The Open Heaven 23 May 2025 devotional for today is LIFE IS A CHALLENGE.
This is a daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
OPEN HEAVEN 23 MAY 2025 TODAY DEVOTIONAL
TOPIC: LIFE IS A CHALLENGE
MEMORISE
The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.
Proverbs 12:24
READ: Ecclesiastes 12:1-7
1 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;
2 While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:
3 In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened,
4 And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low;
5 Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:
6 Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.
7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 23 MAY 2025 TODAY MESSAGE
An author once said, “Life is a challenge; meet it.” I would even go further to say, “Rise above it.” Nowadays, however, many young people are seeking a ‘soft life’; there is nothing like a soft life. When I was in secondary school, my teacher taught me that every human being brought a pillow into this world, which must be used before we leave. If some people choose not to use the pillow when they are young, they will definitely use it when they are old. According to my teacher, that pillow represents hardship.
If young people choose to put aside pleasures and go through the hardship of discipline to study, work hard, and nurture the right relationships in their youth, they will enjoy their old age. However, if they choose to party and play around in their youth, when they are old, they will either be lonely or have no choice but to work hard to make ends meet. What my teacher called a pillow is what the Bible calls “the yoke’ in Lamentations 3:27:
It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.
Note that the Scripture above does not say ‘a yoke’, but ‘the yoke’. In other words, every individual has a yoke, and it is good for that person to bear it in his or her youth. People who don’t want to bear the yoke in their youth are lazy people. Some people are born into royal families, but they may never have the opportunity to rule if they are lazy. Who, then, is qualified to rule? Anyone who wants to rule must be ready for hard work. Those who want to rule must be ready to bear the yoke in their youth. If you want to live a soft life in your youth, then you are not ready to rule. Ruling is hard work, and it is only the diligent that will bear rule, as today’s memory verse tells us.
There is no easy road to success; the fact that a fellow was born by a successful person does not mean that the person will succeed in life.
If you are a youth and you want to reign in life, shun laziness. You must also remember your creator in the days of your youth before the difficult days come (Ecclesiastes 12:1). You don’t own your life; take up your cross and follow Jesus so that it can be well with you all the days of your life.
KEY POINT
Those who rule and reign in life are those who are diligent.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
Nehemiah 8-10
RCCG HYMN 33: GUIDE ME, O THOU GREAT JEHOVAH!
OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL 23 MAY 2025 COMMENTARY
Memorise: Proverbs 12:24 (KJV)
This verse establishes the divine principle that diligence qualifies for leadership, while laziness leads to servitude.
Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes 12:1-7 (KJV)
Solomon’s wisdom literature emphasizes remembering God in youth before life’s challenges intensify—linking spiritual devotion with lifelong success.
Key Insights from Today’s Open Heaven Devotional
1. The Pillow/Yoke Principle
- The Teacher’s Metaphor Explained:
- Pillow as Hardship:
- Youth: Choosing study over parties → Future reward
- Youth: Choosing pleasure → Future struggle (Proverbs 13:4)
- Biblical Parallel:
- “The yoke” (Lamentations 3:27) represents:
- Disciplinary training (Hebrews 12:11)
- Responsibility preparation (Luke 16:10)
- Character development (Romans 5:3-4)
- “The yoke” (Lamentations 3:27) represents:
- Pillow as Hardship:
2. Three Myths About Success Debunked
- The ‘Soft Life’ Fallacy
- Reality: Even Jesus learned obedience through suffering (Hebrews 5:8)
- Example: Joseph’s path from pit to palace required 13 years of testing
- The ‘Royal Birthright’ Misconception
- Biblical Case:
- Eli’s sons wasted priestly heritage (1 Samuel 2:12-17)
- David rose from obscurity through diligence (1 Samuel 16:11-12)
- Biblical Case:
- The ‘Overnight Success’ Illusion
- Moses: 40 years desert training (Exodus 3:1)
- Paul: 14 years preparation post-conversion (Galatians 2:1)
3. The Divine Success Formula
- Early Discipline (Ecclesiastes 12:1)
- Brain plasticity peaks before age 25—prime time for:
- Scripture memorization
- Skill acquisition
- Habit formation
- Brain plasticity peaks before age 25—prime time for:
- Consistent Diligence (Proverbs 22:29)
- 10,000-Hour Rule: Mastery requires deliberate practice
- Biblical Model: Bezalel’s craftsmanship (Exodus 31:1-5)
- Spiritual Foundation (Matthew 6:33)
- “Remember your Creator” precedes “shall bear rule”
- Daniel’s excellence rooted in prayer (Daniel 6:10)
4. Consequences of Neglecting the Yoke
- Physical Realm:
- Poverty (Proverbs 10:4)
- Poor health (Proverbs 23:21)
- Spiritual Realm:
- Unprepared for spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:11)
- Disqualified from leadership (1 Timothy 3:6)
5. Jesus’ Model of Youthful Preparation
- At Age 12:
- Prioritized God’s business (Luke 2:49)
- Invested in theological understanding
- Hidden Years (12-30):
- Mastered carpentry (Mark 6:3)
- Developed physical stamina (John 4:6 shows human limits)
Life Applications
For Students:
- Action: Create a “Yoke Schedule”—allocate 70% time to study, 30% to recreation
- Prayer: “Lord, help me embrace discipline now for future impact”
For Young Professionals:
- Strategy: Practice “10% Better Principle”—small daily improvements compound
- Warning: Avoid “Golden Handcuffs”—high pay without skill growth is dangerous
For Parents/Leaders:
- Teaching Method: Use the “Pillow Object Lesson” from the devotional
- Scriptural Reinforcement: Proverbs 13:22—”A good man leaves an inheritance…”
Warning vs. Promise
- Warning: “A slack hand causes poverty” (Proverbs 10:4 ESV)
- Promise: “The diligent will stand before kings” (Proverbs 22:29)
Conclusion: Your Yoke is Your Ladder
- Present discipline determines future dominion
- Godly success combines spiritual devotion with practical diligence
- The cross comes before the crown (Mark 8:34-35)
Prayer Response
“Father, give me grace to bear my yoke willingly in youth. Help me reject the ‘soft life’ lie and embrace Christlike discipline. Let my daily choices prepare me for eternal impact, in Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Final Charge
“Will you use your pillow of hardship now as a stepping stone, or wait until it becomes your deathbed of regret?”
The yoke you resist today is the throne you’ll miss tomorrow!
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