The Open Heaven 19 November 2025 devotional for today is BE VULNERABLE WITH GOD.
This is a daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
OPEN HEAVEN 19 NOVEMBER 2025 TODAY DEVOTIONAL
TOPIC: BE VULNERABLE WITH GOD
MEMORISE:
The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
Psalms 34:18
READ: Exodus 3:1-5:
1 Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.
2 And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.
3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.
4 And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.
5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 19 NOVEMBER 2025 TODAY MESSAGE
Whenever I am in God’s presence, I behave like a child because I recognise that I am just a baby in need of His love, comfort, mercy, and help. In Luke 18:9-14, Jesus told the story of two men who went into the temple to pray.
One boasted about his achievements before God but was not justified. However, the other man who went humbly before God and acknowledged his helplessness was justified.
In today’s world, many people approach God as ‘great people of faith’. However, this is why they pray for so long without getting responses from God.
When God described the dimensions of the mercy seat in the ark of the covenant to Moses in Exodus 25:17, He specified that its length was to be 2.5 cubits and its breadth was to be 1.5 cubits. Interestingly, God didn’t specify a height. This means that the mercy seat isn’t something to sit on but something to lie upon.
Those who will receive God’s mercy must come in their lowest state. When you’re in God’s presence, you must be vulnerable and discuss your weaknesses, problems, feelings, and areas of confusion with Him.
There is a difference between discussing and praying. Praying is asking for assistance, while discussing is saying, “Lord, this is me. I have tried this step and that step. What do I do?” If you have this posture in prayer, He will start teaching you things others don’t know.
Proverbs 3:7 warns us not to be wise in our own eyes. Some people ask for counsel but have already made up their minds on what to do.
Such people aren’t ready to listen to any advice but are only looking to rubber-stamp their decision. People who come to God like this never get anything from Him because they act like they know more than Him. They feel too proud to lay their ideas and strategies before Him and listen to His instructions.
In today’s Bible reading, when Moses encountered God in the burning bush, the first thing God asked him to do was to take off his shoes.
Beloved, your shoes represent the things that might be stopping you from being vulnerable with God, such as your knowledge and achievements. Take them off before coming to your heavenly Father. He never ignores those who are vulnerable before Him, and His mercy always finds the lowly (James 4:6).
I pray that God will extend His grace and help towards you as you humble yourself before Him daily, in Jesus’ name.
PRAYER POINT
Father, I humble myself before You. Please, let Your mercy find me and speak for me, in Jesus’ name.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
Acts 18-19
HYMN 30: WHEN WE WALK WITH THE LORD
OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL 19 NOVEMBER 2025 COMMENTARY
MEMORISE: Psalms 34:18 (KJV)
“The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”
This verse reveals God’s spatial proximity to a specific kind of heart. He does not draw near to the self-sufficient and proud, but positions Himself intimately close to those who are crushed in spirit and completely dependent on His mercy.
BIBLE READING: Exodus 3:1-5
This passage provides the foundational visual for approaching a holy God:
- v. 1-3: Moses encounters the supernatural manifestation of God in a burning bush. His initial response is curiosity: “I will now turn aside, and see…”
- v. 4-5: God calls out and establishes the protocol for His presence: “Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.” Intimacy with God requires the removal of all that is common and defiling.
The Posture of Powerlessness: Lying on the Mercy Seat
Pastor E.A. Adeboye delivers a profound and counter-cultural message on the necessity of childlike vulnerability in our relationship with God. He dismantles the “great man of faith” facade that many believers feel pressured to maintain, revealing that true spiritual power and divine counsel are found not in projecting strength, but in openly admitting our weakness and dependence.
1. The Heart God Justifies: The Publican vs. The Pharisee
The Boastful Heart is Rejected:
The Pharisee in Luke 18 approached God with a resume of his achievements, spiritual disciplines, and moral superiority. This posture of self-justification resulted in him leaving the temple unjustified, his prayers bouncing off the ceiling.
The Helpless Heart is Accepted:
The tax collector, by contrast, could not even lift his eyes to heaven. He stood at a distance, beating his breast and crying, “God, be merciful to me a sinner.” Jesus declares that this man went home justified. The key was his raw, unvarnished admission of his need for mercy.
2. The Powerful Symbolism of the Mercy Seat
A Place to Lie, Not to Sit:
Daddy Adeboye provides a stunning theological insight from Exodus 25:17. The Mercy Seat had length and breadth but no specified height. This signifies it was not a throne for a king to sit upon in authority, but a place for a supplicant to lie prostrate in total surrender and helplessness.
Coming in Our “Lowest State”:
The Mercy Seat, sprinkled with the blood of atonement, was the place where God met with His people. The lesson is clear: we access God’s mercy not by standing tall in our own righteousness, but by laying ourselves out completely before Him—weaknesses, failures, confusion, and all.
3. The Practice of Vulnerable Prayer: Discussion vs. Monologue
Praying as Asking:
This is presenting God with a list of requests. While not wrong, it can be a one-way transaction that maintains a safe distance.
Discussing as Vulnerability:
This is a far deeper level of intimacy. It involves coming to God and saying, “Lord, this is me. I have tried this step and that step. I am confused, scared, and out of ideas. What do I do?” This posture of humble inquiry invites God to become our Teacher and personal Counselor.
How to Approach God with Biblical Humility
1. Take Off Your “Shoes”:
As God commanded Moses, we must remove the “shoes” of our human achievements, intellectual knowledge, and spiritual credentials. These things create a barrier between our vulnerable flesh and the “holy ground” of God’s presence. We must come barefoot, symbolizing total reliance.
2. Reject Self-Wisdom:
Proverbs 3:7 warns against being wise in our own eyes. Many come to God seeking not His counsel, but His rubber stamp on their pre-made decisions. This pride ensures they “never get anything from Him” because it fundamentally questions God’s superior wisdom.
3. Embrace the Identity of a Child:
Follow Daddy Adeboye’s example. In God’s presence, he consciously behaves “like a child.” This means setting aside the need to appear strong, faithful, or knowledgeable, and simply receiving His love, comfort, and help as a dependent son.
Warning: The Barrier of a Performance-Based Faith
Approaching God as a “great person of faith” is often a subtle form of pride that leads to unanswered prayers. It focuses on our own spiritual stature rather than on God’s boundless mercy. This performance mentality keeps God at a distance because it refuses to acknowledge the very helplessness that qualifies us for His grace.
Conclusion: Finding Strength in Sacred Weakness
Pray this:
“Heavenly Father, I come to You now not as a ‘great person of faith,’ but as a helpless child. I lay myself upon Your Mercy Seat. I take off the shoes of my achievements, my knowledge, and my pride. Here is my broken heart, my confusion, and my weakness. Be near to me, save me, and teach me what I do not know. I trust in Your mercy alone, in Jesus’ name.”
Action Steps:
- Practice Prostrate Prayer: This week, physically lie face down before God during your private prayer time. Let your body posture reflect the state of your heart.
- Journal Your Vulnerabilities: Write a brutally honest “discussion” prayer to God. List your specific failures, fears, and areas of confusion. Then, wait silently for His comforting and instructive response.
- Meditate on the Mercy Seat: Read about the Ark of the Covenant in Exodus 25 and the role of the Mercy Seat in Romans 3:25. Let it reshape your understanding of how to approach God.
Remember: The door to God’s throne room is low, requiring all who enter to bow. His power is made perfect not in our strength, but in our acknowledged weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). Your vulnerability is not a liability; it is your greatest asset in accessing His grace.
“God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” (James 4:6). Your humility is the conduit for His power.
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