The Open Heavens 16 July 2026 devotional for today is
DELIVERANCE FROM THE BURDEN OF DEBTS.
This is a daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
OPEN HEAVENS 16 JULY 2026 TODAY DEVOTIONAL
TOPIC: DELIVERANCE FROM THE BURDEN OF DEBTS
MEMORISE:
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
Luke 4:18
READ: 2 Kings 4:1-7
Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the Lord: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.
2 And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil.
3 Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.
4 And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full.
5 So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out.
6 And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed.
7 Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.
RCCG OPEN HEAVENS 16 JULY 2026 TODAY MESSAGE
Today, I will discuss the burden of debt as another category of burdens. Some years ago, we had a housemaid who would always sing, “The fire is burning the bush, and the bush is not consumed. How great is our God!” every time we asked her to bring up a song during our family prayers. One day, it occurred to me to ask her what the unconsumed bush she always sang about was.
When I did, I discovered that she became a housemaid because her parents were heavily in debt and could not pay their bills. Therefore, we decided to pay off all the debt. After paying the debt, the next time we asked her to suggest a song when we wanted to pray, she sang something different. This time, her song was, “He has done it for me. What my father cannot do, He has done it for me.” If you are under any burden of debt, I pray that this will also be your song soon, in Jesus’ name.
Today’s Bible reading tells us the story of the widow of one of the sons of the prophets who was in debt. When the creditors threatened to sell her sons into slavery as a means to offset the debts, she cried unto the Burden Bearer, as there was nothing she could do on her own, and the tide turned. God gave her more than enough to pay her debts and live comfortably with her sons.
It is God’s desire for all His children to live debt-free because debts are heavy burdens, and debtors are always at the mercy of their creditors. This is why Proverbs 22:7 says that the borrower is a servant to the lender. The only thing God permits you to owe other people is love (Romans 13:8). If you are currently struggling under a heavy burden of debt, call unto Him today and ask Him to turn your financial situation around for good. No matter the size of the debt, the Burden Bearer will step in and help you to overcome it.
As 2 Corinthians 9:8 says, He is able to make all grace abound towards you and give you sufficiency in all things. He will not only ensure that you become debt-free, but He will give you the power to get wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18) and make you a lender to nations (Deuteronomy 15:6).
I pray that God will bless you with His abundance and indeed make you a lender to nations, in Jesus’ name.
PRAYER POINT
Father, please make me a lender to nations, in Jesus’ name.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
Isaiah 4-8
Open Heavens HYMN 29: WHEN PEACE LIKE A RIVER ATTENDETH MY WAY
OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL 16 JULY 2026 COMMENTARY
MEMORISE: Luke 4:18
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.”
This verse is Jesus’ mission statement, read from the scroll of Isaiah in the Nazareth synagogue.
BIBLE READING: 2 Kings 4:1-7
This passage, familiar from previous devotionals, is the story of the widow of a son of the prophets. Her husband died, leaving behind a massive debt. The creditor was coming to take her two sons as slaves. She had nothing in her house but a small pot of oil. Elisha instructed her to borrow empty vessels from her neighbors, shut the door, and pour the oil. The oil flowed until every vessel was full. She sold the oil, paid the debt, and lived on the remainder.
The Housemaid’s Song: From “The Fire Is Burning” to “He Has Done It for Me”
1. The Song of the Unconsumed Bush
“Some years ago, we had a housemaid who would always sing, ‘The fire is burning the bush, and the bush is not consumed. How great is our God!’ every time we asked her to bring up a song during our family prayers. One day, it occurred to me to ask her what the unconsumed bush she always sang about was.”
This is a fascinating testimony. The girl sang about the burning bush (Exodus 3)—where God appeared to Moses in a flame that did not consume the bush. It was a song of survival, of not being destroyed despite the fire.
| The Song’s Lyrics | Possible Meaning |
|---|---|
| “The fire is burning the bush” | The pressure, the trial, the burden |
| “The bush is not consumed” | Surviving, but not yet delivered |
| “How great is our God” | Acknowledging God even in the struggle |
“When I did, I discovered that she became a housemaid because her parents were heavily in debt and could not pay their bills.”
The “fire” was her family’s debt. The “bush” was their household, burning but not yet consumed. She was working as a housemaid because her parents could not afford to keep her at home. The debt had forced their daughter into service.
