Category: Open Heavens Devotional

The Open Heavens 14 July 2026 devotional for today is DELIVERANCE FROM PHYSICAL BURDENS.

This is a daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

• Read: RCCG Open Heavens 13 July 2026 Devotional

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OPEN HEAVENS 14 JULY 2026 TODAY DEVOTIONAL

TOPIC: DELIVERANCE FROM PHYSICAL BURDENS

MEMORISE
And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
Matthew 9:35

READ: Isaiah 61:1-4

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
² To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
³ To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.
⁴ And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.

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RCCG OPEN HEAVENS 14 JULY 2026 TODAY MESSAGE

In John 19:16-17, some Roman soldiers were leading Jesus to Golgotha to be crucified, and they made Him carry a heavy cross. He had been thoroughly beaten earlier and must have been very weak, yet they made Him carry this heavy burden by Himself.

On the way, they met a man from Cyrene named Simon, and I believe that God prompted them to compel him to assist Jesus in carrying the cross to the place He was to be crucified (Matthew 27:32).

Simon is an example of a burden bearer; he helped Jesus to lift His heavy burden.

Beloved, Jesus Christ wants to help you carry every burden that might be weighing you down. This is why He said that you should come to Him with whatever burdens you may be carrying so that He can relieve you of them and give you rest (Matthew 11:28).

It is important to note that there are different categories of burdens. Today, I will discuss physical burdens. For example, Naaman had a physical burden, which was in the form of an incurable disease (2 Kings 5:1). Likewise, Luke 13:10-17 tells us about a woman with a spirit of infirmity who was bent double. Everywhere she went, people could see the visible manifestation of the burden she was carrying; no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t stand up straight. Also, in John 5:2-2, the Bible tells the story of a man who had been by the pool of Bethesda for 38 years. He had a longstanding physical burden, and I imagine that his family and friends had abandoned him because of his infirmity. By God’s mercies, however, Jesus, the Burden Bearer, approached him and lifted his longstanding burden instantly.

Mark 3:1-6 also tells the story of a man who had a physical deformity. One of his hands was withered, meaning that it was dead and was no longer useful. He was limited because he could only use one of his hands. However, when the Burden Bearer met him at the synagogue, He had mercy on him and made the withered hand whole like the other. I pray for you that in every area you may be experiencing limitations due to a physical ailment, the Almighty God will step into your case and restore you completely.

Beloved, are you feeling overwhelmed by any physical burden? Do not despair; rather, approach God’s throne of grace and cast it upon Him. He will carry your burdens for you and remove every limitation in your life.

PRAYER POINT

Lord Jesus, I bring all my physical burdens to You today. Please help me carry them.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Song of Solomon 5-8

Open Heavens HYMN 19: ROCK OF AGES CLEFT FOR ME

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL 14 JULY 2026 COMMENTARY

MEMORISE: Matthew 9:35

“And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.”

This verse summarizes the earthly ministry of Jesus.

BIBLE READING: Isaiah 61:1-4

“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.”

This is the prophecy that Jesus read in the synagogue in Nazareth (Luke 4:18-19), declaring it fulfilled in their hearing. It announces the mission of the Messiah: to preach good news, bind up the brokenhearted, proclaim liberty to captives, open prisons, comfort mourners, give beauty for ashes, oil of joy for mourning, and a garment of praise for heaviness.

Simon of Cyrene: An Example of a Burden Bearer

1. The Man Compelled to Carry Jesus’ Cross

“In John 19:16-17, some Roman soldiers were leading Jesus to Golgotha to be crucified, and they made Him carry a heavy cross. He had been thoroughly beaten earlier and must have been very weak, yet they made Him carry this heavy burden by Himself.”

Consider Jesus’ condition before carrying the cross:

What Jesus Had Endured	His Physical State
Scourging (Roman flogging)	Severe blood loss, exposed flesh, extreme pain
Mocking and beating by soldiers	Bruising, swelling, exhaustion
Crown of thorns pressed into His scalp	Bleeding, intense pain
Sleep deprivation, trials all night	Utter fatigue, weakness

He was in no condition to carry a heavy wooden cross. His body was failing. Yet He began the journey.

