Category: Open Heavens Devotional

The Open Heavens 14 January 2026 devotional for today is WHAT IS MAN? IV

This is a daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

• Read: RCCG Open Heavens 13 January 2026 Devotional

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OPEN HEAVENS 14 JANUARY 2026 TODAY DEVOTIONAL

TOPIC: WHAT IS MAN? IV

MEMORISE:
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
1 Peter 5:7

READ: Philippians 4:4-7
4 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.
5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

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RCCG OPEN HEAVENS 14 JANUARY 2026 TODAY MESSAGE

Man is very special because he has the capacity to accommodate the Spirit of God inside him. This is such a magnificent thing because God is so big that heaven is His throne and the earth is His footstool (Isaiah 66:1), yet He decided to make Himself so little that He can dwell inside us (John 14:16-17).

In Exodus 25:1-2, God asked Moses to build a sanctuary to house His presence. However, after Jesus died for our sins, He made every child of God His temple. This means that if you are a child of God, He is living inside you, and everything that answers to God also answers to you. What a tremendous privilege!

I remember when I joined The Redeemed Christian Church of God. I thought I was a very wise man, after all, I was a university lecturer. We had many non-literate people in the church back then, and I used to look down on them.

However, one day, I thought to myself, “These people may not be educated, but they are always radiating joy while I am always worried about one thing or the other. They seem to be so much at peace, but there is always a storm raging inside me.”

I decided to give my life to Christ that day, and the first thing I experienced was peace. All my anxieties and worries vanished, and for the first time in my life, I was truly joyful. The joy I felt inside me was so much that the next morning, my boss in the office noticed that I was joyful without me saying anything to him.

Man was not originally made to be anxious about anything. It is the fallen nature that made us lose our joy. The good thing, however, is that Jesus came to restore us to the original plan of God. You will experience peace and joy when you become the temple of the Most High God because Psalm 16:11 says that in the presence of God, there is fullness of joy, and Philippians 4:7 says that the peace of God that passes all understanding will flood your heart indeed.

Beloved, if you have not yet accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, you cannot be a part of God’s original design. The Lord wants to come into your heart (Revelation 3:20), and l encourage you to let Him in. He will lift all your heavy burdens (Matthew 11:28) and you will begin to experience peace and joy like never before.

KEY POINT

When you understand your identity as God’s dwelling place, you will enjoy so much joy and peace.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Genesis 44-46

HYMN 27: WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL 14 JANUARY 2026 COMMENTARY

MEMORISE: 1 Peter 5:7
“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
This command reveals the heart of God towards His children: a call to transfer the entire weight of anxiety from our shoulders to His. It is not a suggestion but a spiritual transaction based on the certainty of His personal care. The act of casting is an intentional release, made possible because He is both able and willing to bear the load.

BIBLE READING: Philippians 4:4-7
This passage outlines the divine prescription for anxiety: rejoice in the Lord always (a choice of worship), practice gentleness (a posture of trust), pray with thanksgiving (an act of dependence), and receive the peace of God that transcends circumstances. Peace is not the absence of trouble but the presence of a guarding God.

The Indwelling God: The Source of Inexplicable Peace

Daddy Adeboye shifts the focus from external dominion to internal reality—the peace and joy that are the birthright of every genuine temple of God. He contrasts the restless, self-reliant intellect with the joyful simplicity of a Spirit-filled heart, using his own powerful testimony to illustrate that the presence of God within is the ultimate answer to the storms of anxiety.

1. The Astonishing Reality: God in You

From External Sanctuary to Internal Dwelling:
In the Old Covenant, God’s presence was localized in a physical sanctuary (Exodus 25:8). In the New Covenant, through Christ, every believer becomes that sanctuary (1 Corinthians 3:16). The Almighty, whom heaven cannot contain, has chosen to make His home in the human spirit. This is the foundation of supernatural peace—the Governor of the universe resides within you.

The Privilege of Divine Resonance:
“If you are a child of God, He is living inside you, and everything that answers to God also answers to you.” This is a profound truth of co-inheritance. Your prayers carry weight, your worship moves heaven, and your declarations have authority because they emanate from the dwelling place of the King. You host the Presence that commands all of creation.

2. The Testimony: The Exchange of Worry for Worship

The Bankruptcy of Intellectual Pride:
Daddy Adeboye’s testimony is striking. His academic accomplishments (a university lecturer) offered no defense against internal storms of worry. His observation of the “non-literate” believers revealed a superior reality: they possessed a peace and joy that education could not provide and circumstances could not steal. True wisdom is to recognize the source of that peace.

The Immediate Fruit of Salvation: Peace:
His salvation experience underscores that peace is not a later-stage reward; it is the initial, immediate fruit of the indwelling Spirit (Romans 15:13). The moment Christ entered his heart, the storm ceased. The anxieties and worries did not just lessen; they vanished, replaced by a tangible, observable joy that radiated without a word.

3. The Original Design: A Life Free from Anxiety

Anxiety is an Alien Invader:
Man was created to walk with God in the cool of the day, in perfect trust and fellowship. Anxiety is a fruit of the Fall—a symptom of separation from the Source of peace. Salvation is a restoration to that original design, where our souls find their rest in God alone (Psalm 62:1).

The Mechanics of Divine Peace:

• Source: God’s presence (Psalm 16:11).
• Means: Prayer and thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6).
• Nature: A peace that guards the heart and mind—a sentinel against anxious thoughts (Philippians 4:7).
• Evidence: Joy that is full and radiates outwardly, even without verbal testimony.

How to Cultivate and Guard Your Inherited Peace

Practice the Daily Transfer:
Make “casting your care” a conscious, verbal act of prayer each morning and anytime worry arises. Literally name the concern and say, “I cast this upon You, Lord, for You care for me.”

Choose Rejoicing as a Weapon:
Rejoicing in the Lord (Philippians 4:4) is not denial; it is defiance. It is choosing to focus on the unchanging character of your indwelling God rather than the fluctuating circumstances around you. This act of worship activates the peace that is already within you.

Maintain the Temple’s Purity:
Willful sin and disobedience create a disturbance in the peace of the temple. A clear conscience through daily repentance (1 John 1:9) is essential for maintaining an unhindered flow of God’s comforting presence.

Warning: Peace is Forfeited by Self-Reliance

The moment you try to be your own god, carrying your own burdens, you evict peace. Worry is practical atheism—living as if God is not present or does not care. The intellectual, like the pre-salvation Daddy Adeboye, often struggles most here because they are accustomed to solving their own problems.

Conclusion: Pray to Be Settled in His Presence

Pray this:
“Lord Jesus, I open the door of my heart fully to You. Come in and be my Lord. I exchange the heavy burden of my anxieties for Your easy yoke. Thank You for making my heart Your temple. Let Your presence within me be so real that worry finds no dwelling place. Flood my soul with Your inexplicable peace and fullness of joy. I cast every care upon You now, for I know You care for me. Let my life radiate Your peace, in Jesus’ name!”

Action Steps:

1. The Salvation Foundation: If you have never consciously invited Christ in, pray the prayer above. Your peace begins here.
2. The “Casting” Ritual: Each day, write down your top 3 worries on a piece of paper. Pray over them, then literally destroy the paper (tear it, burn it safely) as a symbol of casting them onto God.
3. Cultivate Thanksgiving: Keep a “Peace Journal.” Each evening, write down 3 specific things you are thankful for from the day. This trains your heart in gratitude, the antidote to anxiety.
4. Audit Your Influences: Identify one source in your life (news, a relationship, social media) that consistently robs you of peace. Take a proactive step this week to limit its access to your mind.

Remember: You do not find peace; you host the Prince of Peace. The storm is not your address; His presence is.
“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (1 Peter 5:7). Let it go. He’s got you.

Facebook: RCCG Live

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The Open Heavens 13 January 2026 devotional for today is WHAT IS MAN? III

This is a daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

• Read: RCCG Open Heavens 12 January 2026 Devotional

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OPEN HEAVENS 13 JANUARY 2025 TODAY DEVOTIONAL

TOPIC: WHAT IS MAN? III

MEMORISE:
But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Hebrews 5:14

READ: Psalm 82:5-7
5 They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.
6 I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.
7 But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.

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RCCG OPEN HEAVENS 13 JANUARY 2025 TODAY MESSAGE

Over the past two days, I discussed God’s original plan for mankind, which is to have dominion over the earth and everything in it. I also noted that some Christians are not operating in this God-given dominion because they have not grown spiritually as they ought to.

Another set of Christians who are not living in dominion as God intends are those who have grown spiritually but are still not conscious of the tremendous power they possess. They still fidget when the devil threatens them and see certain acts of dominion as being exclusive to ministers of God. However, the Bible says in Mark 16:17-18 that every believer can cast out demons, heal the sick, and operate in dominion as God intends.

Years ago, while praying, I said, “Lord, give me power to perform miracles for you,” and He responded, “Keep quiet. What have you used the power I have already given you for? Have you been baptized in the Holy Spirit?” I said, “Yes, Lord.”

He then continued, “What does Acts 1:8 say?” I quoted it to Him, and He responded, “Since the Holy Ghost has come upon you, then you have power.” I then said, “But I don’t feel powerful,” and He replied, “Did I say that the just shall live by feelings or faith?”

This happened in the middle of the night, and the next morning, I was asked to pray for a little girl who had been so sick that the doctors had given up on her. I was afraid that she would not be healed if I prayed for her, but I remembered my conversation with God and proceeded to pray for her.

While I was praying, the girl went limp. I immediately thought to myself, “I’m in trouble. It seems this girl has died.” When I finished praying and opened my eyes, I saw that she was sleeping. She had not slept for days, and when she woke up, she was completely healed. From that day on, I started using the power that God has given me to take dominion over situations.

