The Open Heaven 2 June 2026 devotional for today is A BRAND-NEW HEART II.
This is a daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
OPEN HEAVEN 2 JUNE 2026 TODAY DEVOTIONAL
TOPIC: A BRAND-NEW HEART II
MEMORISE:
As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, God.
Psalm 42:1
READ: Matthew 13:3-4, Matthew 13:19
3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:
19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 2 JUNE 2026 TODAY MESSAGE
The first type of soil that Jesus mentioned in the Parable of the Sower is ‘The way side, as we see in today’s Bible reading. This soil type refers to people who hear God’s word but do not understand it or act upon it.
This category of people do not study their Bibles, and even when they do, they don’t ask their pastors or Bible Study teachers any questions. They never seek to understand God’s word; they only hear His word and move on with their lives.
Many of the people in this category are ceremonial churchgoers; they are often raised in Christian homes, so it is normal for them to attend church on Sundays. I was once this type of Christian. I thought that my father, being a church volunteer, and my name being Enoch, was proof that I was a child of God. I heard God’s word several times, but I never studied it. I thank God that He gave me a new heart when I surrendered my life to Jesus Christ.
Beloved, are you the same way I was? Are you only reading this devotional because it is the norm in your church, family, or office to do so? Do you ever dig deeper to understand what is discussed? When you study your Bible, do you get bored after reading the second or third verse? If you answered “Yes” to these questions, you need to ask God for a new heart; a heart that yearns to know Him more.
Ask God to give you a heart that finds His word interesting and loves to spend time in His presence.
Most importantly, ensure that you take some time every day to study your Bible. You can start by reading a bit further on the topics discussed in this devotional each day, or using the Bible-in-one-year passages.
You may not understand much when you begin doing these things, but as you remain consistent and ask God to help you, the Holy Spirit will start explaining the Scriptures to you, and soon, your heart will begin to soak in God’s word and yield great fruit.
The best thing you can do for yourself is to seek to understand God’s word more each day. When you make this your priority, you will begin to experience His peace and favour in ways you have never done before. I pray that your life will indeed be a bountiful harvest of God’s goodness, in Jesus’ name.
PRAYER POINT:
Father, please give me a heart that yearns for your word more than anything else.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
Job 25-30
Open Heavens HYMN 3: ANCIENT WORDS
OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL 2 JUNE 2026 COMMENTARY
MEMORISE: Psalm 42:1
“As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.”
This verse captures the intense, desperate longing of a deer being pursued by hunters. When a hart (deer) is chased, it runs until its tongue hangs out, lungs burn, and every fiber of its being cries out for one thing: water. Daddy Adeboye uses this imagery to contrast the casual, ceremonial Christian with the truly transformed believer. The question is not whether you attend church—it is whether your soul pants for God Himself, or merely tolerates religious routines. A heart that pants after God cannot simply hear the word and walk away; it must drink deeply.
BIBLE READING: Matthew 13:3-4, Matthew 13:19
Matthew 13:3-4 – “Behold, a sower went forth to sow; And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up.”
Matthew 13:19 – “When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.”
These verses introduce the first and most tragic soil type: the wayside heart. Unlike the stony or thorny ground where seeds at least begin to grow temporarily, the wayside ground never lets the seed penetrate at all. The path is so hard, compacted by years of religious routine and spiritual indifference, that the word lies on the surface—exposed, vulnerable, and instantly stolen.
The Wayside Heart: Hearing Without Understanding
1. Who Are the Wayside Hearers?
Daddy Adeboye gives a personal and penetrating description. The wayside heart belongs to people who:
| Characteristic | Biblical Description | Modern Example |
|---|---|---|
| Hear but do not understand | Matthew 13:19 – no comprehension or application | Listens to sermons but cannot summarize what was said |
| Never study their Bibles | Acts 17:11 (opposite of Bereans) | Owns multiple Bibles but only opens them at church |
| Ask no questions | Proverbs 2:3-5 (crying for knowledge) | Sits through Bible study in silence, afraid or unwilling to inquire |
| Ceremonial churchgoers | Isaiah 29:13 – honor with lips, heart far away | Attends because “that’s what our family does” |
| Spiritual inheritance assumers | Matthew 3:9 – “We have Abraham as our father” | Trusts in a parent’s salvation or a Christian name |
“I thought that my father, being a church volunteer, and my name being Enoch, was proof that I was a child of God.” – Pastor E.A. Adeboye (Daddy Adeboye)
This confession from Daddy Adeboye is remarkably humble and instructive. If the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God once had a wayside heart, then no one is exempt from this danger. Ceremonial Christianity—attending church because it is normal, reading this devotional because it is expected—is not the same as genuine, panting-after-God Christianity.
2. The Tragic Fate of the Wayside Seed
Daddy Adeboye highlights three elements in Matthew 13:4 and 19:
- The Seed Falls but Does Not Enter: The word is heard audibly but never penetrates the understanding or the conscience. It hits the ear and bounces off.
- The Fowls (Satan) Come Immediately: Unlike other soils where the enemy attacks later, here the theft happens instantly. The sermon ends, and the person cannot remember a single point.
