The Open Heaven 24 November 2025 devotional for today is MARRY RIGHT.
This daily devotion is written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
OPEN HEAVEN 24 NOVEMBER 2025 TODAY DEVOTIONAL
TOPIC: MARRY RIGHT
MEMORISE:
I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.
Psalms 32:8
READ: Judges 16:4-21:
4 And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.
5 And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her, Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lieth, and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him; and we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver.
6 And Delilah said to Samson, Tell me, I pray thee, wherein thy great strength lieth, and wherewith thou mightest be bound to afflict thee.
7 And Samson said unto her, If they bind me with seven green withs that were never dried, then shall I be weak, and be as another man.
8 Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven green withs which had not been dried, and she bound him with them.
9 Now there were men lying in wait, abiding with her in the chamber. And she said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he brake the withs, as a thread of tow is broken when it toucheth the fire. So his strength was not known.
10 And Delilah said unto Samson, Behold, thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: now tell me, I pray thee, wherewith thou mightest be bound.
11 And he said unto her, If they bind me fast with new ropes that never were occupied, then shall I be weak, and be as another man.
12 Delilah therefore took new ropes, and bound him therewith, and said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And there were liers in wait abiding in the chamber. And he brake them from off his arms like a thread.
13 And Delilah said unto Samson, Hitherto thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: tell me wherewith thou mightest be bound. And he said unto her, If thou weavest the seven locks of my head with the web.
14 And she fastened it with the pin, and said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awaked out of his sleep, and went away with the pin of the beam, and with the web.
15 And she said unto him, How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart is not with me? thou hast mocked me these three times, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth.
16 And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death;
17 That he told her all his heart, and said unto her, There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother’s womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man.
18 And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, Come up this once, for he hath shewed me all his heart. Then the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and brought money in their hand.
19 And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him.
20 And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the Lord was departed from him.
21 But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house.
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 24 NOVEMBER 2025 TODAY MESSAGE
Today, many men are afraid to get married even though they are mature enough, have good jobs or businesses, and are financially stable. Usually, this is because they do not want to marry the wrong ladies as wives.
Likewise, many women are hesitant to get married despite being courted by many men because they do not want to make wrong choices when it comes to choosing a life partner.
It is important for Christians to know that once they are married, there is no going back.
Marrying the wrong spouse can be hell on earth. Nobody goes on a long journey without adequate preparations, and marriage is a lifelong journey. This is why, if you are not yet married, you need God’s help to make the right decision regarding your partner on this lifelong journey.
Some people have rushed into marriage only for them to find out that their partner is self-centred and foolish. Some have chosen spouses by their physical attributes alone and ended up with a physically okay but spiritually deficient partner for their journey.
When the journey became tough, their spouses were neither spiritually sensitive nor capable of strengthening their faith. When choosing who to marry, believers must not allow physical attributes to dictate for them.
Samson was a man who was destined to be great. His glorious future was foretold before his birth, and he was truly on a path to greatness before the woman he chose as a partner, Delilah, cut short his destiny.
Before then, Samson had compromised his faith in many areas, and he became insensitive to God’s leading. Therefore, he chose to love Delilah based on her physical attributes.
Judges 16:4 says that he saw her in the valley of Sorek and loved her; he allowed himself to be enticed by her beauty. A valley is a low place, and if a believer is in a low place spiritually, where the fellow has compromised his or her values and disobeyed God’s principles, such a believer is not in a good place to make marital choices because he or she might make the wrong choice.
Such a believer must first return to the Lord and ask Him to restore him or her before thinking about choosing a spouse.
Beloved, if you are not yet married, God wants to lead you to make the right choice about whom to marry. You must, however, be living in obedience to His words and principles for Him to lead you to make the right choice.
KEY POINT
Hearing from God is critical when it comes to choosing the right person to marry.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
Romans 1-3
HYMN 33: GUIDE ME, O THOU GREAT JEHOVAH!
OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL 24 NOVEMBER 2025 COMMENTARY
MEMORISE: Psalms 32:8 (KJV)
“I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.”
This is a direct promise of divine guidance for every aspect of life, including the critical decision of marriage. It portrays an intimate, personal relationship where God pledges not just to give commands, but to lovingly instruct and gently guide with His watchful eye those who look to Him.
BIBLE READING: Judges 16:4-21
This passage is the tragic story of how a wrong marital choice can destroy a destiny:
- v. 4-5: Samson saw a Philistine woman, Delilah, and loved her. The Philistine lords immediately see an opportunity to exploit this relationship to destroy him.
- v. 6-17: Delilah repeatedly nags and pressures Samson to reveal the secret of his strength. His spiritual compromise and emotional weakness lead him to divulge the Nazirite covenant that connected him to God’s power.