Beloved, when power is stored without being used, it remains dormant. However, when it is used often, it grows. As Peter used the power he received from the Holy Spirit, he grew from having to drag a lame man to his feet (Acts 3:1-8) to his shadow healing the sick (Acts 5:15-16). The more you use the power God has given you as a believer, the more dominion you can exercise.

PRAYER POINT

The more you exercise your God-gen authority, the more it grows.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Genesis 42-43

HYMN 12: ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL 13 JANUARY 2026 COMMENTARY

MEMORISE: Hebrews 5:14
“But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
This verse reveals the pathway to spiritual maturity: it is not merely the passage of time, but the active exercise of one’s spiritual faculties through constant use. Maturity is proven by a discerning mind and a life that consistently applies spiritual truth to earthly realities.

BIBLE READING: Psalm 82:5-7
This psalm is a divine indictment against unjust “gods” or rulers who walk in spiritual ignorance and darkness. It contrasts their instability with the exalted inheritance of the righteous, declaring, “Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.” This points to the high calling and authority bestowed upon God’s covenant people.

The Crisis of the Unconscious Giant

Daddy Adeboye now addresses the second major hindrance to dominion: not a lack of growth, but a lack of consciousness and exercise of the authority already possessed. Many believers are like sleeping giants, possessing tremendous power but living in fear and hesitation because they are not awake to their own identity and arsenal.

1. The Dormancy of Delegated Power

Possession vs. Consciousness:
A believer can be baptized in the Holy Spirit (possess the power) yet live in spiritual timidity (lack consciousness of it). The problem is not the absence of power but the absence of a faith-filled awareness and conviction that “since the Holy Ghost has come upon you, then you have power” (Acts 1:8). This unconsciousness renders the power dormant.

The Tyranny of Feelings Over Faith:
God’s poignant question to Daddy Adeboye—”Did I say that the just shall live by feelings or faith?”—exposes a great enemy of dominion. We often wait for a feeling of power before we act, but faith operates on the fact of God’s Word. Dominion is exercised by faith, not by emotional confirmation.

2. The Divine Tutorial: Activating Stored Power

The Test of Immediate Obedience:
God’s response to the prayer for more power was a call to audit and use what had already been given. The subsequent healing of the girl was not just a miracle; it was a practical tutorial. Daddy Adeboye had to step past his fear (“I was afraid”) and act on the revelation he had just received. The power flowed when faith-action was taken, despite feelings.

From Theory to Territory:
The transition from knowing Acts 1:8 intellectually to seeing its manifestation physically is the birth of conscious dominion. That first miracle became a point of reference, breaking the paralysis of fear and launching a lifetime of exercising authority. Your first act of faith in a specific area breaks the seal on that aspect of your dominion.

3. The Law of Use: Power Grows Through Exercise

The Peter Principle of Increasing Authority:
Peter’s journey is the biblical blueprint: he began with a direct, physical action (“taking him by the hand… lifted him up” – Acts 3:7) and grew to a point where his very shadow carried healing virtue (Acts 5:15). The principle is clear: the faithful use of basic authority unlocks greater dimensions of grace. Dominion is a muscle that atrophies with disuse and expands with exercise.

“By Reason of Use”:
Hebrews 5:14 states that mature senses are trained “by reason of use.” Each time you command a sickness to leave, rebuke a spirit of fear, or declare God’s peace over chaos, you are not just solving a problem—you are doing a spiritual workout. Your “discernment” (ability to see from God’s perspective) and your “authority” (ability to enforce His will) grow stronger.

How to Awaken and Exercise Your Dominion

Audit Your Spiritual Assets:
Ask the Holy Spirit, “What power and authority have You already given me that I am not using?” Review the believer’s rights in Scripture (e.g., Mark 16:17-18, Luke 10:19, James 4:7). Acknowledge them as your present-tense inheritance.

Start with the “Little Girl” in Front of You:
Identify a situation in your life right now that seems “given up on” by the world’s systems (doctors, bankers, counselors). This is your training ground. Approach it not with fear, but with the conscious declaration: “The Holy Spirit in me has power over this.”

Create a “Faith-Action” Plan:
Deliberately plan to exercise authority this week. For example: “I will lay hands on and pray for every family member who reports feeling ill.” Or, “I will speak to the mountain of debt and command it to be removed.” Record the results and let them build your faith-consciousness.

Warning: Unused Authority Invites Oppression

Power stored is power neutralized. The devil is not afraid of a believer who knows the Word but never applies it as a command. Your hesitation and fear validate his threats. By not using your authority, you grant him illegal space to operate in your sphere.

Conclusion: Pray for Consciousness and Courage

Pray this:
“Holy Spirit, awaken me to the reality of the power within me. Forgive me for living by feelings instead of faith. I renounce all timidity and embrace my identity as a child of the Most High, endowed with authority. Today, I step out in faith. I will use the keys of the Kingdom You have placed in my hands. Exercise my spiritual senses through use; let my dominion grow from faith to faith, from glory to glory, in Jesus’ name!”

Action Steps:

1. Scripture Confession: Daily confess aloud: “I have received power. The Holy Spirit lives in me. Therefore, I have dominion over [name a specific area] today.” (Based on Acts 1:8).
2. The “First Use” Challenge: This week, consciously address a minor problem (a headache, a persistent worry, a conflict) with a direct, verbal command in Jesus’ name, as if you have the authority to do so—because you do.
3. Keep a Dominion Journal: Record instances where you consciously exercised spiritual authority, no matter how small. Note the process and the outcome. Review it monthly to see your growth.
4. Partner for Accountability: Tell a mature believer, “I am working on consciously exercising my spiritual authority. Ask me this week what situation I spoke to in faith.”

Remember: You are not waiting for power. You are deciding to use it. Every act of faith is a rep in the gym of your spirit, building you into a mature governor for the Kingdom.
“By reason of use have their senses exercised…” (Hebrews 5:14). Use it or lose it.

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The Open Heavens 12 January 2026 devotional for today is WHAT IS MAN? II

This is a daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

• Read: RCCG Open Heavens 11 January 2026 Devotional

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OPEN HEAVENS 12 JANUARY 2026 TODAY DEVOTIONAL

TOPIC: WHAT IS MAN? II

MEMORISE:
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
1 Peter 2:2

READ: Galatians 4:1-5
1 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

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RCCG OPEN HEAVENS 12 JANUARY 2026 TODAY MESSAGE

Yesterday, I explained that God’s original design for mankind was for us to have dominion on the earth and everything in it; however, man lost that dominion when sin crept in, but Jesus Christ came to restore us to our original state. I also explained that once you become born again, you become greater than everything around you because greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4).

Unfortunately, many Christians are still living under the bondage of the devil. They have dominion as God intended originally but fail to exercise this dominion.

Beloved, you cannot exercise dominion as a baby Christian. Galatians 4:1 says:
Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;

To really take your place as a child of God, you must grow in the Spirit by praying and studying the word of God diligently and regularly. Many Christians brag that they have been born again for many years; however, spiritually, they are still babies because they haven’t grown as they ought to.

Some Christians should have grown spiritually to the point of being able to raise the dead by virtue of God’s anointing upon their lives, yet they do not have the courage to lay hands on someone suffering from a headache.

As a child of God, you should desire God’s word so much because it is the food you need to grow spiritually. 1 Peter 2:2 says, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:” Jesus also said in Matthew 4:4 that man should not live by bread alone but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God.

Beloved, if you want to walk in the dominion that God intends for you to operate in, you should live by God’s word just as you survive and function physically by eating food. Like Jeremiah, who said that he ate God’s word (Jeremiah 15:16), you must also consume God’s word even more than you consume physical food.

You must also pray regularly. In fact, when you study the word of God regularly, it will push you to pray because as you study, you will find yourself longing to speak to the One whose word you are studying. Prioritise spending quality time with God daily by praying and studying His word, and you will indeed walk in dominion in every aspect of your life.

KEY POINT

To operate in your God-given dominion, you must pray and study the word of God diligently and regularly.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Genesis 39-41

HYMN 3: ANCIENT WORDS

OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL 12 JANUARY 2026 COMMENTARY

MEMORISE: 1 Peter 2:2
“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:”
This verse establishes spiritual growth as an imperative, not an option. The desire for God’s Word is portrayed as the instinctive, life-sustaining hunger of a healthy newborn. Without this continual intake, growth is stunted, and the believer remains in a state of spiritual infancy, unable to function in their inherited authority.

BIBLE READING: Galatians 4:1-5
This passage powerfully illustrates the difference between legal status and functional experience. An heir may own the entire estate, but while he remains a child, he lives under tutors and governors, no better than a servant. His adulthood—the time of full possession and exercise of his rights—is determined by his maturity, not just his birthright.

From Heir to Ruler: The Necessity of Spiritual Growth

Daddy Adeboye builds on yesterday’s foundation of restored dominion to address the critical gap between possession and practice. Many believers, he notes, live in bondage not because they lack authority, but because they lack the maturity to exercise it. Spiritual adulthood is the bridge between being an heir of dominion and being a governor in dominion.

1. The Tragedy of the Infant Heir

The Gap Between Title and Function:
Galatians 4:1 reveals a spiritual paradox: a child who is “lord of all” in title lives like “a servant” in experience. This is the state of a believer who is saved (an heir) but unchanged, untaught, and undiscipled. They have a birthright to authority but a lifestyle of bondage because they have not grown into their inheritance.

Stunted Growth and its Consequences:
Spiritual infancy is marked by a lack of courage and power. The devotional uses the stark contrast between raising the dead and fearing to pray for a headache. The potential (the anointing) is present, but the maturity to release it is absent. Stunted growth leaves the believer vulnerable, dominated by the very circumstances they are called to dominate.

