Today’s Open Heaven devotional (16 March 2025) is MARRIAGE: DON’T WAIT FOR PERFECT CONDITIONS
The daily devotion guide is written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
OPEN HEAVEN 16 MARCH 2025 DEVOTIONAL
TOPIC: MARRIAGE: DON’T WAIT FOR PERFECT CONDITIONS
MEMORISE
He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not
Ecclesiastes 11:4
READ: Genesis 2:18-25
18 And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
19 And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.
20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.
21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
22 And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 16 MARCH 2025 MESSAGE
In today’s Bible reading, God said that it is not good for I man to be alone, and He instituted marriage. This is why believers should not delay getting married once they are mature enough, have a stable source of income, and God has shown them the right partners.
Marriage, however, isn’t an achievement in itself; a man and his wife are to help each other achieve their God-given goals. Believers should not try to achieve everything before getting married; whoever they marry is to help them fulfil their purpose and aspirations. Some of the things people struggle to achieve will become easier when their helpers join them (Deuteronomy 32:30).
The earlier people marry and start having children, the quicker they can finish raising them and focus on God’s work. However, this exempts those whom God told specifically not to get married. I thank God I married early and had children early too. Imagine if I had my first child at age 40; I might have been unable to focus on God’s work as I should, and my wife might have been unavailable to help me. Once I was done raising all my children, I might not have had the same strength I had to do God’s work in the early days of my ministry.
Many people delay getting married until they realise that time is running out fast.
Consequently, they hurriedly find someone to marry. Marriage is not an institution to rush into; there is a need to pray and be sure of God’s will concerning it. When people are in a hurry to get married, everything will look like a sign of God’s will, and they may end up marrying the wrong partners. Marrying the wrong person is like driving with someone who isn’t going in your direction. There will always be disagreements, confusion, and stress because both parties are going in opposite directions.
Lamentations 3:27 says that it is good for a man to bear the yoke in his youth. In the context of marriage, ‘yoke’ is not a bad thing because marriage means being yoked together with the person that God has ordained to help you. In youth, people have enough strength
To conquer mountains and achieve profound things with their spouses. It is unwise to wait for the perfect conditions before getting married because they will never come (Ecclesiastes 11:4). Those who keep waiting to have everything before they marry might end up wasting precious time chasing the wrong things.
KEY POINT:
Unless God has specifically told you to wait, it is unwise to delay getting married.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
Judges 9-10
HYMN 33: GUIDE ME, O THOU GREAT JEHOVAH!
OPEN HEAVEN 16 MARCH 2025 COMMENTARY
1. God’s Design for Marriage: Partnership, Not Perfection
Open Heaven devotional for today opens with God’s declaration: “It is not good that man should be alone” (Genesis 2:18). This establishes:
- Marriage is God’s idea, not a cultural construct.
- Its purpose: To provide companionship and mutual support in fulfilling destiny (Deuteronomy 32:30).
Key Insight:
- Marriage is not an “achievement” but a divine partnership where spouses “help” each other (Genesis 2:18).
- Delaying marriage to “achieve everything first” misunderstands its purpose—your spouse is meant to be part of the journey.
Application:
✔ Single believers: Pray for clarity on timing, but avoid postponing marriage due to unrealistic expectations.
✔ Married couples: Align your goals to serve God’s purpose together.
2. The Danger of Delay: Missing God’s Timing
Today’s devotional warns against two extremes:
- Waiting Too Long:
- “Time runs out fast” leads to rushed, unwise decisions.
- Example: Marrying at 40+ may limit energy for parenting and ministry.
- Rushing In:
- Desperation clouds discernment (“everything looks like a sign”).
- Result: Being “yoked” to the wrong person (2 Corinthians 6:14).
Biblical Principle:
- “Bear the yoke in your youth” (Lamentations 3:27) → Youthful strength is ideal for building a life together.
Action Step:
✔ Single believers: List qualities of a godly spouse (Proverbs 31/1 Timothy 3) and pray for divine connection.
3. Marriage as a Stewardship of Time and Strength
Pastor Adeboye’s testimony highlights practical wisdom:
- He married and had children early → Freed him to focus on ministry later.
- Early marriage allows:
- Energy for parenting.
- Time to build a legacy together.
Modern Challenges:
- Cultural shifts (delaying marriage for careers) often ignore biological/spiritual clocks.
- Financial stability is important, but perfectionism paralyzes (Ecclesiastes 11:4).
Prayer:
“Lord, guide me to marry at the right time, with the right person, for Your glory.”
4. The “Wrong Partner” Warning
The devotional for today uses a powerful analogy:
- “Marrying the wrong person is like driving with someone going the opposite direction.”
- Constant conflict (Amos 3:3).
- Hindered destiny (1 Kings 11:4 – Solomon’s pagan wives).
How to Avoid This:
- Pray for discernment (James 1:5).
- Seek counsel (Proverbs 15:22).
- Test character (1 Samuel 16:7 – God looks at the heart).
Red Flags:
- Disregard for God’s Word.
- Unwillingness to grow spiritually.
- Selfish ambition over unity.
5. The Call to Action: Faith Over Fear
The devotional closes with a challenge:
- Don’t wait for “perfect conditions”– they’ll never come (Ecclesiastes 11:4).
- Trust God’s timing, but avoid procrastination.
Prophetic Declaration:
“For those seeking marriage, I decree divine connections and timely unions, in Jesus’ name!”
Action Steps:
- Single believers: Fast and pray for clarity (Matthew 6:33).
- Parents: Guide your children biblically (Proverbs 22:6).
- Churches: Create godly spaces for fellowship (Acts 2:42).
Final Thought: Marriage Is a Ministry
God’s plan for marriage is greater than companionship. It’s a covenant to:
- Reflect Christ and the Church (Ephesians 5:32).
- Raise godly offspring (Malachi 2:15).
- Advance His kingdom together.
“Your spouse isn’t just a ‘plus-one’, they’re your God-assigned ally for destiny!”
Prayer:
“Father, align my heart with Your timing for marriage. Give me wisdom to choose well and faith to step forward when You say ‘now.’ Amen.”
“A godly marriage isn’t about finding the perfect person, it’s about partnering with the person God perfected for you.”
Read RCCG Open Heaven Devotional for Tomorrow
Download Open Heaven 16 March 2025 Devotional PDF
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