The Open Heavens 7 June 2026 devotional for today is PRAY ALWAYS
This is a daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
OPEN HEAVENS 7 JUNE 2026 TODAY DEVOTIONAL
TOPIC: PRAY ALWAYS
MEMORISE:
Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
Romans 12:12
READ: Luke 18:1-8
And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
RCCG OPEN HEAVENS 7 JUNE 2026 TODAY MESSAGE
In Matthew 21:13, Jesus stated that His house is to be called a house of prayer, not a den of thieves.
Although He was talking about the physical temple at Jerusalem in that passage, you should note that it also applies to you because you are God’s temple (1 Corinthians 6:19). This means that God expects you to pray always. Christians who do not pray or who only pray occasionally create avenues for the enemy to attack and defile them.
As a Christian, God wants you to be a house of prayer; He wants you to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). James 5:17-18 tells us that Elijah prayed fervently for rain not to fall in Israel, and God answered his prayer. After 42 months of drought, he prayed fervently again that the rain should fall, and there was a heavy downpour (1 Kings 18:42-45). During the drought, Elijah prayed for a widow’s dead son to be restored to life, and God heard him (1 Kings 17:22). He was a man of consistent prayer, and he always received answers to his prayers. Those who prioritise prayer enjoy consistent answers to their prayers.
In today’s Bible reading, Jesus told the parable of a widow who persistently disturbed an unrighteous judge until he responded to her. The reason Jesus told this parable was so that men would pray always and not faint (Luke 18:1). This tells us that when a fellow is not praying, he or she is already fainting. The widow’s persistence eventually paid off, as the judge responded to her and avenged her of her adversary. When you are consistent in praying, you are assured of answers to your prayers.
When a fellow prays consistently, he or she will not only receive answers to his or her prayers, but the person will be granted greater access to the secrets of God. Psalm 25:14 says, “The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.” Nobody shows a random visitor who visits his or her home the key to a hidden vault, but such a secret is typically revealed to intimate friends.
Every Christian must recognise that intimacy is cultivated in the place of prayer, and they must strive to become intimate with their heavenly
Father. This is because the more you pray, the greater access you will have to God’s heart and secrets. Beloved, are you an intimate friend of God?
KEY POINT:
You are God’s temple, and you ought to pray without ceasing.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
Psalms 9-17
Open Heavens HYMN 8: I Need Thee Every Hour
OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL 7 JUNE 2026 COMMENTARY
MEMORISE: Romans 12:12
“Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer.”
This verse is a threefold cord of Christian endurance. Daddy Adeboye anchors today’s devotional on the final phrase: “continuing instant in prayer.” The word “instant” does not mean fast or quick; it means constant, persistent, unwavering. A Christian who is “instant in prayer” is not one who prays only when crisis strikes, but one who is perpetually in the attitude of prayer—watchful, expectant, and connected to heaven at all times. Without this, the other two—rejoicing in hope and patience in tribulation—become impossible.
BIBLE READING: Luke 18:1-8
This passage is the Parable of the Persistent Widow. Jesus told it with a specific purpose: “that men ought always to pray, and not to faint” (Luke 18:1). The parable contrasts an unjust judge (who feared neither God nor man) with a persistent widow who had no power, no influence, and no advocate. Her only weapon was her relentless pleading. Eventually, the judge granted her request—not out of compassion, but out of sheer exhaustion. Jesus’ argument is from the lesser to the greater: if an unjust judge will answer persistent pleas, how much more will your loving Heavenly Father answer His own children who cry to Him day and night?
The House of Prayer: Your Identity as a Believer
1. You Are God’s Temple (1 Corinthians 6:19)
Daddy Adeboye draws a critical connection between Matthew 21:13 and the believer’s identity:
“Jesus stated that His house is to be called a house of prayer… you should note that it also applies to you because you are God’s temple.”
When Jesus cleansed the temple in Jerusalem, He was angry because the place designated for prayer had been turned into a marketplace. But Daddy Adeboye warns that the same tragedy can happen in your life:
| Physical Temple (Jerusalem) | Your Body as God’s Temple |
|---|---|
| Became a den of thieves | Becomes a den of distractions, worries, and sin |
| Meant for prayer | Meant to be a house of prayer |
| Jesus cleansed it with zeal | The Holy Spirit desires to cleanse your prayer life |
“Christians who do not pray or who only pray occasionally create avenues for the enemy to attack and defile them.”
