The Open Heaven 16 April 2026 devotional for today is REVERSING CURSES.
The author of this daily devotion is Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
OPEN HEAVEN 16 APRIL 2026 TODAY DEVOTIONAL
TOPIC: REVERSING CURSES
MEMORISE
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
Galatians 3:13
READ: 2 Kings 2:19-22
19 And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, I pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord seeth: but the water is naught, and the ground barren.
20 And he said, Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein. And they brought it to him.
21 And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith the Lord, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land.
22 So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spake.
RCCG OPEN HEAVENS 16 APRIL 2026 TODAY MESSAGE
In today’s Bible reading, the men of Jericho approached Elisha to tell him about the problems in their city. The city had problems because it had been placed under a curse by Joshua (Joshua 6:26), who had long been dead. After his death, the curse continued in full force until Elisha arrived on the scene and dealt with it from its roots.
Regardless of how powerful a curse is, God has the power to reverse it and change it into blessings.
In Genesis 49:5-7, Jacob was on his deathbed when he cursed Simeon and Levi. He said that they would be scattered in Israel. However, in Numbers 3:11-13, the Almighty God said to Moses, “I have decided in my sovereignty to make Levi my firstborn.” In His sovereignty, God reversed Jacob’s curse on Levi and turned it into honour.
When a fellow is cursed, he or she often begins to experience hardship, suffering, pain, sickness, poverty, etc. The devil operates freely in the life of anyone who is under a curse. This is why, if you notice that a curse is at work in your life or family, don’t keep quiet about it. Rather, cry unto the Lord and trust in His power to deliver you completely.
He longs to deliver you from anything that might have kept you from operating in the fullness of His plans and purposes for your life. Jesus Christ has delivered you from the curse of the law, as you see in today’s memory verse. He can overrule any curse that might have been placed on you by anyone and reverse generational curses, turning them into generational blessings.
In 1 Chronicles 4:9-10, the Bible says that Jabez was an honourable man. However, because of his mother’s negative pronouncement over him, he was labelled as someone who causes sorrow. Her words were a limitation over his life, and this must have eventually driven him to cry to the Lord, saying, “Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me!” God granted him his request and reversed the curse that was on him.
Beloved, if you are under any generational or parental curse like Jabez, I want you to cry to God to deliver you today. He is the only One who can reverse the irreversible. Run to Him today, and you will experience total deliverance.
KEY POINT:
God can remove any curse that might exist in your life and replace it with His abundant blessings.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
1 Kings 19-20
Open Heavens HYMN 13: Jesus loves me! This I know
OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL 16 APRIL 2026 COMMENTARY
MEMORISE: Galatians 3:13
“Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.”
This is one of the most liberating verses in Scripture. It declares that Jesus didn’t just come to teach us or heal us—He came to become a curse on our behalf. Every curse that should have fallen on us fell on Him at the cross. The result is that we are redeemed—bought back, set free, transferred out of the curse zone into the blessing zone.
BIBLE READING: 2 Kings 2:19-22
This passage records one of Elisha’s first miracles after receiving Elijah’s mantle. The men of Jericho came to him with a serious problem: the water was bad, and the land was barren. The city had been under a curse since Joshua’s day (Joshua 6:26), and despite the passage of time, the curse was still operating. Elisha asked for a new bowl with salt, went to the spring, cast the salt in, and declared, “Thus saith the LORD, I have healed these waters.” The water was healed and brought life instead of death. This miracle demonstrates that God can reverse ancient curses and bring healing where death has ruled for generations.
The God Who Reverses Curses
In today’s devotional, Pastor E.A. Adeboye addresses a sensitive but important topic: curses. He reveals that curses are real, but the God we serve is more real. No matter how old a curse is, no matter who pronounced it, no matter how powerful it seems—God has the authority and power to reverse it completely and turn it into a blessing.
The City Under an Ancient Curse
The Bible reading gives us a fascinating case study. The city of Jericho had been placed under a curse by Joshua hundreds of years earlier. After the walls fell, Joshua declared: “Cursed be the man before the LORD, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho” (Joshua 6:26). That curse had been in effect for generations. The city was eventually rebuilt, but the curse remained active—the water was bad, and the land was barren.
Notice something important: the man who pronounced the curse was long dead. Joshua had gone to be with his fathers. But the curse continued. Curses don’t automatically die when the person who spoke them dies. They can continue operating through generations until someone with higher authority breaks them.
When Elisha arrived, the men of Jericho told him their problem. He didn’t ignore them. He didn’t tell them to just have faith and ignore it. He took action. He asked for a new bowl with salt, went to the source of the water—the spring—and cast the salt in, declaring God’s healing over the water. The curse was broken. The water was healed. The land became fruitful.
