The Open Heavens 29 April 2026 devotional for today is WHEN HE IS IN THE BOAT II.
The author of this daily devotion is Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
OPEN HEAVENS 29 APRIL 2026 TODAY DEVOTIONAL
TOPIC: WHEN HE IS IN THE BOAT II
MEMORISE
I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
Psalm 16:8
READ: 2 Kings 6:1-7
1 And the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell with thee is too strait for us.
2 Let us go, we pray thee, unto Jordan, and take thence every man a beam, and let us make us a place there, where we may dwell. And he answered, Go ye.
3 And one said, Be content, I pray thee, and go with thy servants. And he answered, I will go.
4 So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood.
5 But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water: and he cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed.
6 And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he shewed him the place. And he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither; and the iron did swim.
7 Therefore said he, Take it up to thee. And he put out his hand, and took it.
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 29 APRIL 2026 TODAY MESSAGE
Yesterday, we saw how Jesus’ disciples overcame a storm because He was in the same ship with them. When they called on Him, He arose and stilled the storm.
The truth is that everyone on earth will experience storms in life at some point, regardless of how anointed, gifted, influential, or powerful they may be. These storms can come in many forms, including sicknesses, delays, barrenness, and the loss of loved ones.
As I mentioned yesterday, if Jesus is in a fellow’s boat, he or she can overcome any storm. However, if the fellow does not cry out to Him in the midst of a storm, he or she might not emerge victorious. If believers do not involve God in every step they take and decide to lean on their own understanding, they might eventually drown in the storms of life.
In today’s Bible reading, the sons of the prophets came to Elisha to tell him that they wanted to expand their house to make it more comfortable.
Elisha gave them a go-ahead, but one of them wanted more than his permission; he asked Elisha to go with them to get the materials they needed to expand the house. As the men were chopping wood for the building, the axe head of the axe that one of them was using fell into the river.
Immediately, just like the disciples did in the midst of the storm, the man cried to Elisha for help because he had borrowed the axe. God stepped into the situation, and the axe head was miraculously recovered.
Beloved, the Lord can give you the go-ahead to start something; however, if you do not involve Him fully in that thing, you might not become successful with it as He intended. You shouldn’t wait for things to get bad before you cry out to Jesus; instead, involve Him in every single decision you make.
In today’s memory verse, David said that he always put God at the forefront of his decisions and actions. Because he always involved the Lord in his endeavours, he was not moved by the numerous challenges he encountered. You should imitate David by setting the Lord before you at all times.
Let Him be the centre of your life and direct you every step of the way. Don’t just make Jesus a figurehead in your life; involve Him in all you do, and you will overcome all of life’s challenges and experience victory at all times.
KEY POINT:
Having Jesus in your boat is not enough; let Him have the final say in all you do.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
1 Chronicles 3-4
Open Heavens HYMN 19: ROCK OF AGES CLEFT FOR ME
OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL 29 APRIL 2026 COMMENTARY
MEMORISE: Psalm 16:8
“I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.”
This verse reveals David’s secret to stability in a unstable world. He didn’t just acknowledge God occasionally or call on Him in crisis—he set the Lord always before him. God was not an afterthought; He was the constant reference point for every decision, every step, every moment. The result was unshakeable confidence: “I shall not be moved.” When God is at your right hand—the place of strength and action—nothing can knock you off course.
BIBLE READING: 2 Kings 6:1-7
This passage records the miracle of the floating axe head, which we examined in a previous devotional. But today, Pastor Adeboye draws a different lesson from the same story. The sons of the prophets came to Elisha with a good idea—they wanted to expand their dwelling place because it was too small for them. Elisha gave them permission: “Go ye.” But one of them wanted more than permission; he asked Elisha to go with them. As they were cutting wood, an axe head fell into the water, and the man cried out because it was borrowed. Elisha threw a stick into the water, and the iron floated. This passage demonstrates that having God’s permission for a project is not the same as having His presence in it. The man who insisted on Elisha’s company was the one whose crisis was solved when disaster struck.
Don’t Just Get Permission—Get His Presence
In today’s devotional, Pastor E.A. Adeboye builds on yesterday’s message about having Jesus in your boat. He takes it a step further: it’s not enough to have God’s general permission—you need His specific presence in every endeavor. Many people start projects with God’s blessing but forget to involve Him in the daily details, and they wonder why things go wrong.
Permission vs. Presence
The Bible reading gives us a fascinating contrast. The sons of the prophets came to Elisha with a plan: the place where they were dwelling was too small, so they wanted to go to the Jordan, cut down trees, and build a larger meeting place. This was a good plan. It was for God’s work. It was practical and necessary.
Elisha gave them his blessing: “Go ye.” That was permission. That was approval. That was the green light.
But one of the men wanted more. He said to Elisha, “Be content, I pray thee, and go with thy servants.” He wanted the prophet’s presence, not just his permission. He understood that having Elisha with them would make all the difference.
Elisha agreed to go. And as they were cutting wood, disaster struck—an axe head flew off and sank into the river. The man cried out in distress because the axe was borrowed. And because Elisha was there, the problem was solved. The iron floated. The loss was recovered.