2. The Non-Negotiable Diet for Growth: The Word

The Word as Essential Nourishment:
Physical life requires food; spiritual life and growth require the Word. Jesus’ statement in Matthew 4:4 equates the Word with the very sustenance of life. To neglect the Word is to choose spiritual malnutrition. Daddy Adeboye emphasizes that dominion is exercised by those who “live by” God’s Word, meaning it becomes the core substance of their daily decisions, thoughts, and declarations.

The Jeremiah Model: Consumption:
Jeremiah 15:16 says, “Thy words were found, and I did eat them.” This goes beyond reading to a digestive, assimilating process. It implies meditation, internalization, and making the Word one’s own reality. You must consume it with more relish and regularity than your physical food.

3. The Symbiosis of Word and Prayer

The Word Fuels Prayer:
Authentic study of Scripture naturally ignites communion. As you discover God’s heart, promises, and commands in His Word, you are compelled to respond in conversation—in worship, petition, and intercession. The Word gives prayer substance and direction.

Prayer Activates the Word:
Prayer is the realm where the truth of the Word is applied to specific situations through declaration and supplication. It is the “governing” act that executes the authority revealed in Scripture. Without prayer, the Word remains theoretical knowledge. Without the Word, prayer becomes powerless sentiment.

How to Pursue Mandatory Growth

Schedule and Prioritize Consistently:
Growth is intentional. You must schedule and protect daily time for the Word and prayer as non-negotiable appointments. Dominion is won in the private place of spiritual discipline before it is seen in the public arena.

Move from Information to Transformation:
When you study, ask not just “What does it say?” but “What must I do or believe because of this?” Allow the Word to interrogate your life and reshape your thinking. This is the process of renewal that leads to authoritative living (Romans 12:2).

Step Out in Faith-Sized Obedience:
Begin to exercise your growing authority in incremental steps. If you read about healing, lay hands on the headache. If you read about provision, sow a seed in faith. Spiritual muscles, like physical ones, grow through use.

Warning: Eternal Infancy is a Self-Inflicted Tragedy

To remain a baby Christian by choice—through neglect of the Word, prayerlessness, and disobedience—is to voluntarily live beneath your privileges. It is to choose the nursery over the throne room, and bondage over dominion. God has provided the nourishment; you must choose to eat.

Conclusion: Pray for a Ravenous Hunger and Maturity

Pray this:
“Heavenly Father, I reject every form of spiritual stagnation. I crave the pure milk of Your Word with the desperate hunger of a newborn. Transform my appetite; let me consume Your Word more than my daily food. As I feed, cause me to grow up into Christ in all things, that I may shed the limitations of spiritual infancy. Empower me through prayer to step into the full exercise of my dominion as Your mature child. I choose to grow, in Jesus’ name!”

Action Steps:

1. Conduct a Growth Audit: Honestly assess your spiritual diet and exercise. How consistent and meaningful is your Word intake? How fervent and faith-filled is your prayer life? Write down one improvement for each.
2. Adopt the “E.A.T.” Method for Study:
   • Engage the text (read carefully).
   • Apply it (What does this mean for me today?).
   • Transform through prayer (Pray the Scripture back to God and over your life).
3. Exercise Your Authority Muscle: This week, identify one “headache”-sized problem (a worry, a minor ailment, a small frustration) and deliberately address it with a specific scriptural promise in prayer. Act as the governing heir you are.
4. Find a Growth Partner: Share your growth goal with a mature believer who can encourage you and hold you accountable to your Word and prayer commitments.

Remember: You are an heir to the Kingdom. Don’t live like a servant in the nursery. Grow up. Your dominion awaits your maturity.
“Desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:” (1 Peter 2:2). Your growth is your responsibility.

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The Open Heavens 11 January 2026 devotional for today is WHAT IS MAN? I

This is a daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

• Read: RCCG Open Heaven 10 January 2026 Devotional

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OPEN HEAVENS 11 JANUARY 2026 TODAY DEVOTIONAL

TOPIC: WHAT IS MAN? I

MEMORISE:
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
Genesis 1:26

READ: Psalm 8:3-9
3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
9 O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

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RCCG OPEN HEAVENS 11 JANUARY 2026 TODAY MESSAGE

When you look at the stars, the moon, and the beauty of nature generally, it is hard not to wonder what makes us humans so special that God cares so much about us. This is exactly what David was asking in verse 4 of today’s Bible reading.

From today’s memory verse, we see that God made us in His image and gave us the responsibility and dominion to rule over all His creation on earth (Genesis 1:26-28). Therefore, you and I have God’s mandate to be in control of the earth. God, however, didn’t stop there;

He went further to say in Matthew 18:18 that He will uphold our decrees here on earth from His throne in heaven. Unfortunately, when man sinned, he lost his place and the dominion God had given him at creation. That was why God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to restore us to His original design and reinstate our dominion.

If you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, you have become greater than everything in this world (1 John 4:4). If you are yet to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, I implore you to do so now. This is because, if you can truly let go of sin, situations will no longer control you; rather, you will control them. The economy will no longer decide what happens to you; instead, you will thrive, regardless of what happens in the economy.

The devil and all his demons are afraid of the children of God because they know that God has made His children sit together with Christ in heavenly places, far above all principalities and powers (Ephesians 2:4-6).

This is why, whenever someone I have not met before comes to me for prayers, the first question I ask such a person is, “Are you born again?” If the fellow is not born again, even if I pray and the problem is solved, a worse problem might come on him or her because the person is still prey to the devil.

Beloved, the foundation of every genuine solution to any problem you can ever have is in Jesus Christ. You must repent from any sin that may be in your life and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour if you are yet to do so.

Ensure you live a holy life by adhering to His word and obeying all His instructions. When you do these, you will enjoy good success and truly live in dominion over every challenge that comes your way.

KEY POINT

God’s original design is for you to reign above all situation

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Genesis 36-38

HYMN 13: Jesus loves me! This I know,

OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL 11 JANUARY 2026 COMMENTARY

MEMORISE: Genesis 1:26
“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.”
This verse reveals humanity’s original blueprints: divine image and earthly dominion. To be made in God’s image is to carry His authority, creativity, and communicative nature. The mandate to have dominion is a legal delegation of God’s governing power to mankind over the earthly realm.

BIBLE READING: Psalm 8:3-9
This psalm echoes the Genesis mandate, marveling at the exalted position God has given to humanity. Despite our seeming smallness, we are crowned with glory and honor and entrusted with the works of God’s hands. It is a hymn of awe at our God-ordained authority.

The Restoration of Mandated Dominion

Daddy Adeboye addresses the core of human identity and authority, tracing it from creation through the Fall to its restoration in Christ. The devotional makes it clear that dominion is not an abstract concept but the restored birthright of every believer, granting authority over circumstances, systems, and spiritual forces.

1. The Original Mandate: Image and Dominion

Created for Governance:
God’s design was not for man to be a victim of creation but its governor. The “image and likeness” is the source of authority; the “dominion” is the sphere of its exercise. This means your inherent design is to rule, innovate, manage, and establish order in your sphere of influence.

The Heavenly Endorsement of Earthly Decrees:
Matthew 18:18 reveals the staggering continuity of this mandate. God, from heaven, pledges to ratify the lawful decrees made by His image-bearers on earth. This establishes prayer and faith-filled speech not as begging, but as governance—issuing heavenly-sanctioned rulings over earthly situations.

2. The Loss and The Restoration in Christ

The Great Reversal of the Fall:
Sin was not merely a moral failure; it was a catastrophic surrender of dominion. Adam handed the title deed of earth to Satan (Luke 4:6), and humanity became subject to creation rather than sovereign over it. Poverty, sickness, and bondage are symptoms of this lost dominion.

Christ: The Last Adam and Our Reinstatement:
Jesus came as the “last Adam” (1 Corinthians 15:45) to win back what the first Adam lost. Through His death and resurrection, He legally reclaimed all authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18). Salvation is the reinstatement of the individual believer into this position of regained dominion. You are not just saved from sin; you are saved into sovereignty.

3. The Present Reality: Seated Far Above

Your Position Defines Your Authority:
Ephesians 2:6 states the believer’s current position: seated with Christ in heavenly places, “far above all principality and power.” This is not a future hope but a present legal reality. You operate from a place of settled victory and superior rank over all demonic forces and earthly systems. This is why they fear a true child of God.

The Non-Negotiable Foundation: The New Birth:
Daddy Adeboye’s consistent first question—”Are you born again?”—is a diagnostic of spiritual jurisdiction. A person outside of Christ, even if helped temporarily, remains under the domain of darkness and prey to the enemy. Dominion is exclusive to the re-created species—those born of God (1 John 4:4).

How to Exercise Your Restored Dominion

Govern Through Your Decrees:
Align your speech with God’s Word. Your words are your governing instruments. Decree peace over chaos, health over sickness, provision over lack. Heaven is listening to ratify the decrees of the redeemed.

Live from Your Position, Not Your Condition:
Your feelings, the economy, or medical reports are “conditions.” Your seat with Christ is your “position.” Train yourself to reason, pray, and decree from your exalted position in Christ, not from the problem at your feet.

Maintain Holiness—The Integrity of Office:
Sin is a rebellion against the King that locally disempowers the governor. Holy living is not about earning favor; it is about maintaining the integrity of your office and the unimpeded flow of authority. You cannot effectively rule a territory you have surrendered to the enemy through willful sin.

Warning: An Unclaimed Dominion is a Vacant Throne

If you do not consciously exercise your God-given authority, the enemy will gladly continue to administer the affairs of your life, your family, and your sphere. Passivity is a form of surrender. Dominion must be asserted in faith.

Conclusion: Pray to Reign in Life

Pray this:
“Father of glory, I thank You for recreating me in Christ Jesus and seating me with Him in the place of authority. I repent of all passivity and sin that has ceded ground to the enemy. Today, I take my stand in my rightful position of dominion. I decree that my life, health, finances, and family are under the governance of Your Kingdom. I exercise authority over every opposing power and declare that I reign in life through Christ Jesus. My dominion is restored and established by Your Word, in Jesus’ name!”

