The Open Heavens 3 May 2026 devotional for today is WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM GOD TODAY?
This is a daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
OPEN HEAVENS 3 MAY 2026 TODAY DEVOTIONAL
TOPIC: WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM GOD TODAY?
MEMORISE
I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
Deuteronomy 30:19
BIBLE TEXT: John 5:1-14
1 After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.
3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.
4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.
5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.
6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?
7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.
8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.
10 The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.
11 He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.
12 Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?
13 And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place.
14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
RCCG OPEN HEAVENS 3 MAY 2026 TODAY MESSAGE
Some people are so comfortable with their problems that they reject every form of help that comes their way. For example, one would have thought that Jesus would have immediately commanded the man who had been sick for 38 years in today’s Bible reading to rise from his sickbed. However, the first thing Jesus asked him was, “Do you want to be made whole?” Jesus didn’t assume that the man wanted to be healed; He first asked him if he wanted to be healed before healing him.
And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him, Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.
Luke 18:40-41
In the Scripture above, Jesus heard a blind man crying out to Him for help. When He asked that the man be brought before Him, He didn’t assume that he needed healing, even though he was obviously blind. He proceeded to ask him, “What do you want me to do for you?”
There was once a woman who was sick, and we prayed earnestly for her to get well. When she didn’t get any better, we were surprised because we know that our God is the Great Physician.
Therefore, we turned to Him and asked, “Father, what’s wrong? Is there anything we should be doing that we are not?” Then, He replied, “You are praying for healing for this woman, but have you asked her if she wants to be healed?” I thought to myself, “Of course, every sick fellow wants to be well,” but the Lord insisted that I ask her if she truly wanted to be healed.
I did, and she responded, “No!” Surprised, I asked her why, and she replied, “When I was well, my husband always returned late from work. He would go from his workplace to a club. Since I became sick, he comes straight home to me as soon as he leaves his workplace. So, I don’t want to be well!”
Beloved, God has set before you life and death, blessing and curses, prosperity and poverty, freedom and bondage; however, He will not force His gift of healing, life, or salvation on anyone. If you are dealing with sickness, poverty, or any other negative situation in your life, cry out to God today if you indeed want a miracle from Him. He will heed your cry and meet you at the point of your needs.
ACTION POINT
Call on God today in the name of Jesus, and be specific about what you want him to do for
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
1 Chronicles 13-16
Open Heavens HYMN 25: THE GREAT PHYSICIAN NOW IS NEAR
OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL 3 MAY 2026 COMMENTARY
MEMORISE: Deuteronomy 30:19
“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.”
This verse reveals the divine principle of choice. God presents options—life or death, blessing or curse—but He will not force either outcome on you. The decision belongs to you. Heaven and earth serve as witnesses, not judges. God’s part is to offer; your part is to choose. The promise is that when you choose life, you and your descendants will experience its benefits.
BIBLE READING: John 5:1-14
This passage records the healing of the man at the Pool of Bethesda, a site surrounded by five porches where a multitude of sick people lay—blind, lame, paralyzed. They waited for the stirring of the water, believing the first to enter after the angel’s visit would be healed. Jesus saw a man who had been sick for thirty-eight years. Instead of immediately commanding healing, Jesus asked a surprising question: “Wilt thou be made whole?” The man answered with an excuse about having no one to help him into the pool. Jesus then commanded him to rise, take up his bed, and walk. The man was healed instantly. Later, Jesus found him in the temple and warned him to sin no more lest a worse thing come upon him. This passage demonstrates that God does not assume your desire for change—He asks for your choice and your willingness.
The Shocking Truth: Not Everyone Wants to Be Healed
In today’s devotional, Pastor E.A. Adeboye reveals a surprising spiritual principle: God will not force His help on anyone, no matter how desperate their situation appears. Before He moves, He often asks for your consent. The reason is simple: some people have grown comfortable with their problems, and healing would disrupt the strange comfort they have built around their pain.
Jesus Asked Before He Healed
The devotional points out a pattern in the ministry of Jesus that is easy to overlook. At the Pool of Bethesda, Jesus did not assume the sick man wanted healing. Even though the man had been suffering for thirty-eight years, even though he lay among other desperate people, even though his condition was obvious—Jesus asked: “Wilt thou be made whole?”
Similarly, when the blind man cried out for mercy, Jesus had him brought near and asked: “What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee?” The answer was obvious—the man was blind. But Jesus still asked. He respects human will. He does not bulldoze over your choice.
Why does God ask? Because healing, deliverance, salvation, and blessing are gifts, not impositions. A gift must be received. If you reject it, even God will not force it into your hands.
The Woman Who Preferred Sickness
The devotional shares a startling testimony that illustrates this truth in the most unexpected way. A woman was sick, and the church prayed earnestly for her healing. When she did not improve, they turned to God and asked, “Father, what’s wrong? Is there anything we should be doing that we are not?”
God’s answer shocked them: “You are praying for healing for this woman, but have you asked her if she wants to be healed?”
At first, Daddy Adeboye thought this was unnecessary. Surely every sick person wants to be well. But God insisted. When he asked the woman directly, her answer was clear: “No!”