- The Heart Remains Unchanged: Because the word never took root, no transformation occurs. The person leaves the same way they entered—unmoved, unconvicted, unchanged.
3. The Mask of Religious Normalcy
Daddy Adeboye warns that wayside Christians are often indistinguishable from genuine believers on the outside. They:
- Sit in church pews every Sunday
- Own and open a devotional (like Open Heaven)
- Can quote verses and sing hymns
- Were raised in Christian homes and know Christian language
But inside, the ground is hard. The soul does not pant. There is no hunger, no curiosity, no delight in God’s word. As Daddy Adeboye asks pointedly:
“Are you only reading this devotional because it is the norm in your church, family, or office to do so?”
Why Understanding Is Non-Negotiable
1. Understanding Precedes Fruitfulness
Using the Parable of the Sower, Daddy Adeboye shows that the seed produces nothing unless it is understood (Matthew 13:23 – “understands it” precedes bearing fruit). Understanding is not intellectual brilliance; it is spiritual comprehension that moves from the head to the heart to the hands. It is the difference between knowing about God and knowing God.
2. The Role of the Holy Spirit as Teacher
Daddy Adeboye encourages new readers of Scripture:
“You may not understand much when you begin… as you remain consistent and ask God to help you, the Holy Spirit will start explaining the Scriptures to you.”
This aligns with John 16:13 – “When He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth.”The wayside heart never reaches this stage because it never seeks. It hears, shrugs, and walks away.
3. The Heart That Pants (Psalm 42:1)
The antidote to the wayside heart is not more information but a new inclination. Daddy Adeboye prays for readers to receive “a heart that yearns to know Him more.” A panting heart:
- Reads the Bible not out of duty but out of delight
- Asks questions of pastors, teachers, and the Holy Spirit
- Gets frustrated by shallow understanding, not bored by deep study
- Stays in God’s presence not because the clock says so, but because nothing else satisfies
Practical Steps to Leave the Wayside
Based on Daddy Adeboye’s counsel, here is how to break up the hard path of a ceremonial heart:
- Confess the Wayside Condition: Admit that you have been hearing without understanding, attending without panting. Say, “Lord, I have been a wayside hearer. Forgive me.”
- Ask for a New Heart: Daddy Adeboye explicitly instructs, “Ask God to give you a heart that finds His word interesting and loves to spend time in His presence.” This is not self-improvement; it is a cry for divine replacement.
- Start Small but Start Consistent: “Read a bit further on the topics discussed in this devotional each day, or use the Bible-in-one-year passages.” Do not wait for motivation; create a habit.
- Become a Question-Asker: When you read Scripture or hear a sermon, write down one question you do not understand. Then ask your pastor, a mature believer, or pray and ask the Holy Spirit.
- Fight the Birds: Recognize that Satan’s first tactic is not to make you sin but to make you forget. Immediately after hearing the word, review it. Write down one key point. Discuss it with someone. Do not let the enemy steal what was sown.
Warning: The Danger of Spiritual Assumption
Daddy Adeboye’s personal testimony is the most sobering warning in this devotional. He had:
- A Christian father (a church volunteer)
- A biblical name (Enoch, who walked with God)
- Regular exposure to God’s word
And yet, he was still a wayside Christian until he surrendered his life to Jesus Christ. The lesson is clear: Heritage is not salvation. Routine is not relationship. A name is not a new heart.
Do not assume that because you are reading this devotional, you are automatically a fertile soil. The question is not if you are reading, but why you are reading. Is it out of panting hunger or out of ceremonial habit?
Conclusion: Your Prayer for a Panting Heart
Daddy Adeboye closes with a blessing and a prayer. Do not miss this moment. The wayside heart can become good ground, but only through repentance and request.
Pray this:
“Lord Jesus, I confess that for too long I have been a wayside hearer. I have heard Your word but have not understood it. I have attended church but have not panted for You. Forgive me for mistaking routine for relationship. Give me a new heart—a heart that finds Your word interesting, a heart that loves to spend time in Your presence, a heart that pants after You like a deer pants for water. Holy Spirit, become my Teacher. Help me to understand, to retain, and to bear fruit. I refuse to let the enemy steal Your word from me again. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.”
Action Steps:
- The 7-Day Understanding Challenge: For the next seven days, after reading your Open Heavendevotional, take one verse from the Bible reading. Write it down. Then write in your own words what it means. If you cannot explain it, ask someone or pray until you understand.
- One Question Per Day: Commit that before you close your Bible each day, you will write down one question you have about what you read. Then pursue the answer through prayer, study, or asking a spiritual leader.
- Audit Your Motivation: At the end of this week, ask yourself honestly: Am I reading this devotional because I am panting after God, or because it is the norm? If it is the norm, stop and pray Daddy Adeboye’s prayer before you read another page.
“As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.” (Psalm 42:1)
Do not settle for the wayside. Let your soul pant until it finds its rest in Him.
Read RCCG Open Heaven Devotional for Tomorrow
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