Action Steps:

1. Positional Reminders: Write “Ephesians 2:6” and “Seated Far Above” on sticky notes. Place them where you will see them daily to remind you of your true position.
2. Daily Dominion Decrees: Each morning, issue 3-5 specific decrees over your day based on Scripture (e.g., “I decree that wisdom guides my decisions today, according to James 1:5”).
3. Conduct a Sphere Audit: Identify the key areas of your God-given dominion (e.g., your mind, your home, your workplace). Ask the Holy Spirit: “Where have I been passive? Where do I need to assert Kingdom authority?” Take one step of faith-led action in each area this week.
4. Establish the Foundation: If you have not consciously accepted Christ, do so now with this prayer: “Lord Jesus, I repent of my sin. I believe You died and rose for me. I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Restore me to Your original design and dominion. Amen.” Then, tell a believer.

Remember: You are not struggling for victory; you are enforcing a victory already won. You are not a victim of the system; you are a governor in it, seated far above it.
“Let them have dominion…” (Genesis 1:26). In Christ, you do.

Facebook: RCCG Live

Read RCCG Open Heaven Devotional for Tomorrow

Download Open Heaven 11 January 2026 Devotional PDF

The Open Heavens 10 January 2026 devotional for today is FREEDOM OF WORSHIP II.

This is a daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

• Read: RCCG Open Heavens 9 January 2025 Devotional

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OPEN HEAVENS 10 JANUARY 2026 TODAY DEVOTIONAL

TOPIC: FREEDOM OF WORSHIP II

MEMORISE:
The LORD will be terrible unto them: for he will famish all the gods of the earth; and men shall worship him, every one from his place, even all the isles of the heathen.
Zephaniah 2:11

READ: Psalm 96:8-13
8 Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts.
9 O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.
10 Say among the heathen that the Lord reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously.
11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof.
12 Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice
13 Before the Lord: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.

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RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 10 JANUARY 2026 TODAY MESSAGE

A lot of people want to worship the only true God, but they are limited by many factors. For example, Pharaoh prevented the children of Israel from leaving Egypt to worship God until a divine intervention compelled him to let them go.

After God’s intervention, he could not even wait until morning before releasing the children of Israel to go and worship God. That very night, he called for Moses and Aaron and said, “Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the Lord, as ye have said.” (Exodus 12:19-31).

However, after making this pronouncement and releasing the Israelites, the Egyptians still went after them with the intention of bringing them back into bondage, but God silenced them in the Red Sea, and the Israelites were finally free to worship God (Exodus 14 and 15).

You probably want to worship God, but something is hindering you. You want to praise God and tell people about how great He is, but then, occasionally, you remember one little problem in your life that has lingered for a long time. That problem might be so bad that people around you have even been asking you where your God is. You look at that problem, and suddenly, it becomes a struggle to praise God. I decree that the Almighty God will intervene in your situation and silence whatever might be hindering you from worshipping Him the way you really want to, in Jesus’ name.

Many people want to do mighty things like building churches for God, helping the poor, sponsoring crusades, and so on. However, the only hindrance they have is a lack of finance. If you are one of such people, I pray for you today that you will receive the abundance you need in order to do anything you want to do for God, in Jesus’ name.

Revelation 4:11 says, “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” God created all things for His pleasure. He created your hands to clap to Him in worship, He created your mouth to praise Him, and He created your legs to dance for Him.

Therefore, anyone, whether in the government, in your family, or anywhere at all, who tries to hinder you from worshipping God and giving Him pleasure will face His wrath like Pharaoh did if he or she does not repent.

PRAYER POINT

Father, please usher me into a new season of good health, prosperity, and complete freedom so that I can serve you without hindrance.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Genesis 32-35

HYMN 10: IN CHRIST ALONE

OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL 10 JANUARY 2026 COMMENTARY

MEMORISE: Zephaniah 2:11
“The LORD will be terrible unto them: for he will famish all the gods of the earth; and men shall worship him, every one from his place, even all the isles of the heathen.”
This prophetic declaration announces God’s ultimate supremacy. It reveals a dual action: God will starve and render powerless every false god, system, or force that claims allegiance, and He will establish His universal worship. Hindrances to worship are not merely obstacles; they are rivals facing divine judgment.

BIBLE READING: Psalm 96:8-13
This psalm is a sweeping call to global, unreserved worship. It commands us to ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name, for He is coming to judge the earth with righteousness. True worship is presented as the only fitting response to His sovereign majesty and impending judgment.

The Divine Intervention for Unhindered Worship

Daddy Adeboye addresses a profound struggle: the desire to worship God fully, shackled by lingering hindrances. Using the Exodus narrative, he frames these hindrances as “Pharaohs”—oppressive forces that seek to keep us in a bondage that restricts our expression of devotion to God. The promise is that God intervenes to silence hindrances so worship can flow freely.

1. Identifying Your Personal Pharaoh

Hindrances as Enslaving Powers:
A hindrance is more than a problem; it is a power that claims authority over your focus and devotion. Like Pharaoh, it says, “You shall not go to serve the Lord.” This can be:

• A Lingering Problem: A chronic issue (health, finance, family strife) that becomes a louder testimony in your mind than God’s goodness, making praise feel like a struggle.
• The Taunt of Onlookers: The shame of “Where is your God?” can silence your testimony and dampen your praise.
• Lack of Resources: The feeling of financial or practical limitation that holds you back from executing big visions of service and sacrifice for God.

The Goal of the Hindrance:
The enemy’s goal is not just to cause pain, but to steal worship. By fixing your gaze on the problem, he aims to divert the glory, praise, and trust that belong exclusively to God.

2. The Pattern of Divine Intervention

God Compels the Release:
God did not negotiate with Pharaoh; He executed judgments that made continued bondage unsustainable. Likewise, your “Pharaoh” will be compelled to release you. The divine intervention is targeted to break the specific power holding you back from worship.

The Final Silence at the Red Sea:
Pharaoh’s initial release was not enough; he pursued Israel to drag them back. God’s ultimate solution was to silence the hindrance permanently at the Red Sea. This signifies that God doesn’t just give temporary relief; He can completely dismantle the power of that problem to ever threaten your worship again. The song of Exodus 15 was sung on the other side of a silenced enemy.

3. Your Created Purpose: To Give God Pleasure

You Are a Worship Instrument:
Revelation 4:11 provides the foundational reason why hindrances must fall: you were created for God’s pleasure. Your hands, mouth, legs, resources, and life are instruments of worship. Any force that ties these instruments down is in direct conflict with your Creator’s purpose.

The Warning to Hindrances:
Daddy Adeboye issues a stern prophetic warning: any person, system, or circumstance that deliberately hinders a believer’s worship invokes the wrath of God, just as Pharaoh did. This is a spiritual law. God is jealous for the worship due His name (Zephaniah 1:14).

How to Position for Your Red Sea Moment

Worship in the Midst of the Hindrance:
Like Paul and Silas in prison (Acts 16:25), begin to worship before the chains fall. This is an act of faith that asserts God’s supremacy over the problem and activates divine intervention.

Present Your “Lack” to God in Faith:
If limited resources hinder your service, present what you have to Him (like the boy’s loaves and fish). Pray the prayer of abundance from the devotional, not from greed, but from a desire to be a greater channel of worship and service.

Shift Your Testimony Focus:
Stop rehearsing the problem. Begin to declare, “My God is silencing every Pharaoh for the sake of His glory.” Change your conversation from the persistence of the problem to the certainty of God’s intervention.

Warning: Do Not Return to Bondage Voluntarily

After God silences a hindrance, never let your heart return to worship it through fear, obsession, or nostalgia. Keep your eyes on the Pillar of Fire, not the drowned chariots. Continued freedom requires forward movement in worship.

Conclusion: Pray for the Silence of Every Pharaoh

Pray this:
“Almighty God, my Redeemer, You are terrible against every power that hinders worship. I name my ‘Pharaoh’ now: [Name the specific hindrance]. By Your mighty hand, compel it to release me! Silence its voice, its threat, and its power forever at my Red Sea. I was created for Your pleasure; therefore, I worship You with my whole heart, even now. Let my life become an unhindered song of praise, and let every enemy of my devotion be famished and judged, in Jesus’ mighty name!”

Action Steps:

1. Name and Reject Your Pharaoh: Write down the primary hindrance to your worship. Pray over it, and then symbolically “drown” it (tear up the paper) as an act of faith in God’s silencing power.
2. Worship Through the Struggle: This week, when the hindrance presses in, deliberately spend 10 minutes in praise and thanksgiving for who God is, ignoring the problem. Do this as warfare.
3. Plan a Faith Offering: If lack is the hindrance, plan a sacrificial offering towards a godly vision beyond your current means. This act of faith declares God is your provider and breaks the power of lack over your worship.
4. Testify to the Intervention: Begin to share with a trusted friend, “I believe God is silencing [my hindrance] so I can worship Him freely.” Speaking it reinforces your faith and God’s commitment to His glory.

Remember: God is more committed to receiving your full worship than you are to giving it. He will move heaven and earth to silence whatever stands in the way. Your Red Sea moment is coming.
“The LORD will… famish all the gods of the earth; and men shall worship him…” (Zephaniah 2:11). Your worship will flow unhindered.

Facebook: RCCG Live

Read RCCG Open Heaven Devotional for Tomorrow

Download Open Heaven 10 January 2026 Devotional PDF

The Open Heavens 9 January 2026 devotional for today is FREEDOM OF WORSHIP I

This is a daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

• Read: RCCG Open Heavens 8 January 2026 Devotional

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OPEN HEAVENS 9 JANUARY 2026 TODAY DEVOTIONAL

TOPIC: FREEDOM OF WORSHIP I

MEMORISE:
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Galatians 5:1

READ: Matthew 6:21-24
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

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RCCG OPEN HEAVENS 9 JANUARY 2026 TODAY MESSAGE

All humans have the freedom to worship whatever they want to. Even in countries where people are restricted from worshipping publicly, nobody can restrict anyone from worshipping his or her ‘god’ privately.

