Today’s Open Heaven devotional (18 February 2026) is THE SECRET TO FRUITFULNESS.
The daily devotion guide is written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
OPEN HEAVEN 18 FEBRUARY 2026 DEVOTIONAL TODAY
TOPIC: THE SECRET TO FRUITFULNESS
MEMORISE:
By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
Hebrews 13:15
READ: Matthew 21:18-22
18 Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered.
19 And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.
20 And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!
21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 18 FEBRUARY 2026 MESSAGE TODAY
Yesterday, I discussed how praise opens the door to promotions by using David’s life as an example. Do you know that Michal’s disdain for her husband’s lavish praise shut her womb? If you want to enjoy fruitfulness in every aspect of your life, never despise praise. Never see praise as unnecessary, and don’t despise it when others praise God.
Some people see the praise and worship sessions of church services as unimportant, so they deliberately delay getting to church until praise and worship sessions are over. Praise and worship sessions are an integral part of church services; in fact, many people receive their miracles during such sessions.
Don’t cheat yourself out of God’s blessings by despising praise and worship; they are too important to be treated casually.
People who refuse to praise God become unfruitful like Michal.
In today’s Bible reading, Jesus was hungry as He returned to Bethany. He saw a fig tree from afar and moved close to it, expecting to find fruit on it to satisfy His hunger. However, when He got to the tree, it had many leaves but no fruit, so He cursed the tree.
Although it wasn’t yet time for fig trees to bear fruits, Jesus didn’t spare it; it had no fruit to satisfy the hunger of its Maker, so it withered completely.
Today’s memory verse tells us that praise is the fruit of our lips, and we are asked to offer it to God continually.
You have no excuse not to praise God. Elisabeth didn’t have a child after many years of marriage, yet she didn’t use it as an excuse to neglect praising God; she served Him faithfully despite her childlessness, walking in all His commandments and ordinances (Luke 1:5-7).
Praising God is one of His commandments, and you must be blameless in keeping it. Job didn’t stop praising God in the midst of his numerous losses; he lost all he had except his wife in one day, yet he blessed the name of the Lord (Job 1:20-21).
As a result, God turned his situation around and blessed him with double of everything he lost. If you desire to be fruitful and victorious in every area of your life, you must be committed to praising God, even in the midst of many challenges, like Jehoshaphat, who praised God even when he was surrounded by enemies (2 Chronicles 20:1-28).
Beloved, when you offer God the fruit of your lips continually, you will experience His tremendous blessings and enjoy fruitfulness in every area of your life.
KEY POINT:
Praising God is a powerful secret to fruitfulness.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
Numbers 27-29
Open Heavens HYMN 17: PRAISE MY SOUL THE KING OF HEAVEN
OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL 18 FEBRUARY 2026 COMMENTARY
MEMORISE: Hebrews 13:15
“By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”
This verse frames praise as a sacrifice and a fruit. As a sacrifice, it is something valuable we offer up to God, especially when it costs us our comfort or feelings. As fruit, it is the natural, expected produce of a life connected to the Vine (Christ). To be fruitless in praise is as abnormal and cursed as the fig tree was. The command is to offer it continually—without interruption or excuse.
BIBLE READING: Matthew 21:18-22
This passage provides a severe spiritual object lesson. The fig tree had the appearance of fruitfulness (“leaves”) but not the substance. It failed in its primary purpose: to bear fruit for its Creator’s hunger. Jesus’ curse highlights God’s intolerance for spiritual barrenness, especially in those who project an outward form of life (religion) but lack the genuine fruit of devotion (praise, obedience). The withered tree stands as a warning against a life that is all leaves and no fruit.