“Therefore, we decided to pay off all the debt.”
Daddy Adeboye did not just pray for her. He acted. The debt was paid. The fire was extinguished.
2. The New Song
“After paying the debt, the next time we asked her to suggest a song when we wanted to pray, she sang something different. This time, her song was, ‘He has done it for me. What my father cannot do, He has done it for me.’”
| Before the Debt Was Paid | After the Debt Was Paid |
|---|---|
| “The fire is burning the bush” | “He has done it for me” |
| “The bush is not consumed” (still burning, still in danger) | “What my father cannot do, He has done it for me” |
| A song of survival | A song of deliverance |
| Hope that the fire would stop | Testimony that the fire has stopped |
“If you are under any burden of debt, I pray that this will also be your song soon, in Jesus’ name.”
Not “the fire is still burning.” Not “we are not consumed.” But “He has done it for me.” Complete deliverance. Debt paid. Freedom declared.
The Widow’s Debt: A Testimony of Supernatural Provision
1. The Desperate Situation
“Today’s Bible reading tells us the story of the widow of one of the sons of the prophets who was in debt. When the creditors threatened to sell her sons into slavery as a means to offset the debts, she cried unto the Burden Bearer, as there was nothing she could do on her own.”
Consider the widow’s predicament:
| Her Problem | The Stakes |
|---|---|
| Massive debt she could not pay | Creditor was coming |
| No husband, no income | Her two sons would be taken as slaves |
| No resources, no collateral | She was helpless, hopeless |
She had no job. No savings. No wealthy relative to call. No credit card to borrow from. She had nothing except a pot of oil and a desperate cry.
2. The Burden Bearer’s Response
“God gave her more than enough to pay her debts and live comfortably with her sons.”
| What She Had | What God Provided |
|---|---|
| A pot of oil | Oil that flowed into many vessels |
| A desperate need | More than enough |
| Fear of losing her sons | Sons freed from slavery |
| Debt that seemed impossible to pay | Debt paid in full |
| Nothing left over after the debt | Enough to live on comfortably |
“She cried unto the Burden Bearer, as there was nothing she could do on her own, and the tide turned.”
This is the key. She did not try to fix it herself. She did not borrow from another lender. She cried out to God. And God answered.
God’s Desire: Debt-Free Living
“It is God’s desire for all His children to live debt-free because debts are heavy burdens, and debtors are always at the mercy of their creditors.”
| The Burden of Debt | The Reality |
|---|---|
| Debt is a heavy burden | It weighs on the mind, body, and spirit |
| Debtors are at the mercy of creditors | Creditors dictate terms, impose interest, demand payment |
| Debt steals peace | You cannot sleep while owing what you cannot pay |
| Debt limits your future | You cannot serve God fully when you are serving lenders |
Proverbs 22:7 – “The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.”
| A Debtor Is a Servant | What That Means |
|---|---|
| You are not free | Your decisions are constrained by your obligation |
| Your income is not your own | You are working to pay someone else |
| You cannot give freely | Debt limits your ability to bless others |
| You live under pressure | The threat of collection, repossession, legal action |
“The only thing God permits you to owe other people is love (Romans 13:8).”
Romans 13:8 – “Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.”
| Owe Love | Owe Money |
|---|---|
| Always permitted | Permitted only in certain contexts, but not as a lifestyle |
| Never ending (love is always due) | Should be temporary and quickly resolved |
| Brings freedom and fulfillment | Brings bondage and stress |
God does not prohibit all borrowing (Scripture permits lending and borrowing). But He makes clear that debt is a form of servitude, and His desire is for His children to be free.
The Promise: God Can Turn Your Situation Around
“If you are currently struggling under a heavy burden of debt, call unto Him today and ask Him to turn your financial situation around for good. No matter the size of the debt, the Burden Bearer will step in and help you to overcome it.”
| What Debt Says | What God Says |
|---|---|
| “This is impossible” | “All things are possible to him that believeth” |
| “You will be in debt forever” | “I will restore the years the locust has eaten” |
| “Your situation is hopeless” | “I am the God of the impossible” |
| “You are at the mercy of your creditors” | “I am your Provider; trust Me” |
“As 2 Corinthians 9:8 says, He is able to make all grace abound towards you and give you sufficiency in all things.”