This freedom to worship has been given by God; however, you must be vigilant at all times to know who or what you are worshipping because who or what you worship will determine what you become (2 Corinthians 3:18).

It is important that you examine your priorities because they are pointers to the people or things you actually worship. Some people do not know that their phones have become the god they worship. They take their phones everywhere they go, even into the bathroom.

Their eyes are always glued to their phones as they spend hours browsing through them. If they don’t have their phones with them, they will begin to panic and will not be able to function normally. Sadly, this often leads them into anxiety, depression, and many health challenges.

What you give your attention and resources to eventually shapes your values, thoughts, and behaviour. If your focus is primarily on material possessions, your social status, or even other people’s opinions, they can easily become idols in your life.

You must examine yourself regularly to know the things or people that mostly occupy your thoughts and what you exert most of your energy on. If these things or people are not aligned with your purpose in Christ, then you need to take heed, lest you fall (1 Corinthians 10:12).

Another subtle, yet common object of worship these days is work. Many Christians allow themselves to be trapped in the cycle of work such that they neglect their health, families, and walk with God. I know the value of hard work, so I work very hard and encourage people to do the same.

However, when work becomes the source of your identity, it has taken God’s place in your life. You must also be careful not to worship comfort and convenience. Today, many youths talk about living a comfortable life and unfortunately, their pursuit of this soft life has become the god they worship.

Beloved, the freedom of worship is a precious gift that God has given to you; however, you must use it to worship Him alone. You must also be mindful and disciplined to ensure that you are not worshipping an idol at any time. Keep your total focus on God at all times, and He will reward you with His grace and peace.

ACTION POINT

Sincerely assess your current priorities to determine whether anything or anyone is competing with God’s place in your life.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Genesis 29-31

HYMN 7: I AM THINE O LORD

OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL 9 JANUARY 2026 COMMENTARY

MEMORISE: Galatians 5:1
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”
This verse declares the essence of our salvation: a purchased freedom. However, it carries a dual command—to stand firm in that freedom and to vigilantly resist any new form of slavery. The greatest threat to spiritual liberty is often not external persecution, but internal idolatry.

BIBLE READING: Matthew 6:21-24
In this passage, Jesus exposes the direct link between our treasure (what we value most) and our heart’s worship. He concludes with the unshakeable law of single-minded allegiance: “Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Our focus is inherently singular; whatever commands it is our de facto master.

The Idolatry of the Heart: The High Cost of Misplaced Worship

Daddy Adeboye delivers a piercing diagnosis of modern spiritual bondage. The devotional moves beyond the obvious idols of wood and stone to expose the subtle, daily altars we erect in our lives. True freedom is not just freedom from sin, but freedom for exclusive, undivided devotion to God.

1. The Deceptive Nature of Subtle Idols

Idolatry is a Matter of Priority and Focus:
An idol is not merely a statue; it is anything that commands the supreme devotion of your heart, time, resources, and imagination. As 2 Corinthians 3:18 states, we become like what we behold. Your constant focus is your object of worship, and that object is actively shaping you into its image—whether it is God, a device, a career, or an ideal.

The Phone as a Case Study:
The smartphone is a powerful modern parable. When it is the first thing you check in the morning and the last at night, when its absence causes anxiety, and when it consistently interrupts communion with God and people, it has transitioned from a tool to a throne. It commands your attention, and you obey.

2. Self-Examination: Identifying Your Altars

Your Thoughts and Energy Reveal Your Gods:
You must audit your mental and emotional expenditure. What occupies your daydreams? What conversation topic excites you most? What problem consumes your worry? The answers point to your functional deities. If these are not Christ and His purpose for you, you are in idolatry’s grip.

The Altars of Work, Comfort, and Status:

• Work: When it becomes the source of your identity, worth, and security instead of a domain for stewardship, it is an idol. It leads to the neglect of health, family, and spiritual vitality.
• Comfort (The ‘Soft Life’): The pursuit of a pain-free, hassle-free existence as the ultimate goal is idolatry. It makes convenience your god and shrinks your capacity for sacrifice, service, and endurance.
• Status & Opinions: When your value is determined by your social standing or others’ approval, you are a slave to people. You worship at the altar of human praise.

3. The Consequence and the Correction

Idolatry Leads to Bondage and Breakdown:
Daddy Adeboye notes that phone worship leads to “anxiety, depression, and many health challenges.” This is the inevitable fruit of idolatry: it promises life but delivers death; promises freedom but delivers a crushing yoke. It distorts your values, drains your peace, and derails your destiny.

The Call to Vigilance and Discipline:
Freedom must be guarded. It requires the discipline to regularly “take heed” (1 Corinthians 10:12)—to pause and conduct a spiritual inventory. This isn’t a one-time event but a lifestyle of conscious realignment, ensuring that Christ alone sits on the throne of your heart.

How to Guard Your Freedom and Worship God Alone

Implement Practical Boundaries:
Create “no-phone zones” (e.g., during prayer, meals, first hour of the day). Deliberately schedule and protect time for family and spiritual disciplines. Let your calendar reflect that God is Lord of your time.

Conduct the “Treasure Test” Regularly:
Ask yourself weekly: “Where did my money go most easily? What did I most hate to be interrupted from doing?” Your financial records and your irritations are truthful ledgers of your heart’s treasure.

Replace Don’t Just Remove:
Idolatry fills a vacuum. You cannot simply stop worshipping an idol; you must actively, passionately worship the true God. Increase your intake of His Word, your time in heartfelt praise, and your service to His kingdom. As you behold Christ, the false gods lose their appeal.

Warning: Freedom to Choose is Not Freedom from Consequence

God gives the freedom to worship anything, but He does not suspend the spiritual law that we become enslaved to whatever we choose. The “yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1) is self-chosen. Playing near an idol’s altar always leads to entanglement.

Conclusion: Pray for a Purified and Single-Minded Heart

Pray this:
*”Lord Jesus, my Liberator, I stand fast in the freedom You purchased. Search me, O God, and know my heart; see if there is any idolatrous way in me (Psalm 139:23-24). I dethrone every subtle idol—my phone, my work, my desire for comfort, the opinions of others. I enthrone You alone. Let my thoughts, my time, my resources, and my affections be wholly Yours. Grant me the discipline to guard my heart and the grace to behold only You, in Jesus’ name!”*

Action Steps:

1. The 24-Hour Fast: This week, fast from your primary potential idol (e.g., social media, work emails, entertainment) for 24 hours. Use the time for prayer and reflection. Note what cravings or anxieties arise—they reveal the idol’s hold.
2. The Priority Realignment Plan: Write down your God-given priorities (e.g., Personal Devotion, Family, Health, Ministry). Now audit last week’s time. Where is the disconnect? Make one concrete change to align them.
3. Worship Declarations: Each morning, declare before God: “Today, You alone are my God. I worship You with my time, my talents, and my treasure.” Verbally reject the worship of any other thing.
4. Accountability Partnership: Share this devotional with a trusted friend. Give them permission to ask you monthly: “Have you noticed any new ‘altars’ in your life?”

Remember: Your freedom is precious and costly. To stand fast in it requires that you worship the Liberator, not the chains. Your heart is a temple; guard it for its one true Resident.
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free…” (Galatians 5:1). Guard your freedom jealously.

Facebook: RCCG Live

Read RCCG Open Heaven Devotional for Tomorrow

Download Open Heaven 9 January 2026 Devotional PDF

The Open Heavens 8 January 2026 devotional for today is DON’T ENSNARE YOURSELF.

This is a daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

• Read: RCCG Open Heaven 7 January 2026 Devotional

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OPEN HEAVENS 8 JANUARY 2026 TODAY DEVOTIONAL

TOPIC: DON’T ENSNARE YOURSELF

MEMORISE:
Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
Proverbs 18:21

READ: 2 Samuel 1:1-16
1 Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag;
2 It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.
3 And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.
4 And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.
5 And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead?

6 And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.
7 And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I.
8 And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite.
9 He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me.
10 So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.

11 Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him:
12 And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the Lord, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.
13 And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.
14 And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?
15 And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died.
16 And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the Lord’s anointed.

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RCCG OPEN HEAVENS 8 JANUARY 2026 TODAY MESSAGE

In Nigeria, there is a common saying that everyone has the freedom of speech, but freedom after speech is not guaranteed. As funny as this statement sounds, it is very true in the spirit realm. Proverbs 6:2 says:

“Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.”

God doesn’t stop you from speaking, but you must be careful so that the things you say do not bring you into bondage.

Sometime ago, a woman who had been looking for the fruit of the womb for many years told God in her desperation, “Lord, just let me get pregnant once, then you can take my life on the day of delivery. I just want this reproach to be over.”

When it was time to deliver, she came to RCCG’s maternity clinic. For days, this woman remained in labour. Her condition was so bad that they had to call me to pray for her. After asking her some questions, we discovered what she had said earlier, and I said to myself, “If this woman wanted to die, why then did she choose to come here?”

Apparently, she did not want to die anymore. We cried to God for mercy, and He answered. She delivered safely and went home with her baby in good health. Imagine if there was no man of God available to cancel the pronouncement she had made on herself in her desperation; she could have died.

Today’s Bible reading tells us the story of a young man who was destroyed by his words. After Saul’s death, this man, who was an Amalekite, ran to David to tell him that he had killed Saul, even though he was not the one who killed him (1 Samuel 31:l-6). He thought telling David that he had killed Saul would grant him favour before David, but the opposite was the case, and his words became his death sentence.

When David heard him say that he had killed Saul, the anointed king of God’s people, he commanded one of the young men with him to execute him.