He asked why. Her explanation revealed the hidden motive: “When I was well, my husband always returned late from work. He would go from his workplace to a club. Since I became sick, he comes straight home to me as soon as he leaves his workplace. So, I don’t want to be well!”
Think about this carefully. This woman had discovered that her sickness gave her something her health could not: her husband’s attention. The illness had become a tool for controlling her marriage. Healing would mean losing that control. So she chose sickness over health, bondage over freedom.
This is the uncomfortable truth the devotional presents. Not everyone wants to be free. Some people have learned to benefit from their problems. Some use sickness to manipulate others. Some use poverty to avoid responsibility. Some use brokenness to gain sympathy. And God, who respects your will, will not force deliverance on someone who has chosen their chains.
The Choice Is Yours
The memory verse from Deuteronomy is the foundation of this message. God says plainly: “I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life.”
Notice the structure:
- God sets the options before you.
- God does not choose for you.
- God urges you to choose correctly.
- But the choice remains yours.
This applies to every area of your spiritual life:
- Salvation: God offers eternal life, but you must choose to receive Christ.
- Healing: God offers physical wholeness, but you must choose to accept it.
- Deliverance: God offers freedom from bondage, but you must choose to let go of your chains.
- Blessing: God offers prosperity and peace, but you must choose to walk in His ways.
Why People Reject Help
The devotional identifies several reasons why people might reject the very help they claim to want:
1. Secondary Gain
Like the woman who gained her husband’s attention through sickness, some problems provide hidden benefits. The sickness gives sympathy. The poverty gives charity. The brokenness gives control. Until you are willing to give up the “benefits” of your problem, you will not fully embrace your deliverance.
2. Comfort with Familiar Pain
Thirty-eight years is a long time. The man at Bethesda had grown accustomed to his condition. He knew how to survive as a beggar. Healing would mean learning to walk, to work, to take responsibility. Sometimes the unknown freedom is more frightening than the familiar bondage.
3. Fear of What Comes Next
If God heals you, what will you do? If God promotes you, can you handle the pressure? If God gives you the spouse, the business, the ministry—are you ready? Some people reject God’s help because they are afraid of the responsibility that comes with it.
4. Hidden Sin
The devotional does not dwell on this, but Jesus warned the healed man: “Sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.” Some sickness is connected to unrepentant sin. The healing requires repentance. If you are not willing to turn from the sin, you may not be willing to receive the healing.
How to Position Yourself for God’s Help
If you genuinely want God’s help, here is what you must do:
1. Be Honest About Your Desire
Stop pretending. Ask yourself: Do I really want to be free? Or do I benefit from my problem? If there is hidden gain, confess it to God. Renounce it. Choose freedom over the false comfort of your chains.
2. Cry Out Specifically
The blind man knew what he wanted: “Lord, that I may receive my sight.” He didn’t say, “Bless me.” He didn’t say, “Have mercy.” He named his need. When God asks what you want, tell Him. Be specific.
3. Let Go of Your Excuses
The man at Bethesda had an excuse: “I have no one to put me into the pool.” He had been using that excuse for thirty-eight years. Jesus ignored it. Your excuses may be valid, but they will not bring your miracle. Stop explaining why you can’t be healed and start receiving the command to rise.
4. Choose Life Every Day
Deuteronomy 30:19 is not a one-time decision. Every morning, you wake up and choose life or death, blessing or cursing. Choose to obey God. Choose to reject bitterness. Choose to forgive. Choose to step out in faith. Your daily choices accumulate into your destiny.
Conclusion: God Is Waiting for Your Answer
Jesus stood before the sick man and asked, “Do you want to be made whole?” He stands before you today with the same question. He will not force healing on you. He will not drag you into freedom. He respects your will enough to let you choose your chains.
But if you say yes—if you truly want to be made whole—He has the power to make it happen. The same voice that commanded the sick man to rise can command your situation to change. The same hand that restored the blind man’s sight can restore your broken life.
The question is not whether God can help you. The question is: Do you want Him to?
Pray this:
“Father, I come before You honestly. Search my heart. Show me any hidden reason why I have not wanted to be free. I renounce every secret benefit I have gained from my sickness, my poverty, my brokenness. Today, I choose life. I choose healing. I choose freedom. I cry out to You specifically for my need. Do not pass me by. Heal me, deliver me, restore me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Action Steps:
- Ask yourself the hard question: In what area of your life might you actually prefer your problem to the solution? Be brutally honest.
- Identify hidden gains: Write down any benefits you receive from your negative situation—attention, control, sympathy, avoidance of responsibility.
- Renounce them in prayer: Confess to God that you have been clinging to these false benefits. Choose to release them.
- Cry out specifically: Stop praying vague prayers. Name your exact need before God and ask Him to meet it.
- Stop making excuses: Identify the “no one to put me in the pool” excuse you have been using. Decide today to stop repeating it.
Read RCCG Open Heavens Devotional for Tomorrow
Download Open Heavens 3 May 2026 Devotional PDF
Leave a Reply