A temple that is not filled with prayer is an empty temple. An empty temple is vulnerable to occupation by thieves. When you neglect prayer, you are not just missing a blessing—you are leaving the door open for the enemy to move into rooms that belong to God.
2. Pray Without Ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
Daddy Adeboye emphasizes that occasional prayer is not enough. “God wants you to pray without ceasing.”
This does not mean you abandon your job, family, or responsibilities to kneel 24 hours a day. It means:
- Maintaining a spirit of prayer throughout daily activities
- Turning brief moments (driving, walking, waiting) into prayer
- Living in constant awareness of God’s presence
- Praying immediately when a need arises, not “when you have time”
A Christian who does not pray is like a fish that does not swim or a bird that does not fly. Prayer is not an activity on your to-do list; it is the atmosphere in which you live.
Elijah: The Man of Consistent Prayer
Daddy Adeboye uses Elijah as the supreme biblical example of a man who prioritized prayer and received consistent answers.
1. Three Prayers, Three Answers
| Situation | Elijah’s Prayer | God’s Response |
|---|---|---|
| Drought on Israel (James 5:17-18) | Prayed fervently for no rain | No rain for 42 months |
| Widow’s dead son (1 Kings 17:22) | Prayed for the child’s life | The boy was restored to life |
| End of drought (1 Kings 18:42-45) | Prayed fervently for rain | Heavy downpour after 42 months of drought |
Notice the pattern: Elijah prayed before the drought began. He prayed during the drought when death struck. He prayed at the end of the drought when it was time for rain. He was not a crisis-only pray-er. He was a man of consistent, persistent, all-season prayer.
“Those who prioritise prayer enjoy consistent answers to their prayers.”
This is not magic; it is divine principle. When prayer becomes your lifestyle rather than your emergency system, you develop intimacy with God, sensitivity to His voice, and confidence in His faithfulness.
2. Elijah’s Posture in Prayer (1 Kings 18:42-45)
Daddy Adeboye notes a detail worth imitating: after Elijah prayed for rain, he sent his servant to look toward the sea. Six times, the servant reported, “There is nothing.” A lesser man would have given up. But Elijah persisted:
| Attempt | Result | Elijah’s Response |
|---|---|---|
| First | Nothing | “Go again” |
| Second | Nothing | “Go again” |
| Third | Nothing | “Go again” |
| Fourth | Nothing | “Go again” |
| Fifth | Nothing | “Go again” |
| Sixth | Nothing | “Go again” |
| Seventh | A cloud the size of a man’s hand | “Get ready, the rain is coming!” |
Elijah did not faint at the sixth “nothing.” He kept praying, kept expecting, kept sending the servant. And on the seventh look, the answer arrived. The persistent widow in Jesus’ parable came seven times? Seven times? No—she kept coming until the judge relented. So must we.
The Parable of the Persistent Widow (Luke 18:1-8)
1. The Purpose: Pray Always and Not Faint
Daddy Adeboye states plainly:
“The reason Jesus told this parable was so that men would pray always and not faint. This tells us that when a fellow is not praying, he or she is already fainting.”
Fainting is not merely falling asleep. Fainting is losing consciousness, losing strength, losing hope. When you stop praying, you are in the process of collapsing spiritually. You may still be walking, talking, and working—but internally, you are losing your grip on God.
| Praying Christian | Non-Praying Christian |
|---|---|
| Strong in spirit | Weak and vulnerable |
| Patient in tribulation | Anxious and overwhelmed |
| Rejoicing in hope | Despairing and cynical |
| Receives answers | Suffers silently |
2. The Characters in the Parable
| Character | Description | Spiritual Application |
|---|---|---|
| The Widow | Powerless, vulnerable, no advocate | You, in your moments of helplessness |
| The Adversary | The one opposing her | Satan, sin, circumstances, or spiritual enemies |
| The Unjust Judge | Feared neither God nor man | Contrast to our just, loving Heavenly Father |
Jesus’ point is devastating: if a corrupt, godless judge can be worn down by persistence, how much more will your good, loving, faithful Father answer you?
“And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?” (Luke 18:7)
The delay is not denial. God “bears long” not because He is unwilling, but because He is working within His perfect timing and for your ultimate good. The widow got her answer because she refused to stop asking. So must you.
Beyond Answers: Prayer as the Gateway to Intimacy
1. The Secret of the Lord (Psalm 25:14)
Daddy Adeboye elevates the purpose of prayer beyond mere request-answering:
“When a fellow prays consistently, he or she will not only receive answers to his or her prayers, but the person will be granted greater access to the secrets of God.”