2 Corinthians 9:8 – “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.”
| What God Provides | The Result |
|---|---|
| All grace | Not partial, not occasional—all grace |
| Sufficiency in all things | Enough—not barely enough, but sufficient |
| Abound to every good work | Not just survival, but abundance for giving |
“He will not only ensure that you become debt-free, but He will give you the power to get wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18) and make you a lender to nations (Deuteronomy 15:6).”
Deuteronomy 8:18 – “But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.”
Deuteronomy 15:6 – “For the LORD thy God blesseth thee, as he promised thee: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not borrow; and thou shalt reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over thee.”
| From Borrowing to Lending | What God Promises |
|---|---|
| You will not borrow | Freedom from servitude |
| You will lend to many | Abundance that overflows |
| You will reign | Dominion, not debt |
How to Be Set Free from the Burden of Debt (Practical Steps)
Based on Daddy Adeboye’s teaching and the examples from Scripture, here is how to cry out to the Burden Bearer and receive financial freedom:
1. Acknowledge That You Cannot Do It Alone
The widow did not try to pay the debt through her own efforts. She had nothing. She cried out. Likewise, you must come to the end of yourself. Stop trying to solve the problem with more debt, more schemes, more desperate measures. Cry out to God.
2. Cry Out to the Burden Bearer
Pray specifically: “Lord, I am under a burden of debt. I cannot pay it. I ask You to intervene. Turn my situation around.” Do not pray once and give up. Cry out like the widow—persistently, desperately, expectantly.
3. Use What You Have (The Pot of Oil Principle)
The widow had a pot of oil. It seemed small, useless, insignificant. But it was the seed of her miracle. Ask God: What do I have that I have overlooked? What skill, resource, relationship, or opportunity have I dismissed as too small? Use it. Obey. Watch God multiply.
4. Obey Practical Wisdom While Trusting God
The widow had to borrow vessels, shut the door, and pour the oil. She had to act. God’s deliverance from debt often involves both supernatural provision and practical obedience:
- Create a budget
- Cut unnecessary expenses
- Increase income (work harder, take extra jobs, develop skills)
- Stop borrowing
- Tithe and give (giving breaks financial curses)
5. Declare That Your Song Will Change
Do not keep singing “the fire is still burning.” Start declaring: “He has done it for me. What I cannot do, God will do for me. My debt is being paid. My freedom is coming.” Your words shape your faith. Your faith shapes your future.
Warning: Do Not Let Debt Keep You from Serving God
Daddy Adeboye’s devotional carries an urgent encouragement: debt is a burden, but it is not the end. The widow’s sons were about to be taken as slaves, but God intervened. The housemaid was working because of her family’s debt, but God sent someone to pay it.
| If You Are in Debt | Do Not |
|---|---|
| Do not despair | Despair shuts down faith |
| Do not compromise | Sin will only worsen the burden |
| Do not abandon God | God is your only hope |
| Do not give up on giving | Giving breaks the cycle of lack |
Conclusion: Your Prayer for Debt Freedom
Daddy Adeboye closes with a prayer that God will bless you with His abundance and make you a lender to nations. Do not settle for a life of debt. Cry out to the Burden Bearer today.
Pray this:
“Lord Jesus, I come to You as the Burden Bearer. You anointed to preach deliverance to captives and set at liberty them that are bruised. I am bruised by debt. I am captive to creditors. I have been singing ‘the fire is still burning’ for too long. Today, I cry out to You. Like the widow in 2 Kings 4, I have nothing in my house—but I bring my small pot of oil to You. Like the housemaid whose family was in debt, I ask for someone to help pay what I cannot pay. But above all, I ask for Your supernatural intervention. Turn my situation around. Pay my debts. Set me free. Give me the power to get wealth. Make me a lender, not a borrower. And let my song change from ‘the bush is not consumed’ to ‘He has done it for me.’ I receive my freedom today. In Jesus’ mighty name.”
Action Steps:
- The Debt Inventory: Write down every debt you owe—to whom, how much, and the interest rate. Face the full reality. Then bring that list before the Lord in prayer.
- The Cry of the Widow: Set aside 30 minutes this week to cry out to God specifically about your debt. Do not hold back. Pour out your desperation. Ask Him to intervene.
- The Pot of Oil Search: Identify one resource you already have that you have overlooked—a skill you could monetize, an item you could sell, a connection you have not utilized. Take one step to use it this week.
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