The Open Heavens 26 May 2026 devotional for today is STRENGTH IS NOT ENOUGH II.
This is a daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
OPEN HEAVENS 26 MAY 2026 TODAY DEVOTIONAL
TOPIC: STRENGTH IS NOT ENOUGH II
MEMORISE:
Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.
Psalm 84:4
READ: Isaiah 40:28-31
28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:
31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
RCCG OPEN HEAVENS 26 MAY 2026 TODAY MESSAGE
Yesterday, we saw how Peter fell into temptation because he couldn’t keep watch in prayer (Matthew 26:40-43). Prayerlessness is one of the signs that a believer is relying on his or her own strength. Unlike Peter, however, David kept watch day and night in the place of prayer (Psalm 55:17).
He often stayed awake at night, spending time with God and meditating on His word (Psalm 63:6, Psalm 119:148). He was so aware of the limitations of his strength that on many occasions in the Bible, he enquired of the Lord to know what He wanted him to do (1 Samuel 23:1-5, 1 Samuel 30:8-9).
However, in 2 Samuel 11, where he obviously didn’t enquire of the Lord but rather gave in to lust, he got into a predicament that negatively impacted his lineage (2 Samuel 12:9-12).
Daniel also knew the importance of prayer. He knew how much he needed God in the strange land of Babylon, and the Bible tells us that he prayed thrice daily (Daniel 6:10). Even when a decree was made that nobody should pray to anyone except the king, he was too aware of the limitations of his strength that his first reaction was to open his windows and pray as usual. His response to everything was prayer.
Prayer is so important that the Bible urges us to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). The moment you don’t feel like praying or see the need to pray is actually the time to pray more intently because prayerlessness can leave a believer in a weak state and cause such a believer to lose his or her spiritual vitality. Once the devil douses a believer’s spiritual fire, he can ruin him or her.
Praying puts us in a posture of humility before God, where we acknowledge that we cannot do anything without Him. It keeps our hearts tender and reminds us of the limitations of our physical strength. When we cultivate a lifestyle of waiting on God in prayer, we renew our strength daily (Isaiah 40:31) and are able to overcome the devil’s temptations (Matthew 26:41).
Beloved, how do you respond to life’s challenges? Do you always try to solve them with your wisdom and strength first? Do you only run to God when everything you’ve tried fails? Do not make God a spare wheel in your life; rather, He should always be your first resort.
Cultivate the habit of praying without ceasing, and you will live victoriously all the days of your life, in Jesus’ name.
KEY POINT
When you cultivate a lifestyle of prayer, you will tap into the Lord’s strength daily.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
Esther 6-10
Open Heavens HYMN 22: SWEET HOUR OF PRAYER
OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL 26 MAY 2026 COMMENTARY
MEMORISE: Psalm 84:4
“Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee.”
This verse describes the unique blessing of those who live in God’s presence. “Dwelling” is not a temporary visit—it is a permanent residence. It is not coming to church on Sunday and leaving—it is abiding in prayer, worship, and communion with God continuously. The result is not occasional praise but a lifestyle of praise. Those who dwell in God’s house are never far from His help because they are never far from His presence.
BIBLE READING: Isaiah 40:28-31
“Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
This passage contrasts human limitation with divine power. Even the strongest humans—youths and young men—eventually faint and fall. But those who wait on the LORD have their strength renewed. The promise is not that they will never get tired, but that when they do, God gives fresh strength. They rise like eagles, run without weariness, and walk without fainting. This passage teaches that waiting on God in prayer is not passivity—it is the source of supernatural endurance.
The Danger of Prayerlessness
In today’s devotional, Pastor E.A. Adeboye continues from yesterday’s message about self-confidence. He identifies prayerlessness as one of the clearest signs that a believer is relying on his or her own strength. When you stop praying, you are not just busy—you are declaring that you don’t need God. And the moment you stop needing Him, you become vulnerable to the enemy.
David: The Man Who Enquired of the Lord
The devotional contrasts Peter’s failure with David’s practice. David was not naturally stronger than Peter—but he had a different habit. He kept watch day and night in the place of prayer.
David’s prayer life:
- He prayed morning, noon, and evening (Psalm 55:17).
- He stayed awake at night to spend time with God (Psalm 63:6).
- He meditated on God’s word during the night watches (Psalm 119:148).
- He enquired of the Lord before every major decision (1 Samuel 23:1-5, 30:8-9).
The result of David’s prayerfulness: He succeeded where others failed. He defeated Goliath, escaped Saul, built a kingdom, and was called a man after God’s own heart.
The one time David did not pray: In 2 Samuel 11, he saw Bathsheba, gave in to lust, committed adultery, and arranged murder. He did not enquire of the Lord. He relied on his own strength and judgment. The result was a predicament that negatively impacted his lineage for generations (2 Samuel 12:9-12).
The lesson: David’s worst failure happened when he stopped praying. The same David who had slain giants fell to temptation when he neglected prayer.
Daniel: The Man Who Prayed Regardless
The devotional gives another example: Daniel. He was in a strange land—Babylon—surrounded by enemies, serving under a pagan king. He knew how much he needed God. So he prayed three times daily (Daniel 6:10).
When a decree was issued that no one should pray to anyone except the king, Daniel’s response was not to hide, not to calculate, not to compromise. His first reaction was to open his windows and pray as usual.
- He did not wait to see if the decree would be enforced.