Beloved, be mindful of the words you speak, especially when you are highly emotional. Do not allow your emotions, whether excitement, happiness, anger, sadness, or frustration, to push you to say things that can put you in bondage and hurt your destiny. I pray that you will always speak with wisdom and grace. May your words never bring you into bondage, in Jesus’ name.

KEY POINT

Your words can put you in trouble. Be mindful of what you say.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Genesis 26-28

HYMN 33: GUIDE ME, O THOU GREAT JEHOVAH!

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL 8 JANUARY 2026 COMMENTARY

MEMORISE: Proverbs 18:21
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”
This scripture reveals the creative and destructive authority delegated to human speech. Words are not merely sounds; they are spiritual containers that release either life-force or death-force into your environment and future. You are destined to consume, as a harvest, the fruit of the seeds your words have sown.

BIBLE READING: 2 Samuel 1:1-16
This passage is a sobering case study of the power of words. An Amalekite, seeking reward, imprudently boasts of killing the Lord’s anointed—a claim that was both a lie and a spiritual transgression. His own testimony, spoken to gain favour, becomes the legal evidence for his execution. He literally ate the death-fruit of his tongue.

The Bondage of Unbridled Speech

Daddy Adeboye issues a critical warning about the spiritual law of words. While God gives freedom of speech, He does not suspend the spiritual consequences that follow. The devotional emphasizes that our words, especially those spoken under intense emotion, can create spiritual bonds or legal grounds that directly impact our destiny, for good or for ill.

1. Words as Spiritual Snares and Legal Testimonies

You Are Snared by Your Words:
Proverbs 6:2 uses the imagery of a hunter’s trap. Reckless words are not just spoken into the air; they can loop back and ensnare the speaker, restricting their freedom and limiting their future. The woman with the word of death over her delivery and the Amalekite with his false testimony both found themselves trapped by their own declarations.

Emotions are a Poor Counselor:
Desperation, anger, excitement, or fear can temporarily hijack your spiritual discernment, leading to declarations that oppose God’s will for your life. Daddy Adeboye warns that the heat of emotion is the most dangerous time to make pronouncements about your future, your relationships, or your identity.

2. Two Cautionary Tales: The Power of Pronouncements

The Desperate Vow (Self-Inflicted Bondage):
The woman’s story illustrates how a desperate vow, though prayed to God, can set a destructive spiritual process in motion. She attempted to barter with God, not understanding that her words had creative power. Her pronouncement nearly overrode God’s merciful nature for her life, requiring urgent prophetic intervention to cancel its effect.

The Presumptuous Boast (Other-Inflicted Judgment):
The Amalekite’s story shows words used to manipulate for personal gain. He crafted a narrative he thought would please David, unaware of the spiritual principle: “Touch not mine anointed” (Psalm 105:15). His lie about killing the Lord’s anointed invoked automatic judgment. His mouth delivered the testimony that sentenced him.

3. The Ministry of Reversal and the Need for Wisdom

The Role of Spiritual Authority:
The woman’s life was saved because a “man of God” (a recognized spiritual authority operating in the wisdom and power of Christ) could discern the root cause and intercede to cancel the negative pronouncement. This highlights the importance of being under godly covering and seeking counsel before making weighty vows.

Speaking with Wisdom and Grace:
Wisdom considers the long-term harvest of words. Grace seasons speech with the nature of Christ. The antidote to destructive speech is to pause, submit emotional impulses to the Holy Spirit, and ask: “Do these words align with life, with Scripture, and with God’s promise for me?”

How to Harness the Life-Power of Your Tongue

Implement a Speech Fast:
Periodically commit to being slow to speak (James 1:19). Use pauses to filter emotional reactions through the grid of Scripture before they become words.

Scripturalize Your Vocabulary:
Deliberately replace faithless, fearful, or angry declarations with the direct promises of God. If you feel desperate, speak Psalm 118:17 instead of a death vow. If you are angry, declare Psalm 4:4.

Cancel Past Negative Declarations:
In prayer, revisit and repent of any rash vows, curses, or negative prophecies you have spoken over yourself, your family, or your future. Revoke them in the name of Jesus and declare God’s word over those areas.

Warning: Freedom of Speech is Not Freedom from Consequences

The Nigerian saying in the devotional is a profound earthly shadow of a spiritual law. You are free to say anything, but you are not free from the spiritual, and sometimes natural, consequences that those words set in motion. Your tongue is the rudder of your life’s ship (James 3:4-5).

Conclusion: Pray for a Guarded and Life-Giving Tongue

Pray this:
“Holy Spirit, You who are the Spirit of Truth and Wisdom, take control of my tongue. Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord (Psalm 141:3). Let no word of death, despair, or rash vow proceed from my lips. Let my speech be always seasoned with grace and full of the life of Your Word. I cancel every negative pronouncement I have ever made over my destiny. I declare that my tongue is an instrument of life, blessing, and righteousness, in Jesus’ name!”

Action Steps:

1. The 3-Second Rule: When emotionally charged, institute a mandatory 3-second silence before responding. Use that moment to whisper, “Holy Spirit, guide my words.”
2. Conduct a Word Audit: At the end of each day, review key conversations. Repent for any words that sown strife, fear, or death. Thank God for words that brought life and grace.
3. Daily Declaration Card: Write out 3-5 life-giving scriptures about your identity in Christ and God’s promises for you. Speak them aloud over yourself every morning.
4. Seek Counsel for Weighty Vows: Before making any major vow or declaration (e.g., “I’ll never…”, “God, if You… then I…”), run it by a mature, spiritually-sound mentor or pastor.

Remember: Your tongue is your most powerful creative tool. You will eat its fruit—whether a harvest of life or death. Choose today to love life and speak it.
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue…” (Proverbs 18:21). Speak life.

Facebook: RCCG Live

Read RCCG Open Heaven Devotional for Tomorrow

Download Open Heaven 8 January 2026 Devotional PDF

The Open Heavens 7 January 2026 devotional for today is THE ARMOUR OF LIGHT II.

This is a daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

• Read: RCCG Open Heaven 6 January 2026 Devotional

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OPEN HEAVENS 7 JANUARY 2026 TODAY DEVOTIONAL

TOPIC: THE ARMOUR OF LIGHT II

MEMORISE:
Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
1 Peter 3:9

READ: Romans 13:10-14
10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

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RCCG OPEN HEAVENS 7 JANUARY 2026 TODAY MESSAGE

Yesterday, I mentioned that you must open up your heart to the light of God instead of allowing bitterness to envelop you. When you become angry and bitter anytime someone offends you, you are opening yourself up for spiritual attacks.

If you see through every hurt or betrayal that you experience, you will understand that the real target is your heart. The devil wants you to allow bitterness in your heart so that when he is sending his arrows against you, they will have a place to land. Many times, when the devil’s agents try to attack a Christian and do not succeed, they do everything they can to get the believer to become angry. Once they can get the believer to become angry and bitter, their attacks will land on him or her. This is why you must always put on your armour of light and not allow anger and bitterness to creep into your heart – it is for your own protection.

Anytime the devil sees someone whom he cannot make angry or bitter, he has seen someone who has defeated him already. In 1 Samuel 18:14, the Bible says that David behaved himself wisely. This means that he avoided anything from contaminating his heart. Even when King Saul was trying to kill him, he did not get angry or try to retaliate. In 1 Samuel 24:2-7, he had the opportunity to kill Saul, but he only cut a piece of his robe. Even when he did that, the Bible says that his heart smote him. This shows that he was a man whose armour of light was intact. As a result, he eventually became king, just as God intended. I believe that if he had killed Saul, he would not have become king, even though it was God’s original plan for him.

If you want God’s plans for you to come to pass, don’t allow bitterness into your heart; don’t give room to the devil to destroy your destiny. When some Christians do not retaliate when people hurt them but rather turn around to bless them, the world will call them fools, but they know what they are doing. Such Christians will be careful not to allow a moment of bitterness or anger to tamper with their glorious destinies in God.

Beloved, do not give room to the devil in your life; keep your armour of light intact so that you can fulfil your God given destiny.

KEY POINT:

Protect your heart from bitterness so you don’t miss out on the glorious future ahead of you.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Genesis 24-25

HYMN 34: YIELD NOT TO TEMPTATION

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL 7 JANUARY 2026 COMMENTARY

MEMORISE: 1 Peter 3:9
“Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.”
This command inverts the world’s logic of retaliation. It reveals that the refusal to repay evil with evil is not weakness, but a strategic spiritual posture that safeguards your inheritance. Your response to offense directly determines your access to divine blessing.

BIBLE READING: Romans 13:10-14
This passage continues the theme of spiritual readiness, equating walking in love with fulfilling the law. It reiterates the urgent call to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ” (the ultimate Armour of Light) and make no provision for the flesh, especially in matters of relational conflict and bitterness.

The Strategic Defence of an Unoffended Heart

Daddy Adeboye delves deeper into the practical warfare of the heart introduced yesterday. He reveals that the enemy’s ultimate goal in any hurt or betrayal is not the single event, but the secondary infection of bitterness. A bitter heart is a compromised fortress, its walls breached for future attacks.

1. The Devil’s Target and Tactic: Your Heart’s Soil

The Objective is Landing Space:
The analogy is profound: a bitter heart is a “landing strip” for demonic arrows. The initial hurt is the missile; the bitterness you harbour is the guidance system that allows further missiles to hit their mark. A joyful, forgiving heart, by divine design, is spiritually “stealthed”—invisible to enemy targeting systems.

Anger as a Spiritual Vulnerability:
The devotional makes a critical military insight: when direct attacks fail, the enemy’s fallback strategy is to provoke anger. Why? Because anger, even if “justified,” temporarily dismantles your spiritual armor (Ephesians 4:26-27). It creates a window of vulnerability where otherwise-ineffective attacks can now penetrate.

