The Open Heavens 4 May 2026 devotional for today is SECRETS TO LONGEVITY I.
This is a daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
OPEN HEAVENS 4 MAY 2026 TODAY DEVOTIONAL
TOPIC: SECRETS TO LONGEVITY I
MEMORISE
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
Ecclesiastes 3:7
BIBLE TEXT: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
RCCG OPEN HEAVENS 4 MAY 2026 TODAY MESSAGE
I am 84 years old, I have been born again for 53 years, and by God’s grace, I have been the General Overseer of RCCG for 45 years. To the glory of God, I am still working tirelessly for my Daddy even at my age. I have remained a strong Christian, and the church has continued to grow by God’s grace.
Over the next few days, I will share some secrets about longevity with you and tell you how to remain on God’s path for your life without going astray.
The first secret to longevity is knowing when to hide, when to fight, and when to run. Many Christians think that because they are in Christ, they never have to hide; after all, the One with all power is backing them up. This is why many believers have not stayed on the path that God has set before them and have ended their race prematurely. In 1 Kings 17:1, after Elijah told the king that there would be no rain until he commands it, it was God Himself who told him to go and hide.
There will always be a time to hide if you are going to last long. Elijah had proclaimed himself as the only one who could bring the rain back, so naturally, I believe that there would have been a lot of pressure on him to command the rain to return. Therefore, rather than facing that pressure, he had to go into hiding.
Whenever you notice that there will be pressure on you to say certain things or take some actions prematurely or without specific instruction from God, you should go into hiding. For instance, no matter how pressured I feel to speak before elections in Nigeria or when something significant happens, I always keep silent if God has not yet spoken. This is why people still want to hear what I have to say after all these years, because they know that it will be from God.
Another time to hide is when brethren try to fight you. God never supports Christians fighting each other; rather, we are to love one another, which is what differentiates us from unbelievers (John 13:34-35). Therefore, to ensure that you do not get into fights with brethren who are trying to pick fights with you, don’t respond to them; rather, go into hiding. May God give you the wisdom to hide yourself when required so that you can stay the course and fulfil His perfect will for your life.
PRAYER POINT
Father, please give me the wisdom to know when to hide.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
1 Chronicles 17-19
Open Heavens HYMN 19: ROCK OF AGES CLEFT FOR ME
OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL 4 MAY 2026 COMMENTARY
MEMORISE: Ecclesiastes 3:7
“A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak.”
This verse is part of one of the most famous passages in Scripture, listing the seasons of human life. The specific phrase “a time to keep silence, and a time to speak” reveals that wisdom is not just about knowing what to say—it is about knowing when to say it and, equally important, when to say nothing. Silence is not always weakness; sometimes it is strategic. Speaking is not always courage; sometimes it is foolishness. The wise person discerns the season and acts accordingly.
BIBLE READING: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
This passage is a poetic masterpiece that declares there is an appointed time for every activity under heaven. It lists fourteen pairs of opposites: birth and death, planting and uprooting, killing and healing, breaking down and building up, weeping and laughing, mourning and dancing, casting away stones and gathering stones, embracing and refraining from embracing, seeking and losing, keeping and casting away, rending and sewing, keeping silence and speaking, loving and hating, war and peace. This passage teaches that life is not a straight line but a series of seasons, and success depends on discerning which season you are in and responding appropriately.
The Wisdom of Knowing When to Hide
In today’s devotional, Pastor E.A. Adeboye begins a new series on longevity—how to stay on God’s path for your life and finish well. At 84 years old, with 53 years as a born-again Christian and 45 years as General Overseer of RCCG, he speaks from experience. The first secret he shares is counterintuitive to many believers: knowing when to hide, when to fight, and when to run.
The Misunderstanding of Many Christians
The devotional identifies a common error among believers. Many think that because they are in Christ and have the Almighty backing them, they never need to hide. They believe that facing every battle head-on is a sign of faith. They think that retreat is always cowardice.
This mindset has caused many to end their race prematurely.
Daddy Adeboye points to Elijah as an example. After Elijah boldly declared to King Ahab that there would be no rain except at his word, God Himself told him to go and hide (1 Kings 17:1-3). God did not say, “Stand your ground and fight.” He said, “Hide yourself.”
If anyone had a right to stand and fight, it was Elijah. He had just delivered a powerful prophetic word. He had the authority of heaven behind him. But God knew something Elijah might not have understood: there was a time to speak, and now there was a time to hide.
When to Hide
The devotional gives two specific situations where hiding is the wise response:
1. When There Is Pressure to Speak Prematurely
After Elijah declared the drought, there would have been tremendous pressure on him to command the rain to return. People would have demanded action. His own reputation would have tempted him to act. But God told him to hide.
Daddy Adeboye applies this to his own life: “No matter how pressured I feel to speak before elections in Nigeria or when something significant happens, I always keep silent if God has not yet spoken.”