Now imagine if that man hadn’t insisted on Elisha’s presence. They would have had the prophet’s permission. They would have been doing God’s work. They would have been in the right place doing the right thing. But when crisis hit, they would have been alone. The axe head would have been lost forever, and the man would have faced shame and debt.
Permission without presence leaves you vulnerable when storms come.
The Difference Involvement Makes
The devotional makes a crucial distinction: God can give you the go-ahead to start something, but if you don’t involve Him fully in that thing, you may not become successful as He intended.
Think about it:
- God told Israel to enter the Promised Land, but when they went without His presence at Hormah, they were defeated (Numbers 14:40-45).
- God gave David permission to fight the Philistines, but David still inquired, “Shall I go up?” and God gave specific strategies each time (2 Samuel 5:19-25).
- Jesus told the disciples to feed the multitude, but He also showed them how to do it with His blessing and multiplication.
Permission is the starting point. Presence is the power source.
Don’t Wait for the Crisis
One of the most important points in this devotional is this: you shouldn’t wait for things to get bad before you cry out to Jesus. The disciples waited until the storm was sinking the boat before they woke Jesus. They made it—barely—but they could have avoided the panic if they had involved Him from the beginning.
The man with the axe head cried out immediately when disaster struck, and Elisha was there to help because he had insisted on his presence from the start. He didn’t have to send a messenger to find the prophet. He didn’t have to wait for help to arrive. Elisha was right there.
When you involve God in every decision, every step, every detail, you position yourself for instant help when trouble comes. He’s already on the scene. He’s already aware. He’s already moving.
David’s Secret: Setting the Lord Always Before Him
The memory verse reveals David’s practice: “I have set the LORD always before me.” This was not occasional—it was constant. David didn’t just pray when he was in trouble. He didn’t just seek God when he needed direction. He lived with God as the reference point for everything.
The result? “Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.”
- When Goliath challenged Israel, David didn’t panic—God was before him.
- When Saul chased him through the wilderness, David didn’t despair—God was before him.
- When he sinned with Bathsheba, David didn’t hide forever—God was before him (and he repented).
- When Absalom rebelled, David didn’t give up—God was before him.
Setting the Lord always before you means:
- Consulting Him before decisions, not just after problems arise
- Seeking His will in the small things, not just the big things
- Acknowledging His presence in success, not just in crisis
- Living with an ongoing awareness that He is with you
How to Involve God Fully
1. Start with Surrender
Before you begin any project—whether it’s a business, a ministry, a relationship, or a journey—surrender it to God. Acknowledge that without Him, you can do nothing (John 15:5).
2. Seek Specific Guidance
Don’t just assume that because something is generally God’s will, you don’t need specific direction. David inquired of the Lord every time he went to battle, even against the same enemy. Ask God for wisdom for each step.
3. Pray Over Details
The man with the axe head was involved in a mundane task—cutting wood. But when crisis hit, God cared about that borrowed tool. Involve God in the small things. He cares about everything that concerns you.
4. Check Your Motives
The sons of the prophets wanted to expand their dwelling place. That was a good motive. But motives matter to God. Ask Him to search your heart and reveal any hidden selfishness in your plans.
5. Stay in Constant Communication
Setting the Lord before you means maintaining an ongoing conversation with Him throughout the day. Not just formal prayer times, but continual awareness and quick prayers: “Lord, guide me here. Help me with this. Show me what to do.”
6. Invite Him Into Every Boat
Yesterday’s message was about having Jesus in your boat. Today’s is about making sure He’s in every boat—every area of your life. Your family boat. Your career boat. Your health boat. Your finances boat. Your ministry boat. Don’t leave Him on the shore for any of them.
What Happens When You Involve God
The devotional promises several outcomes when you involve God fully:
- You overcome challenges: Like the disciples, you emerge victorious from storms
- You recover losses: Like the axe head, what is lost is found
- You remain unshaken: Like David, you are not moved by circumstances
- You experience victory at all times: Not just sometimes, but continually
Conclusion: Make Him the Center
Don’t make Jesus a figurehead in your life—a distant authority you acknowledge but don’t involve. Make Him the center. The heart. The constant reference point.
When you set the Lord always before you, you don’t have to panic when storms come because He’s already there. You don’t have to scramble for help when crisis hits because He’s already involved. You don’t have to wonder if you’ll make it because He’s already guaranteed your arrival.
Set Him before you today. In every decision, every conversation, every plan. And you will not be moved.
Pray this:
“Father, forgive me for the times I have sought Your permission but not Your presence. Forgive me for starting things with Your blessing but leaving You out of the details. Today, I set You before me always. I invite You into every area of my life—my family, my work, my health, my finances, my future. Be at my right hand, and I will not be moved. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Action Steps:
- Identify areas where you have God’s permission but not His presence: List the projects, relationships, or decisions where you’ve stopped involving Him daily.
- Practice “setting the Lord before you” this week: Before every decision—big or small—pause and acknowledge His presence. Ask for His guidance.
- Don’t wait for crisis: Start involving God now in areas that are currently calm. Build the habit before the storm comes.
- Be like the wise prophet: In every endeavor, ask God not just for His blessing but for His company. “Lord, go with me in this.”
Read RCCG Open Heavens Devotional for Tomorrow
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