Today’s Open Heavens devotional, 8 March 2026, is HE CAN FIGHT FOR OR AGAINST YOU.
The daily devotion guide is written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
OPEN HEAVENS 8 MARCH 2026 DEVOTIONAL
TOPIC: HE CAN FIGHT FOR OR AGAINST YOU
MEMORISE
Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
Psalm 37:5
READ: Exodus 14:21-28
21 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.
22 And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
23 And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.
24 And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the Lord looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians,
25 And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the Lord fighteth for them against the Egyptians.
26 And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.
27 And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.
28 And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them.
RCCG OPEN HEAVENS 8 MARCH 2026 MESSAGE TODAY
Ephesians 6:12 tells us that we wrestle against principalities and powers; however, many people don’t realise this early in life, so they fight endless battles without knowing how to emerge victorious.
Many make lofty plans but never succeed in executing them. However, as we see in today’s memory verse, the secret to ensuring that your plans succeed is to commit them into God’s hands and put all your trust in Him. If you allow God to be in charge, you will surely succeed.
There are certain possibilities when a fellow is fighting the battles of life. The first possibility is that of failure. The possibility of failure, however, turns into an assurance of failure if God is fighting against the fellow.
James 4:6 tells us that God resists the proud, meaning that He fights against those who think that they can achieve things without Him. Therefore, when the enemy tempts you to do things your own way, look for wrong shortcuts, cheat, defraud, lie, or use ungodly means to get ahead, resist him because you will only be setting yourself against God if you fall for his temptations.
In the days ahead, I will discuss the other possible outcomes that a fellow can experience while fighting the battles of life.
In today’s Bible reading, God parted the Red Sea and made a way for the Israelites where there was none previously. While they were passing through dry land in the midst of the sea, their enemies followed them into the midst of the sea, hoping to bring them back into bondage. However, God helped His people and fought against their enemies.
When the enemies realised that God was against them, they cried out, “Let us run away from these Israelites because it is clear that God is fighting for them” (Exodus 14:25).
When God is fighting against someone, that fellow is bound to fail. This is why, wherever you are and whatever you plan to do, you must first ensure that God is not fighting against you. One way to ensure that God is not fighting against you is to be holy.
Holiness is the master key to success, but sin will make God your enemy. If you decide to use crooked means to succeed, even if you appear to actually be succeeding, the success won’t last.
Beloved, you cannot afford for God to be against you. If you want your plans to prosper, live a holy life and run away from anything that will make God turn against you.
ACTION POINT
When God is fighting against a fellow, whatever that fellow does will not prosper.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
Joshua 11-13
HYMN 15: Pass Me Not O Gentle Saviour
OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL 8 MARCH 2026 COMMENTARY
MEMORISE: Psalm 37:5
“Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.”
This verse presents the divine exchange for success. It moves us from the exhausting posture of self-managed struggle (“thy way”) into the restful assurance of God-managed outcomes (“he shall bring it to pass”). The active verbs—”commit” (to roll onto) and “trust” (to be confident, to be careless)—instruct us to transfer the full weight of our plans and battles onto God, and then to rest in His faithful execution.
BIBLE READING: Exodus 14:21-28
This passage is the ultimate demonstration of God fighting for His people and against their enemies:
v. 21-22: God creates an impossible way of escape, showing that when He is for you, barriers become pathways.
v. 23-25: The enemy, in pride and pursuit, enters God’s arena. The Lord “fights for them againstthe Egyptians.” The realization of divine opposition causes panic: “Let us flee from the face of Israel, for the LORD fighteth for them.”
v. 26-28: God executes total judgment. The same sea that was a wall of protection for Israel becomes a grave of destruction for Egypt. The outcome is determined solely by which side God is on.
Ensuring God Fights For You, Not Against You
Pastor E.A. Adeboye begins a crucial series on life’s battles by establishing the foundational, non-negotiable principle: Your success or failure is not primarily about your strategy or strength, but about whose side God is on. The key is to ensure you are positioned with Him, not against Him.
1. The True Nature of Our Battles
Spiritual Warfare is Reality:
- Ephesians 6:12 corrects our vision. The true adversaries are not flesh and blood but spiritual hierarchies of darkness. Fighting with only natural wisdom and effort against these forces is a guaranteed path to “endless battles” without victory.
The Illusion of Self-Managed Success:
- “Lofty plans” that fail often do so because they are conceived and executed in the realm of human wisdom and ability alone, ignoring the spiritual dimension and God’s sovereignty.