This is why people still want to hear what he has to say after all these years—because they know it will be from God, not from pressure or emotion. He has preserved his voice by knowing when to keep silent.
If you speak every time you are pressured, you will eventually say something you regret or something that is not from God. Your words will lose their weight. People will stop listening because they will realize your speech comes from pressure, not from divine direction.
2. When Brethren Try to Fight You
The second reason to hide is when fellow believers try to pick a fight with you. The devotional states plainly: God never supports Christians fighting each other. Jesus said the mark of His disciples is love for one another (John 13:34-35). When believers fight, they look like the world.
The wisdom response to a brother or sister who wants to fight is not to engage—it is to hide. Don’t respond. Don’t retaliate. Don’t defend yourself aggressively. Step back. Go into hiding. Let the storm pass.
This does not mean cowardice. It means wisdom. A fight takes two people. If you refuse to participate, there is no fight. Your “hiding” preserves your energy for the battles God actually wants you to fight.
When to Fight and When to Run
The devotional mentions three actions: hide, fight, and run. While today focuses on hiding, the implication is that there are times for the other responses as well.
- Hide when there is pressure to speak without God’s direction or when brethren try to engage you in conflict.
- Fight when God specifically commands you to stand and when the battle is for His glory, not your ego.
- Run when the enemy has overwhelming advantage and God permits retreat. (Jesus told His disciples, “When they persecute you in this city, flee to another”—Matthew 10:23.)
The key is discernment. Knowing which response is required in which season.
The Danger of Always Fighting
Many Christians live in a constant state of battle mode. They fight every criticism. They fight every disagreement. They fight every offense. They are exhausted, wounded, and often alone.
This is not God’s will. Ecclesiastes 3 says there is a time for war and a time for peace. If you fight when you should hide, you will waste your strength on battles that do not matter. You will alienate people God wants you to love. You may even disqualify yourself from finishing your race.
The Example of Jesus
Jesus Himself demonstrated this principle. At times, He confronted His enemies boldly. He overturned tables in the temple. He called the Pharisees whitewashed tombs. He did not hide from every conflict.
But at other times, He withdrew. When crowds wanted to make Him king by force, He departed to a mountain alone (John 6:15). When His time had not yet come, He walked away from those who tried to seize Him (John 7:30). Even on the night of His arrest, He told Peter to put away his sword because this was not the time to fight (Matthew 26:52).
Jesus knew when to speak and when to keep silent. He knew when to confront and when to withdraw. That wisdom kept Him on the path to the cross.
How to Know When to Hide
Discerning the right time requires spiritual sensitivity. Here are some guidelines:
1. Check Your Motives
Are you feeling pressure to speak because of pride, fear of man, or impatience? If so, hide. Wait for God’s timing.
2. Check the Source of the Conflict
Is the person fighting you a brother or sister in Christ? If so, hide. Don’t engage. Love covers a multitude of sins.
3. Seek God’s Specific Direction
Elijah did not decide to hide on his own. God told him. Before you decide whether to fight, flee, or hide, ask God. He will show you the season you are in.
4. Consider Your Longevity
Will this battle matter in ten years? Will this argument be remembered in twenty? If not, hide. Preserve your strength for what truly matters.
The Blessing of Hiding
When you hide at the right time, several things happen:
- You preserve your reputation: People who speak too much eventually say something foolish. Those who know when to be silent are respected.
- You conserve your energy: Fighting every battle is exhausting. Hiding allows you to rest and recover.
- You allow God to fight for you: When you hide from brethren who attack you, you give God room to defend you. He is much better at it than you are.
- You stay on the path: Many have derailed because they responded to pressure or provocation instead of hiding. Wisdom keeps you on course.
Conclusion: Hide to Finish Well
Daddy Adeboye has lasted 45 years as General Overseer and 53 years as a Christian because he learned this secret. He knows when to keep silent. He knows when to withdraw. He knows that not every pressure requires a response and not every attack requires a counterattack.
If you want to finish your race, you must learn the same lesson. There is a time to speak and a time to keep silence. There is a time to fight and a time to hide. Ask God for the wisdom to know which season you are in.
Pray this:
“Father, give me the wisdom to know when to hide, when to fight, and when to run. Forgive me for the times I have spoken when I should have kept silent and fought when I should have withdrawn. Help me to discern the seasons of my life. Preserve me from ending my race prematurely. Let me finish well, like Elijah, like Jesus, like Your faithful servants throughout the ages. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Action Steps:
- Identify current pressures: What situations are pressuring you to speak or act right now? Before you respond, ask God: Is this a time to speak or a time to hide?
- Evaluate your conflicts: Are you currently in a conflict with another believer? If so, consider whether hiding (stepping back, not responding) might be the wiser path.
- Practice strategic silence: This week, deliberately choose to remain silent in one situation where you would normally speak. Watch what God does.
- Learn from Elijah: Read 1 Kings 17-19 and observe how Elijah knew when to hide, when to confront, and when to run. Let his example guide you.
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