Today’s Open Heaven devotional (8 March 2025) is ASK FOR MERCY
The daily devotion guide is written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
OPEN HEAVEN 8 MARCH 2025 DEVOTIONAL
TOPIC: ASK FOR MERCY
MEMORISE
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:16
READ: Luke 18:10-14
10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 8 MARCH 2025 MESSAGE
A brilliant Bible study leader always taught married couples that when the wife is pregnant and is about to deliver, all they need do is bind all the bindables, loose all the loosables, command the baby to come out, and the baby will be delivered easily. When he got married, and his wife became pregnant and was about to deliver, he said the same prayers, but the baby did not come out. After his wife had been in labour for three days. he fell on his face and said, “God, just have mercy on me.” When he went back to see his wife, their baby had been delivered safely.
God is rich in mercy (Ephesians 2:4); His mercy is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him (Psalm 103:17). In Mark 1:40-42, a leper came to Jesus and said, “I know you can heal me if you are willing.” Jesus, moved with compassion, said, “I will,” and He did.
Beloved, when your prayers don’t seem to be answered, just ask God for mercy; He hardly ignores such a plea. In today’s Bible reading, Jesus told the story of two fellows who went to the temple to pray. One of them, a Pharisee, told God about all his good deeds; the other, a publican, bowed his head and said, “God be merciful to me, a sinner.” The man who cried for mercy was the one who returned home justified. When you ask for mercy, you acknowledge your helplessness before God, and He will respond to you with help. Bartimaeus’ cry for mercy reached Jesus’ ears, and he got his miracle. He didn’t only receive his sight; Jesus made him whole (Mark 10:46-52). The woman from Tyre and Sidon cried for mercy on behalf of her demon-possessed daughter, and Jesus helped her (Matthew 15:21-28). Those who ask God for mercy never leave empty-handed.
You need God’s mercy when things are good and when they are not so good. You need mercy when you are in need and when you are satisfied. When in need, God’s mercy will bring you answers to problems, and in good times, His mercy will preserve your blessings. The cry for mercy shouldn’t only be on the lips of those who are in trouble and need urgent help; even those who live in abundance and believe they don’t have problems must ask for mercy so nothing will tamper with their blessings.
ACTION POINT
Go ahead and ask for mercy in every area of your life.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
Joshua 11-13
HYMN 15: Pass Me Not O Gentle Saviour
OPEN HEAVEN 8 MARCH 2025 COMMENTARY
1. The Limits of Formulaic Faith
Open Heaven devotional for today opens with a striking story of a Bible teacher who confidently taught couples to “bind and loose” for easy childbirth – until his own wife’s prolonged labor humbled him. His eventual cry, “God, have mercy on me!” brought breakthrough.
Key Lesson:
- No spiritual formula replaces raw dependence on God.
- Even “experts” in faith must sometimes abandon protocols for simple surrender (2 Corinthians 3:5).
Modern Parallel:
- Binding “strongholds” but ignoring repentance.
- Declaring “healing” without seeking the Healer’s heart.
Application:
✔ Balance spiritual authority with humility (James 4:6).
✔ When prayers “fail,” pivot to mercy (Lamentations 3:22).
2. Mercy: The Gateway to Justification
Jesus’ parable in Luke 18 contrasts two prayers:
- The Pharisee’s prideful recital of deeds (v. 11-12).
- The tax collector’s cry: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” (v. 13).
Result: Only the tax collector was “justified” (declared righteous).
Why Mercy Triumphs:
- Acknowledges human helplessness (Psalm 51:17).
- Appeals to God’s nature, not human merit (Exodus 34:6-7).
Application:
✔ Replace self-righteous prayers with cries for mercy.
✔ Let desperation, not dignity, shape your petitions (Mark 10:47-48).
3. Biblical Case Studies of Mercy’s Power
Today’s devotional highlights three mercy-seekers who received miracles:
- The Leper (Mark 1:40-42): “If You are willing…”. Jesus’ compassion healed him.
- Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52): “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy!”. Sight restored.
- Canaanite Woman (Matthew 15:21-28): “Lord, help me!”. Daughter delivered.
Pattern Observed:
- Mercy-prayers bypassed religious elitism.
- They triggered Jesus’ compassion, not just His power.
Application:
✔ In crises, simplify your prayer: “Lord, have mercy!”
✔ Persist like Bartimaeus—ignore “hushers” (Mark 10:48).
4. Mercy for All Seasons
The devotional for today stresses that mercy isn’t just for emergencies:
- In lack: Mercy provides (Psalm 123:2-3).
- In abundance: Mercy preserves (Jude 1:21).
Example:
- Job’s post-restoration fear: “Lord, keep Your mercy on my household” (Job 1:5).
Warning:
- Pride in blessings invites downfall (Proverbs 16:18).
- Continuous mercy-cries safeguard grace (1 Peter 5:5).
Application:
✔ Daily pray: “Lord, let Your mercy go before me” (Psalm 59:10).
5. How to Cry for Mercy Effectively
- Posture Matters:
- Like the tax collector, bow your heart (Luke 18:13).
- Words Matter:
- “Have mercy” (Greek: eleēson) implies active compassion.
- Timing Matters:
- Preemptively (in peace) and reactively (in crisis).
Prayer Template:
“Lord Jesus, I abandon my self-sufficiency. Have mercy on me! Meet me at my point of need, and preserve all You’ve given me. Amen.”
Final Thought: Mercy as Your Lifeline
The devotional’s core message? God’s throne is a “throne of grace” (Hebrews 4:16), not a courtroom of scrutiny. When you cry for mercy:
- You activate His covenant love (Psalm 136).
- You silence the accuser (Revelation 12:10).
- You unlock what faith alone cannot (Matthew 15:22-28).
“It is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.” (Romans 9:16)
Action Step:
- Today, replace one “demanding” prayer with a cry for mercy.
- Testify when breakthrough comes!
“His mercy is more—stronger than darkness, deeper than your sin!”
Read RCCG Open Heaven Devotional for Tomorrow
Download Open Heaven 8 March 2025 Devotional PDF
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