The Sovereignty of God Over Curses
The devotional gives another powerful example: the tribe of Levi. Jacob, on his deathbed, cursed Simeon and Levi for their violence at Shechem. He declared they would be scattered in Israel. That curse stood for generations.
But then God intervened. In Numbers 3, God sovereignly chose the tribe of Levi to be His special possession. He made them the priestly tribe. He set them apart for His service. The curse of scattering became the blessing of distribution—they were scattered throughout Israel not in judgment, but to serve as priests and teachers.
What man meant for evil, God turned for good. What looked like a permanent curse became a permanent blessing. This is what our God does.
Jabez: The Man Who Refused His Name
The story of Jabez is one of the most inspiring in Scripture. His mother named him “Jabez” because it sounded like the Hebrew word for sorrow. She essentially labeled him: “This child will cause pain.” Every time someone called his name, they were pronouncing a limitation over him. “Here comes Sorrow.” “That’s Pain walking by.”
But Jabez refused to accept his naming as his destiny. He cried out to God:
- “Bless me indeed” (not just a little)
- “Enlarge my coast” (expand my territory)
- “Let Your hand be with me” (divine presence)
- “Keep me from evil” (divine protection)
God granted his request. The curse of his name was reversed. The man labeled “Sorrow” became honorable. His limitation became his testimony.
Signs a Curse May Be Operating
How do you know if a curse is at work in your life? The devotional lists some indicators:
- Unexplained hardship: Things just never seem to work out, no matter how hard you try
- Repeated suffering: The same problems keep coming back generation after generation
- Chronic sickness: Diseases that medicine can’t explain or cure
- Persistent poverty: Despite working hard, you never seem to get ahead
- Broken relationships: Patterns of divorce, abandonment, or conflict repeat in your family
If you recognize these patterns, don’t ignore them. Don’t just try harder. Don’t pretend they don’t exist. Bring them to the One who has authority over every curse.
How Curses Are Broken
The memory verse gives us the foundation: Christ has redeemed us from the curse. The work is already done. At the cross, Jesus became a curse for us. Every curse that should have fallen on us fell on Him. Legally, we are already free.
But that freedom must be applied. Here is how:
- Identify the Curse: Like the men of Jericho, be honest about the problem. Name it. Don’t hide from it.
- Bring It to Jesus: He is the only One with authority over curses. You cannot break a curse by willpower or positive thinking. You need the One who became a curse for you.
- Confess and Renounce: If the curse is tied to sin—ancestral or personal—confess it. Renounce any agreement with the enemy. Close the door.
- Apply the Blood of Jesus: The cross is the place where curses end. Plead the blood of Jesus over your life, your family, your situation.
- Receive Your New Identity: Like Jabez, don’t let the old label define you. You are not your name. You are not your family history. You are a child of God, blessed in Christ.
- Walk in Freedom: After the water was healed, the land produced fruit. After Jabez prayed, his territory expanded. After Levi was chosen, they served God. After the curse is broken, you must walk in the blessing.
The Power of Crying Out
Notice a pattern in these stories:
- The men of Jericho told Elisha their problem
- Jabez cried to the Lord
- Levi didn’t ask, but God in His sovereignty acted
Crying out to God is not a sign of weakness—it is an act of faith. It acknowledges that the curse is too strong for you but not too strong for Him. It positions you to receive His intervention.
Conclusion: Your Curse Can Become a Blessing
Whatever curse may be operating in your life—generational, parental, spoken by others, self-inflicted—it is not permanent. The God who reversed Joshua’s curse on Jericho, who turned Jacob’s curse on Levi into blessing, who answered Jabez’s cry—that same God is your God.
Jesus has already redeemed you from the curse. The legal work is done. Now it’s time to apply that freedom to every area of your life. Don’t stay silent. Don’t accept the labels. Cry out to Him today, and watch Him reverse the irreversible.
Pray this:
“Father, I come to You in the name of Jesus Christ, who became a curse for me. I bring every curse operating in my life before You—generational curses, parental pronouncements, words spoken against me. I renounce them in Jesus’ name. I apply the blood of Jesus over my life. I declare that I am redeemed from the curse. Turn my curse into blessing. Let my limitation become my testimony. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Action Steps:
- Research your family history: Are there patterns of sin, sickness, poverty, or brokenness that repeat? Write them down.
- Break the silence: Share with a trusted pastor or prayer partner any curses you suspect are operating.
- Pray specifically: Like Jabez, pray over each area—blessing, territory, presence, protection.
- Speak your new identity: Stop calling yourself by the old names. Declare what God says about you: blessed, chosen, redeemed, free.
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