2. The Davidic Blueprint: Wisdom as Warfare

Behavioral Wisdom is Defensive Warfare:
David “behaved himself wisely” (1 Samuel 18:14). This wisdom was his active choice to manage his emotions and reactions in the face of extreme, unjust provocation. It wasn’t passive; it was a deliberate strategy to keep his heart clean and his destiny on track. His wisdom was his warfare.

The Conviction That Protects Destiny:
Even when David secretly cut Saul’s robe—a minor act of retaliation—”his heart smote him” (1 Samuel 24:5). This conviction from the Holy Spirit was evidence that his “armour of light” was active and intact. That sensitivity protected him from a greater error (killing Saul) that would have derailed God’s plan. Your conscience, aligned with the Word, is a key component of your armour.

3. The High Stakes: Your Destiny Hangs in the Balance

Retaliation Alters Divine Timelines:
Daddy Adeboye presents a staggering spiritual principle: David would have forfeited the kingship God had ordained for him if he had killed Saul. Your destiny is guaranteed by God’s promise, but your access to it and the timing of it can be hindered by your choices—especially the choice to retaliate and harbor bitterness.

The “Foolishness” That Secures Inheritance:
To bless those who curse you (Luke 6:28) is foolishness to the world but supreme wisdom in the spirit. It is the direct application of 1 Peter 3:9. This “foolish” act does two things: 1) It disarms the enemy by refusing to play his game, and 2) It activates the clause of your inheritance: “…that ye should inherit a blessing.”

How to Maintain an Impenetrable Heart

Pre-emptive Blessing:
Don’t wait for the offense to take root. When hurt, immediately begin to pray blessings upon the offender. This is not an emotion but a warfare decree. It fills the space in your heart where bitterness would try to grow.

Guard the Gates of Your Soul:
Your eyes (what you choose to focus on) and your ears (what narratives you replay) are the gates to your heart. Refuse to dwell on the details of the offense. Instead, dwell on God’s promises and faithfulness (Philippians 4:8).

Cultivate Heart Sensitivity:
Like David, foster a heart so tender towards the Holy Spirit that even a “small” act of retaliation causes discomfort. This sensitivity is your early-warning system against compromise.

Warning: A Moment of Bitterness Can Tamper with a Lifetime of Destiny

Do not treat your emotional responses as insignificant. A single decision to retaliate or nurture a grudge can introduce a spiritual virus that corrupts the software of your destiny. Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the issues of life—and of destiny (Proverbs 4:23).

Conclusion: Pray for a Fortified and Unoffendable Spirit

Pray this:
“Lord Jesus, my Armour of Light, I refuse to render evil for evil. I seal my heart against every arrow of bitterness. I choose to bless those who hurt me, thereby securing my divine inheritance. Let Your love so flood my heart that no root of bitterness can find soil. Grant me the Davidic wisdom to behave wisely under pressure, protecting the glorious destiny You have prepared for me. My heart is Your guarded fortress, in Jesus’ name!”

Action Steps:

1. Conduct a Retaliation Audit: Is there any person you are secretly “paying back” through coldness, gossip, or withheld kindness? Repent and initiate a blessing today (a prayer for them, a kind word).
2. Create a Blessing List: Write the names of your “Sauls”—those who have hurt or opposed you. Commit to praying a one-sentence blessing over each name daily for 21 days (e.g., “Lord, bless [Name] and lead them to Your purpose.”).
3. Memorise Your Arsenal: Commit 1 Peter 3:9 and Proverbs 19:11 (“The discretion of a man deferreth his anger…”) to memory. Recite them the moment you feel provoked.
4. Practice Immediate Obedience to Conviction: If your heart “smites you” over a thought or action, repent immediately. Do not let the sun go down on that wound (Ephesians 4:26).

Remember: An unoffendable heart is not a heart that never feels pain, but a heart that refuses to let pain become a stronghold. It is your most powerful defensive weapon. The enemy you cannot make angry is the enemy you have already defeated.
“Not rendering evil for evil… but contrariwise blessing; that ye should inherit a blessing.” (1 Peter 3:9). Guard your inheritance.

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Read RCCG Open Heaven Devotional for Tomorrow

Download Open Heaven 7 January 2026 Devotional PDF

The Open Heaven 6 January 2026 devotional for today is THE ARMOUR OF LIGHT I.

This is a daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

• Read: RCCG Open Heaven 5 January 2026 Devotional

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OPEN HEAVEN 6 JANUARY 2026 TODAY DEVOTIONAL

TOPIC: THE ARMOUR OF LIGHT I

MEMORISE:
The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
Romans 13:12

READ: Romans 13:12-14
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

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RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 6 JANUARY 2026 TODAY MESSAGE

Many believers are dealing with darkness inside their hearts because their hearts are full of bitterness and anger. Some of these believers are angry with God, their spouses, children, parents, etc.

I understand that the world is a wicked place, and it can be easy for bitterness to creep into your heart. However, instead of allowing bitterness to envelop you, you must open up your heart to the light of God. The word of God is light; let this light become an armour that protects you from darkness.

Today’s memory verse admonishes us to cast off the works of darkness and put on the armour of light. Light is an armour, and just as a soldier needs armour to survive the attacks of an enemy, light protects you from any arrow of bitterness that the enemy might shoot against you.

To put on the armour of light, you must cast off the works of darkness. You cannot overcome the prince of darkness when you have the works of darkness in you.

Sin is the greatest work of darkness. If you are still living in sin, you must repent, put on the armour of light, and live righteously.

As I have progressed in life, I have experienced betrayals from different people. I have been hurt by people who are far from me and people who are very dear to me. I have been hurt by unbelievers and even by some ministers of God.

However, despite all these, I haven’t lost my joy. I haven’t stopped being kind, even to those who betrayed me. Even though they may have hurt me, my heart is protected by the armour of light, which will not allow darkness to creep into my heart.

Beloved, don’t keep malice, and don’t focus on people who have hurt you. Ephesians 6:12 says:
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

The real enemy is the devil, who wants to plant a seed of bitterness in your heart so you can be filled with darkness. Don’t let him succeed; rather, put on the armour of light by subjecting all your thoughts to the authority of Christ, casting off every sinful habit and meditating on God’s word at all times.

As you do this, I pray that your heart will be filled with joy, and you will continually experience the peace of God that passes all understanding.

ACTION POINT:

If there is any work of darkness in your life, ensure you cast them off and put on the armour of light

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Genesis 21-23

HYMN 59: I WANT TO BE LIKE JESUS

OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL 6 JANUARY 2026 COMMENTARY

MEMORISE: Romans 13:12
“The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.”
This verse presents a profound spiritual transition. It declares an end to the season of moral and spiritual night and commands two active responses: a decisive rejection of dark works and a deliberate clothing of oneself with light as a defensive weapon.

BIBLE READING: Romans 13:12-14
This passage frames the Christian life as a moment of urgent preparation for the full dawning of God’s day. It moves from a command to a practical checklist—from putting on light to putting on Christ Himself, making no provision for the fleshly desires that belong to the darkness.

The Armour of Light: Your Guard Against Inner Darkness

Daddy Adeboye shifts the focus from external spiritual warfare to the most critical internal battleground: the human heart. The devotional teaches that the greatest darkness to fear is not around you, but the bitterness that can grow within you. True victory is found not merely in resisting the devil, but in protecting your heart’s soil from his most poisonous seed.

1. The Nature of the Internal Battle

The Darkness of Unresolved Hurt:
Bitterness, anger, and unforgiveness are identified as “works of darkness” that take up residence inside a believer. These are not just emotions; they are spiritual forces that corrupt fellowship with God and people, creating internal night while external day dawns. A bitter heart lives in perpetual night, regardless of the time on God’s clock.

The True Enemy’s Strategy:
Ephesians 6:12 is correctly applied: people are not the ultimate enemy. The devil uses hurts, betrayals, and injustices—from strangers, loved ones, and even ministers—as delivery systems for his true weapon: the seed of bitterness. His goal is not just to hurt you once, but to get you to harbour the hurt, allowing it to germinate into a root of darkness that defiles many (Hebrews 12:15).

2. The Armour Defined: What Light Does

Light as Protective Gear:
Unlike armour of steel that blocks physical arrows, the “armour of light” is the manifested presence of God’s Word and character in your life. It works by exposing the poisonous arrow of bitterness for what it is the moment it tries to pierce your heart, allowing you to discard it before it embeds and infects.

The Incompatibility Principle:
Light and darkness cannot occupy the same space (2 Corinthians 6:14). To “put on” the armour of light is to consciously clothe your thoughts, reactions, and memories with the nature of Christ—His forgiveness, mercy, and love. This divine light automatically repels and dissolves the clinging shadows of resentment.

3. The Two-Fold Command: Cast Off, Put On

You Cannot Do One Without the Other:
Daddy Adeboye emphasizes that you cannot overcome the prince of darkness while entertaining his works. Spiritual victory is not just defensive; it is intensely active:

1. Cast Off: This is repentance. It is a deliberate, forceful rejection—like removing filthy garments. It means naming the bitterness, the grudge, the sinful anger, and confessing it as the darkness it is.
2. Put On: This is renewal. It is the conscious application of God’s truth and character to the raw, vulnerable areas where the darkness once resided. You replace meditation on the hurt with meditation on the Word (Psalm 119:130).

4. Daddy Adeboye’s Personal Testimony: A Protected Heart

The Proof of the Armour:
The writer shares his own journey of betrayals from various quarters. His testimony is crucial: the armour of light does not make you impervious to pain, but it makes you impervious to the darknesspain tries to bring. You can be hurt yet remain joyful; be betrayed yet remain kind. The light within protects your core identity and spiritual fruit from being corrupted by the actions of others.

