboye
SUSTAINING YOUR FREEDOM 2
Serve he LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. - (Psalm 100:2)
READ: Luke 17:12-19
Yesterday, I discussed how a fellow who has been delivered must praise God to sustain his or her freedom. Today, I will discuss thanksgiving, perpetual worship, and genuine service to the Lord as steps a person must also take to maintain his or her freedom.
In today's Bible reading, ten lepers cried unto Jesus for mercy, and He told them to go and show themselves to the priests. As they went, they discovered that they were healed, but only one of them returned to say "Thank you" to Jesus. He returned praising and glorifying God with a loud voice. He was not shy about giving thanks to God, and Jesus gave him an extra miracle; He made him whole. An African adage says that a child who is grateful for a gift he or she receives today will definitely receive more gifts in the future. When you give thanks to the Almighty God for what He has done for you, beyond retaining what He has given you, you will also position yourself to receive more from Him.
Worshipping God perpetually is another step to sustaining deliverance and freedom. In (2 Kings 5:1-17), God delivered Naaman from the yoke of leprosy. After his deliverance, Naaman made up his mind that he would only worship the Almighty God for the rest of his life, and I am sure that his deliverance remained permanent. You must also make up your mind that you will spend your life worshipping God and Him alone. You should also have a place where you can meet with God to worship Him regularly, regardless of its size or unconventional nature. I remember a time when the only place I could worship God without disturbance was in my bathroom. You should also ensure that your heart is always prepared to worship Him at all times.
Another key to sustaining deliverance and freedom is to serve God genuinely and wholeheartedly. When the Lord takes away a fellow's burdens, the fellow should serve Him with his or her whole heart and be committed in the place of service. In Mark 5:1-20, after Jesus had delivered the mad man of Gadara, He told him to go about preaching the gospel to his friends. When you submit yourself as a tool in the hands of God to expand His kingdom, the devil cannot possess you again. I pray that as you thank the Almighty generously, worship Him perpetually, and serve Him wholeheartedly, He will preserve your victories and increase His blessings in your life, in Jesus' name.
PRAYER POINT:
Father, please help me to cultivate a heart that thanks You generously, worships You perpetually, and serves You wholeheartedly all the days of my life.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Isaiah 35-37
Open Heaven Devotional by Pastor E A Adeboye