Psalm 25:14 – “The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.”
The word “secret” (Hebrew sod) means an intimate council, a private conversation, a confidential disclosure. This is what God offers to those who pray consistently: not just blessings, but Himself. Not just answers, but access.
2. The Visitor vs. The Intimate Friend
Daddy Adeboye gives a powerful analogy:
“Nobody shows a random visitor who visits his or her home the key to a hidden vault, but such a secret is typically revealed to intimate friends.”
| Visitor | Intimate Friend |
|---|---|
| Comes occasionally, stays briefly | Dwells in constant fellowship |
| Sees the living room, not the vault | Is trusted with the family secrets |
| Leaves and is easily forgotten | Is remembered and relied upon |
| Receives surface-level hospitality | Receives the keys to the kingdom |
Many Christians treat God like a random visitor: they pray on Sundays, in emergencies, or when the devotional reminds them. They see the “living room” of God’s blessings but never the “vault” of His secrets. They receive answers occasionally but miss the intimacy that transforms the soul.
“The more you pray, the greater access you will have to God’s heart and secrets.”
The Warning: Do Not Be a Den of Thieves
Daddy Adeboye returns to the opening warning: your body is a temple that must be a house of prayer.
Consider what happens when prayer is absent:
| Absence of Prayer Leads To | Scriptural Warning |
|---|---|
| Spiritual vulnerability | “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation” (Matthew 26:41) |
| Anxiety and fear | “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer… let your requests be made known” (Philippians 4:6) |
| Defilement by the enemy | “Your adversary the devil walks about seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8) |
| Lack of divine direction | “Trust in the Lord… lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5-6) |
A prayerless Christian is not a strong Christian struggling in secret. A prayerless Christian is a defeated Christian who has already begun to faint. The enemy does not need to launch a major attack; he simply needs to keep you from your knees.
How to Become a House of Prayer (Practical Steps)
Based on Daddy Adeboye’s teaching, here is how to cultivate a lifestyle of persistent, intimate prayer:
- Set Fixed Prayer Times: Daniel prayed three times daily (Daniel 6:10). Even in a busy schedule, establish non-negotiable prayer appointments with God—morning, noon, or evening.
- Pray Before Crisis: Elijah prayed before the drought and before the widow’s son died. Do not wait for emergency. Build the habit of prayer in peaceful times so that when storms come, your reflex is already prayer.
- Practice Persistence: The widow kept coming. Elijah sent his servant seven times. When you pray and do not see an immediate answer, do not faint. Keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking (Matthew 7:7-8).
- Pray the Word: Use Scripture as your prayer guide. The Psalms, the prayers of Paul (Ephesians 1:15-23, 3:14-21), and the Lord’s Prayer are templates for powerful, God-centered prayer.
- Cultivate Intimacy, Not Just Requests: Spend time in prayer just being with God—worshiping, thanking, sitting silently in His presence. The goal is not just to get things from God but to know God.
Conclusion: Your Prayer for a Persistent Prayer Life
Daddy Adeboye closes with a searching question: “Beloved, are you an intimate friend of God?” If not, the answer is not more Bible study alone or more church attendance alone—it is more prayer. Begin today.
Pray this:
“Lord Jesus, I confess that I have treated Your temple as a den of distractions rather than a house of prayer. I have prayed occasionally and faintly, not persistently and fervently. Forgive me. Teach me to pray without ceasing. Give me the spirit of Elijah—a spirit of consistent, answered prayer. Give me the persistence of the widow—the refusal to faint until the answer comes. And above all, draw me into intimacy with You. I do not want only Your answers; I want Your heart. Reveal Your secrets to me as to an intimate friend. Make my life a house of prayer, in Jesus’ mighty name.”
Action Steps:
- The 7-Day Persistence Challenge: Choose one specific prayer request that has not yet been answered. Pray about it every single day for the next 30 days. Do not stop. Each day, thank God in advance for the answer.
- Prayer Time Audit: Track your prayer time for one week. How many minutes do you actually pray (not just read devotionals or listen to worship music)? Identify the gap between your desired prayer life and your actual one. Close the gap by 5 minutes this week.
- The Elijah Posture: When you pray for something, do not just pray once and forget. Send your “servant” (your faith) repeatedly to look for the answer cloud. Even when six times you see nothing, go again. The seventh time may bring the rain.
“Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer.” (Romans 12:12)
Do not faint. Do not stop. Pray always. The Judge is listening, and the answer is closer than you think.
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