The Grave Consequence of Despising Praise
Building on yesterday’s teaching, Daddy Adeboye introduces a sobering outcome: “Michal’s disdain for her husband’s lavish praise shut her womb.” This is a powerful typology. Despising praise—whether in ourselves or in others—leads to spiritual and physical barrenness. Michal (2 Samuel 6:23) represents those who value human dignity over divine passion, and the result is fruitlessness. The application is direct: if you want God’s blessing of fruitfulness (in family, ministry, business, health), you must never treat praise as unimportant or excessive.
Praise is Non-Negotiable in God’s Economy
The devotional confronts common attitudes that cheat believers:
- The Casual Attender: Those who delay arrival to skip “unimportant” praise and worship. Daddy Adeboye corrects this sharply: these sessions are “an integral part” of service where “many people receive their miracles.” To neglect them is to “cheat yourself out of God’s blessings.”
- The Fruitless Tree: The cursed fig tree is a metaphor for the person who has the form of godliness (church attendance, religious activity—”leaves”) but does not produce the core fruit of lips: PRAISE. Such a life, though perhaps busy, is under a curse of barrenness because it fails to satisfy the hunger of its Maker.
The Test of Praise: Offering it Without Excuse
The message powerfully dismantles every potential excuse for praise-less living:
- The Excuse of Unfulfilled Desire (Elisabeth): She was childless for decades, yet she “walked in all His commandments and ordinances.” Praise is a commandment. Her obedience in barrenness preceded her miracle. Your unmet need is not an exemption from the command to praise.
- The Excuse of Overwhelming Loss (Job): In the depths of catastrophic loss, Job’s first act was worship (Job 1:20). Praise was his anchor, and it positioned him for a double restoration. Your crisis is the very platform for a sacrifice of praise.
- The Excuse of Imminent Danger (Jehoshaphat): Faced with annihilation, he placed praisers at the front of his army (2 Chronicles 20:21-22). Praise was his warfare strategy, and it brought supernatural victory. Your overwhelming enemy is a reason to praise, not a reason to be silent.
The Promise: Fruitfulness Through Continual Praise
The promise is clear and cause-effect: “When you offer God the fruit of your lips continually, you will experience His tremendous blessings and enjoy fruitfulness in every area.”
- Continual Praise keeps you connected to the Source of all life and blessing.
- It is an act of faith that declares God’s goodness before you see the harvest, thereby activating the harvest.
- It creates an atmosphere where God’s power moves, miracles happen, and the enemy’s plans wither (like the fig tree and the armies facing Jehoshaphat).
How to Live a Fruitful Life of Praise
- Prioritize Praise: Repent of treating praise sessions as optional. Determine to be present and fully engaged in corporate praise. See it as your primary service.
- Praise Without Condition: Follow the examples. Praise God for who He is when your prayer isn’t answered (like Elisabeth), when you’re in pain (like Job), and when you’re in panic (like Jehoshaphat). This is the “sacrifice.”
- Inspect Your Leaves: Ask the Holy Spirit to show you areas where you have “leaves” (outward religious activity) but lack the “fruit of your lips.” Replace empty ritual with heartfelt boasting in God.
- Use Praise as Warfare: When faced with a barren situation (financial, spiritual, physical), don’t just complain—praise. Command the fig tree of lack to wither in the atmosphere of your worship.
- Decree Fruitfulness: As you praise, declare that you are a fruitful branch. Proclaim that every area of your life is yielding harvest, because the fruitful One (Christ) lives in you, and you are bearing the fruit of His lips.
Prayer for a Fruitful Life of Praise:
“Lord God, my Maker and Sustainer, forgive me for every time I have despised or neglected the sacrifice of praise. I renounce the spirit of Michal and the barrenness of the fig tree. Today, I choose to offer You the fruit of my lips continually. Like Elisabeth, I will obey Your command to praise despite unmet desires. Like Job, I will bless Your name in the midst of loss. Like Jehoshaphat, I will send praise ahead of my battles. I believe that as I offer this sacrifice, You will fill me with Your life, open every womb of fruitfulness in my life, and cause me to be a blessing that satisfies Your heart. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
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