- v. 18-21: The consequence is swift and severe: his strength leaves him, he is captured, blinded, and imprisoned. The man destined to begin delivering Israel ends his ministry in chains, his destiny cut short.
The Lifelong Journey: Securing God’s Guidance for Marriage
Pastor E.A. Adeboye addresses a universal concern with profound spiritual gravity. He frames marriage as a “lifelong journey” that requires the most careful divine preparation. Using the catastrophic example of Samson, he teaches that our spiritual posture is the primary determinant of our ability to hear God’s guidance for this most critical decision.
1. The Pre-Marital Priority: Divine Guidance Over Human Fear
The Reality of Fear:
Daddy Adeboye acknowledges the legitimate fear that holds many back: the terror of marrying the wrong person and entering a “hell on earth” with “no going back.” This fear is wise if it drives us to dependence on God, but paralyzing if it leaves us in indecision.
The Necessity of God’s Help:
Just as no one embarks on a long journey without a map and preparation, no believer should approach marriage without seeking and securing God’s clear direction. This is not a decision for human wisdom alone; it requires supernatural insight.
2. The Samson Syndrome: The Danger of a Compromised Posture
Choosing in the “Valley of Sorek”:
The devotional highlights a crucial detail: Samson saw Delilah in the valley of Sorek. A valley represents a low place spiritually. Samson was already in a pattern of compromise—mixing with Philistines, ignoring his Nazirite vow. When you are in a “valley” of disobedience, your spiritual senses are dulled, and you become vulnerable to choosing based on fleshly desires (“he loved her”; he was “enticed by her beauty”).
Physical Attributes vs. Spiritual Partnership:
Samson chose based on sight and physical attraction alone. The result was a “spiritually deficient partner” who, when the journey got tough, did not strengthen his faith but instead became the instrument of his destruction. A beautiful but ungodly spouse cannot help you in spiritual warfare; they may, in fact, open the door to the enemy.
3. The Prerequisite for Clear Guidance: Obedience
The Condition for Divine Leading:
The key to receiving God’s guidance is explicitly stated: “You must… be living in obedience to His words and principles for Him to lead you.” A life of disobedience creates static on the line of communication. God’s instruction is clearest to the heart that is already submitted to His will.
The Process: Restoration Before Selection:
For a believer who recognizes they are in a “low place,” the command is clear: “return to the Lord and ask Him to restore him or her before thinking about choosing a spouse.” The first step is not to find a partner, but to restore your first love and obedience to Christ.
How to Position Yourself for God’s Marital Guidance
1. Prioritize Your Spiritual Walk Above Your Desire for a Partner:
Focus on becoming the person God wants you to be. Cultivate a vibrant, obedient relationship with Jesus Christ. A spiritually healthy you is the best preparation for a healthy marriage.
2. Make a List of Non-Negotiable Spiritual Qualities:
Look beyond physical appearance and financial status. What are the essential spiritual fruits and character traits (e.g., a proven love for God, integrity, a servant’s heart) you must see in a potential spouse? Let the Spirit guide this list.
3. Invite the Holy Spirit into the Process Daily:
Pray specifically, “Lord, in line with Your promise in Psalm 32:8, instruct me and teach me in this way. Guide me with Your eye. Confirm Your choice with Your peace and through Your Word. And if I am not ready, prepare me.”
Warning: The High Cost of a Rash Choice
Rushing into marriage based on physical attraction, social pressure, or emotional desperation is like Samson walking blindly into Delilah’s trap. It can lead to a lifetime of pain, hinder your ministry, and, as in Samson’s case, literally cut short a glorious destiny. The consequences are too severe to leave God out of the decision.
Conclusion: Trusting the Divine Matchmaker
Pray this:
“Heavenly Father, I bring my future and my desire for a life partner before You. Forgive me for any areas of compromise or disobedience that would cloud my judgment. Restore me and draw me close to You. As I walk in obedience, I trust Your promise to instruct and guide me. Lead me to the spouse of Your choosing, a helper suitable for me, so that together we may fulfill our destiny in You and bring glory to Your name, in Jesus’ name.”
Action Steps:
- Conduct a Spiritual Audit: Are you in a “valley” of compromise in any area of your life? Repent and seek restoration before pursuing a relationship.
- Study Biblical Marriages: Read about Isaac and Rebekah (Genesis 24) to see a model of God-led selection, and contrast it with Samson and Delilah.
- Seek Godly Counsel: Involve spiritually mature mentors in your process. Their objective perspective can help confirm or question your feelings.
Remember: God is more interested in your destiny and happiness than you are. He will faithfully guide the heart that is fully committed to obeying Him. Your obedience is the key that unlocks His specific guidance for your life partner.
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6). This includes the path to the altar.
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