2. The Two Possible Alignments
1. God Fighting For You (The Assurance of Success):
- The Condition: Holiness, humility, and committed trust (Psalm 37:5, James 4:6). This alignment turns impossibilities into testimonies, as with the Red Sea.
- The Evidence: Divine guidance, supernatural provision, and doors that no man can shut. Even in battle, there is a profound sense of peace and divine strategy.
2. God Fighting Against You (The Assurance of Failure):
- The Condition: Pride, unrepentant sin, and reliance on “ungodly means” (cheating, fraud, corruption, occult shortcuts). James 4:6 states this plainly: “God resisteth the proud.” To be “resisted” by God is to have the Almighty actively opposing your path.
- The Evidence: Frustration at every turn, plans collapsing at the edge of success, a lack of peace, and eventual ruin (Proverbs 13:15).
3. The Red Sea Case Study: A Divine Line in the Sand
The Parting as a Discernment Test:
- The miracle didn’t just save Israel; it revealed hearts. For Israel, it was a path of deliverance. For Pharaoh, it was an invitation to further rebellion. The same miracle judged one and saved the other based on their alignment with God’s will.
The Enemy’s Realization:
- Exodus 14:25 is pivotal. Even God’s enemies recognized the futility of fighting when God is the opponent. Their confession underscores a universal truth: No power can succeed under the active resistance of Jehovah.
4. Joseph’s Testimony (Genesis 39:2-3, 23)
Success Through Divine Presence:
- Whether as a slave or a prisoner, “the LORD was with Joseph, and made all that he did to prosper.” His consistent holiness (refusing Potiphar’s wife) ensured God fought for him, turning every pit into a promotion.
How to Secure God’s Advocacy in Your Battles
1. Commit Your Way Daily:
- Begin each day, and each project, with a prayer of deliberate commitment: “Lord, I roll this plan, this battle, onto You. I cease striving. I trust You to direct my steps and bring it to pass.”
2. Pursue Holiness as Your Strategic Advantage:
- Holiness is not a restrictive rule; it is the “master key” that unlocks divine favor and turns God from a potential adversary into your guaranteed Advocate. Audit your life for any “crooked means” or compromise.
3. Cultivate Humility, Reject Pride:
- Actively reject the temptation of self-sufficiency. Pray, “Lord, keep me from pride that would cause You to resist me. I need You in everything.”
4. Discern the Source of Resistance:
- When you face inexplicable blockades, ask in prayer: “Holy Spirit, reveal if this is an enemy attack to be overcome in faith, or Your resistance to a wrong path I must abandon?” Correct alignment is crucial.
Warning: The Deceit of “Successful” Sin
Temporary Gains, Eternal Losses:
- A crooked deal may bring quick money, but it invites God’s opposition, which will ultimately collapse the house built on sand (Matthew 7:26-27). What lasts is what God builds.
The Pharisee’s Error:
- Outward success without inward holiness is a dangerous illusion. God looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). A life that appears successful but is built on sin is actually under God’s judgment.
Conclusion: Aligning with the Captain of the Host
Pray this:
“Almighty God, Commander of Heaven’s Armies, I recognize today that my battles are spiritual. I humbly commit all my ways, plans, and struggles to You. I repent of any pride, sin, or reliance on ungodly shortcuts that would put me at odds with You. I choose holiness. I put my complete trust in You. Fight for me, O Lord, as You fought for Israel. Let Your presence be my guide and Your favor my shield. Let every enemy of my destiny recognize that You fight for me, and let them flee in disarray. I align myself with You today, in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen.”
Action Steps:
- The Plan Roll-Over: Write down your top 3 current plans or battles on separate pieces of paper. Pray over each one, then physically place them in your Bible at Psalm 37:5 as an act of committing them.
- Holiness Audit: Spend time in 1 John 1:9 and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any specific sin, dishonest practice, or unclean association that could invite God’s resistance. Confess and renounce it thoroughly.
- Study the Battles of the Saints: Read Joshua 5:13-15. Ask God to give you the revelation Joshua received: “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” The answer was, “No; but as Commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.” The goal is not to get God on your side, but to ensure you are on His.
Remember: In the battle of life, your strategy is secondary to your alignment. With God for you, no force can prevail. Against you, no scheme can succeed.
“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). Ensure He is for you.
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