- He did not try to find a loophole.
- He did not pray in secret to avoid detection.
- He opened his windows—publicly, visibly, defiantly—and prayed.
Why? Because Daniel was too aware of the limitations of his own strength. He knew that without prayer, he could not survive. His response to everything was prayer.
The Connection Between Prayerlessness and Self-Confidence
The devotional makes a crucial link: Prayerlessness is a sign that a believer is relying on his or her own strength.
- When you stop praying before a decision, you are saying, “I’ve got this.”
- When you stop praying before a conversation, you are saying, “I know what to say.”
- When you stop praying before a temptation, you are saying, “I can handle this.”
- When you stop praying before a battle, you are saying, “I am strong enough.”
This is exactly where Peter went wrong. He slept when Jesus told him to watch and pray. He was confident in his own loyalty, his own courage, his own strength. And he fell.
What Happens When You Stop Praying
The devotional warns: “The moment you don’t feel like praying or see the need to pray is actually the time to pray more intently.”
When you stop praying:
- You become weak. Prayer is your connection to God’s power. Cut the connection, and the power stops flowing.
- You lose spiritual vitality. Your fire dims. Your passion cools. Your sensitivity dulls.
- The devil gains access. Once he douses your spiritual fire, he can ruin you. What you resisted for years becomes easy to fall into.
Prayerlessness does not lead to strength—it leads to vulnerability.
The Posture of Humility
The devotional explains what prayer does in your life:
“Praying puts us in a posture of humility before God, where we acknowledge that we cannot do anything without Him.”
- Prayer is not informing God of your needs—He already knows.
- Prayer is not persuading God to act—He is already willing.
- Prayer is positioning yourself to receive—acknowledging your dependency.
When you pray, you are saying:
- “I am weak, but You are strong.”
- “I am blind, but You see.”
- “I am limited, but You are infinite.”
- “I cannot, but You can.”
This humility keeps your heart tender. It reminds you of the limitations of your physical strength. It keeps you from the curse of self-confidence.
The Promise of Renewed Strength
The Bible reading gives one of the greatest promises in Scripture: “They that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength.”
Waiting is not passive. It is not sitting around doing nothing. Waiting on the Lord is prayerful dependence. It is saying, “I will not move until You speak. I will not act until You direct. I will not fight until You command.”
What waiting produces:
- Renewed strength—not your original strength, but fresh supply.
- Eagle’s wings—soaring above problems that trap others.
- Running without weariness—sustained pace for the long race.
- Walking without fainting—steady endurance for the daily grind.
Those who do not wait on the Lord—even youths and young men—eventually faint and fall. Their natural strength runs out. But those who wait have an endless supply.
How to Cultivate a Lifestyle of Prayer
1. Pray Without Ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
This does not mean you never stop speaking. It means you maintain an attitude of prayer throughout the day—quick prayers, constant awareness of God’s presence, continual dependence.
2. Make God Your First Resort
The devotional challenges: “Do not make God a spare wheel in your life; He should always be your first resort.”
- Before you try your wisdom, pray.
- Before you make a call, pray.
- Before you send an email, pray.
- Before you respond to a provocation, pray.
3. Establish Set Prayer Times
David prayed morning, noon, and evening. Daniel prayed three times daily. Set specific times for prayer—not because God is only available then, but because your flesh needs a schedule.
4. Pray When You Don’t Feel Like It
The moment you don’t feel like praying is the moment you need to pray most. Your feelings are not your guide. Your need for God does not change based on your emotions.
5. Use Night Watches
David stayed awake at night to pray and meditate. There is a special clarity in the night hours when distractions are minimal. Consider waking earlier or staying up later to seek God.
6. Enquire Before Every Decision
Before you say yes, before you sign, before you move, before you commit—enquire of the Lord. Ask, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Make this a non-negotiable habit.
Conclusion: Pray or Fall
Peter fell because he did not pray. David fell the one time he did not enquire. Daniel survived because he prayed.
The pattern is clear:
- Prayerlessness leads to vulnerability.
- Vulnerability leads to temptation.
- Temptation leads to fall.
Prayer leads to:
- Humility.
- Dependence.
- Renewed strength.
- Victory.
Do not wait until you are in crisis to pray. Pray now. Pray always. Pray without ceasing. Make God your first resort, not your last hope.
Pray this:
“Father, forgive me for the times I have made prayer an afterthought. Forgive me for relying on my own strength and only running to You when my efforts fail. I acknowledge that without You, I can do nothing. I cultivate a lifestyle of prayer—not occasional, not emergency, but constant. I will pray when I feel like it and when I don’t. I will enquire before every decision. I will wait on You for renewed strength. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Action Steps:
- Examine your prayer life: Do you pray more when you are in trouble and less when things are going well? If so, you are treating prayer as an emergency tool, not a dependency lifeline. Change that this week.
- Set prayer times: Choose specific times each day—morning, noon, evening—and guard them. Do not let anything interrupt your appointment with God.
- Pray before everything: Before you check your phone, before you read email, before you make a call, before you leave the house—pray. Even if it is a 10-second prayer, make it a habit.
- Use the “first resort” test: When a problem arises, notice your first instinct. Do you call someone, Google a solution, or try to figure it out yourself? Train yourself to pray first.
- Wait before you act: This week, before any significant decision, pause and wait on God for at least 10 minutes. Do not move until you have His peace.
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