How to Maintain the Armour of Light

Subject Thoughts to Christ:
Capture every thought of revenge, replayed offense, or self-pity and deliberately bring it under the authority of Christ’s word and example (2 Corinthians 10:5). Ask, “Does this thought belong to the darkness I have cast off, or to the light I have put on?”

Live in Conscious Righteousness:
Habitual, unrepentant sin in any area pokes a hole in your armour, creating a direct entry point for darkness. Daily repentance and reliance on Christ’s righteousness keep the armour intact.

Choose Focus Wisely:
“Do not focus on people who have hurt you.” Your focus empowers what it dwells on. Focusing on the hurt feeds darkness; focusing on Christ, your healer and vindicator, feeds the light.

Warning: Malice is a Self-Inflicted Wound

Keeping malice is like drinking poison and hoping the other person dies. It is a work of darkness that, while aimed at another, first corrupts your own heart. It voluntarily disarms the armour of light.

Conclusion: Pray for a Fortified Heart

Pray this:
“Lord Jesus, You are my Light and my Salvation. I actively now cast off every work of darkness—every root of bitterness, every seed of anger, every record of wrongs. I put on the full armour of Your light. Let Your Word so saturate my heart that it becomes an impenetrable guard, exposing and rejecting every arrow of hurt. Fill me with Your joy and fortify me with Your peace that surpasses all understanding. My heart is Your dwelling place; let no darkness remain, in Jesus’ name!”

Action Steps:

1. Conduct a Heart Audit: In prayer, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any hidden bitterness or unresolved anger towards any person (or God). Write down the names He brings to mind.
2. The Casting Off Ritual: For each name or hurt, pray a prayer of release: “In Jesus’ name, I choose to forgive [name]. I cast off the hurt from this event and I release them to You.” Tear up or burn the list as a symbol of letting go.
3. The Putting On Practice: For 7 days, meditate on one “light” scripture about God’s character each morning (e.g., 1 John 1:5, Psalm 27:1, Matthew 5:14-16). Confess it over your heart as your armour.
4. Practice Preemptive Blessing: This week, do a kind act for or speak a blessing over someone you’ve struggled with (if safe to do so). This actively reinforces the armour of light.

Remember: The night of internal torment is far spent. The day of a healed, joyful, and peaceful heart is at hand. Your choice to cast off and put on is the turning point.
“Let us put on the armour of light.” (Romans 13:12). Wear it daily, and walk in victory.

Facebook: RCCG Live

Read RCCG Open Heaven Devotional for Tomorrow

Download Open Heaven 6 January 2026 Devotional PDF

The Open Heaven 5 January 2026 devotional for today: LET THERE BE LIGHT

This is a daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

• Read: RCCG Open Heaven 4 January 2026 Devotional

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OPEN HEAVEN 5 JANUARY 2026 TODAY DEVOTIONAL

TOPIC: LET THERE BE LIGHT

MEMORISE:
And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
Genesis 1:3

READ: Acts 3:1-8
1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.
4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.

6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

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RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 5 JANUARY 2025 TODAY MESSAGE

When God said, “Let there be light” in today’s memory verse, it simply meant that there was darkness before then, and at that moment, light was yet to come. “Let there be light” signifies an end to sorrow and the beginning of joy.

In Psalm 30:5, the Bible says that sorrow may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. Sorrow changes to joy when light comes. Likewise, confusion gives way to clarity at the entrance of light.

If you are driving on a dark highway and suddenly, your car headlamps malfunction, you might find yourself in total darkness. In such cases, it is wise to quickly look for a safe space to park the vehicle because it is not safe to drive in total darkness. This is why darkness is associated with stagnation; there is usually no movement in an environment that is totally dark.

If whatever is wrong with the car is corrected, however, and the headlamps begin to work again, then you can continue your journey. Whenever there is light, there is usually progress. I pray that light will come into your life in this new year, and there will be an end to stagnation. This year, you will experience progress and joy, in Jesus’ name.

In today’s Bible reading, we read about a man who was born lame. For many years, he was carried to the same spot daily so he could beg for alms. He had been stagnant all his life; however, when the Almighty God decided to visit him, not only did he start walking, he was jumping and praising God. Light shone on him because he had met Jesus through Peter and John, and he experienced a great turnaround.

When the light of God comes into your life, you will move forward and upwards.

People normally sleep at night, and this is why Apostle Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 5:7 that those who sleep do so in the night. There is usually no movement when people are asleep.

However, when the day breaks, light comes, and people awake from their sleep to go about their daily activities. Stagnancy gives way to progress when light comes. Beloved, I pray for you that the light of God will shine on every aspect of your life. There shall be no stagnancy in your life, and throughout this year, you will only move forward and upwards, in Jesus’ name.

PRAYER POINT:

Father, please let Your light shine upon all areas ofmy life this year, in Jesus’ name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Genesis 18-20

HYMN 19: ROCK OF AGES CLEFT FOR ME

OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL 5 JANUARY 2026 COMMENTARY

MEMORISE: Genesis 1:3
“And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.”
This is the first creative command of God in Scripture, marking the irreversible end of darkness’s dominion. It establishes a fundamental spiritual principle: God’s spoken word initiates transformation, turning impossibility into reality and introducing order, clarity, and life where none existed.

BIBLE READING: Acts 3:1-8
This passage is a living demonstration of Genesis 1:3 in the New Testament. A man in the perpetual “night” of lameness and beggary encounters the living Word through the apostles. The command “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk” is the “Let there be light” moment that shatters his decades of darkness and stagnation, propelling him into a new life of movement and praise.

The Creative Command: Ending Your Night

Daddy Adeboye masterfully connects the original creation to personal destiny. The devotional teaches that the “darkness” over your life is not a permanent state but a condition awaiting the command of God. That command, when spoken in faith, is the catalyst that turns your sorrow to joy and your confusion to clarity.

1. The Nature of Spiritual Darkness

Darkness as Stagnation and Sorrow:
The analogy of a car with failed headlamps on a dark highway is powerful. Darkness forces a halt; it is unsafe to move. Spiritually, this represents seasons where progress seems impossible, vision is absent, and you are stuck in a cycle of despair or repetitive failure (Psalm 30:5). The lame man at the Beautiful Gate embodies this—daily routine with no forward movement.

The Sleep of Inactivity:
Citing 1 Thessalonians 5:7, Daddy Adeboye notes that night is for sleep, a time of inactivity. Spiritual or destiny “sleep” is a state of unconsciousness to God’s purpose, where potential lies dormant. The enemy’s goal is to keep you in this night, asleep to your calling and stagnant in your condition.

2. The Moment Light Comes: A Divine Intervention

God’s Decree is the Catalyst:
Light did not gradually appear; it was summoned by divine fiat. Similarly, your turnaround often begins with a specific, spoken decree from God—whether received through Scripture, prophecy, or a Spirit-impressed word in your heart. This decree carries creative power to birth what it declares.

The Peter and John Principle:
The lame man’s light came through agents of the Word. He encountered Christ through the apostles who carried His authority and faith. Your “light” moment may come through a preached word, a godly counsel, or a direct revelation from God’s Word that you embrace as truth for your situation.

3. The Result of Divine Light: From Stagnation to Supernatural Movement

Immediate and Dramatic Change:
The man’s healing was instant and comprehensive. He didn’t just walk; he leaped, demonstrating an overflow of joy and restored strength. Divine light doesn’t just allow you to move; it imparts a supernatural capacity for movement, turning a crawl into a leap, and grumbling into praise.

Forward and Upward Trajectory:
Light doesn’t just illuminate your current spot; it reveals the path forward. Daddy Adeboye prophesies a “forward and upward” movement. This means progressive advancement (forward) and promotion or elevation (upward) in every aspect of life—spiritually, financially, in health, and in purpose.

How to Position for Your “Let There Be Light” Moment

Position Yourself at the ‘Beautiful Gate’:
The lame man was placed where people went to worship. Be consistently in the place of prayer, fellowship, and the teaching of God’s Word. Your breakthrough will meet you where you expect God.

Listen for the Command, Not Just Coins:
The man asked for alms (a temporary fix), but Peter and John offered a creative command (a permanent solution). Train your spirit to recognize and receive God’s life-giving word for your situation, even when it’s different from what you initially asked for.

Respond in Obedient Faith:
The command required a response: “And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up” (Acts 3:7). When God’s light-releasing word comes to you, you must act on it in faith, even if your “legs” have never worked before. Your faith-action completes the circuit for the miracle.

Warning: Don’t Acclimate to the Darkness

The greatest danger is to grow accustomed to your night, to decorate your stagnation, and to make peace with your lameness. The lame man could have refused Peter’s hand, content with his daily alms. Reject that spirit. Cry out for the light until it comes.

Conclusion: Decree Light Over Your Life

Pray this:
“Creator God, who commanded light at the beginning, speak Your creative word over my life now! Let there be light in every area shrouded in darkness, stagnation, and sorrow. I receive Your command that ends my night and launches me into a new day of progress and joy. I rise up in faith, like the lame man, and I choose to walk, leap, and praise You for my forward and upward movement this year, in Jesus’ mighty name!”

Action Steps:

1. Identify Your Darkness: Write down one specific area of “darkness” or “stagnation” in your life. Name it before God.
2. Find Your Genesis 1:3 Verse: Search Scripture for a promise that directly contradicts that darkness (e.g., for financial lack, Philippians 4:19). This is God’s “Let there be light” decree for you.
3. Activate It Daily: For 21 days, speak that scripture aloud over your situation every morning and night, declaring “Let there be light!”
4. Prepare to Leap: Perform one act of faith this week that corresponds to your desired breakthrough (e.g., if praying for a job, update your CV/send an application). This is you “stretching forth” your lame leg in response to the word.

Remember: The same God who spoke to primordial darkness speaks to your situation. His word is not a suggestion; it is a creative command. Your season of stagnation ends now.
“And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.” (Genesis 1:3). Receive your light now.

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