“On the way, they met a man from Cyrene named Simon, and I believe that God prompted them to compel him to assist Jesus in carrying the cross to the place He was to be crucified (Matthew 27:32).”

Simon of Cyrene	What He Did
A passerby, coming in from the country	Was compelled to carry Jesus’ cross
Not a disciple (as far as we know)	Became a burden bearer

“Simon is an example of a burden bearer; he helped Jesus to lift His heavy burden.”

Simon did not volunteer. He was compelled. But he became an example of what it means to help carry a heavy load.

2. Jesus as the Ultimate Burden Bearer

“Beloved, Jesus Christ wants to help you carry every burden that might be weighing you down. This is why He said that you should come to Him with whatever burdens you may be carrying so that He can relieve you of them and give you rest (Matthew 11:28).”

Matthew 11:28 – “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Simon Carried Jesus’ Cross	Jesus Carries Your Burdens
One man helped the Savior for a short distance	The Savior helps you for all eternity
Simon bore a physical weight	Jesus bears every weight—physical, emotional, spiritual
Simon was compelled	Jesus invites: “Come unto me”

The irony is profound: Simon helped Jesus carry His cross, but Jesus helps every burdened soul carry theirs. The cross that Simon lifted was the instrument of salvation. The burdens you bring to Jesus become opportunities for His healing power.

Physical Burdens: The Weight of Sickness and Infirmity

Daddy Adeboye introduces a series on different categories of burdens, beginning today with physical burdens.

“It is important to note that there are different categories of burdens. Today, I will discuss physical burdens.”

Category	Description
Physical burdens	Sickness, disease, deformity, chronic pain, disability
Emotional burdens	Grief, depression, anxiety, broken heart
Spiritual burdens	Sin, guilt, condemnation, demonic oppression
Financial burdens	Debt, poverty, lack of provision
Relational burdens	Conflict, betrayal, loneliness, family strife

Today’s focus is on physical burdens. Let us examine the biblical examples Daddy Adeboye provides.

Biblical Examples of Physical Burdens Lifted by Jesus

1. Naaman: Incurable Disease (2 Kings 5:1)

“For example, Naaman had a physical burden, which was in the form of an incurable disease.”

Naaman’s Burden	The Solution
Leprosy (incurable by human medicine)	Seven dips in the Jordan River
Commander of armies, yet powerless over his skin	Humility to obey the prophet’s instruction
His position could not heal him	His obedience brought healing

2 Kings 5:1 – “Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man… but he was a leper.”

No amount of wealth, power, or status could remove the burden of leprosy. Only God could. And God did—through simple obedience.

2. The Woman Bent Double (Luke 13:10-17)

“Likewise, Luke 13:10-17 tells us about a woman with a spirit of infirmity who was bent double. Everywhere she went, people could see the visible manifestation of the burden she was carrying; no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t stand up straight.”

Her Burden	The Healing
Bent double for 18 years	Jesus called her, laid hands on her
Spirit of infirmity (demonic oppression manifesting physically)	Immediately she was made straight
Could only see the ground, not the sky	She glorified God

For eighteen years, she carried this visible, humiliating burden. Everywhere she went, people saw her affliction. But in one moment, Jesus—the Burden Bearer—set her free.

3. The Man at Bethesda (John 5:2-9)

“Also, in John 5:2-9, the Bible tells the story of a man who had been by the pool of Bethesda for 38 years. He had a longstanding physical burden, and I imagine that his family and friends had abandoned him because of his infirmity. By God’s mercies, however, Jesus, the Burden Bearer, approached him and lifted his longstanding burden instantly.”

His Burden	The Healing
Invalid for 38 years	Jesus asked, “Wilt thou be made whole?”
Waiting by the pool, no one to help him into the water	“Rise, take up thy bed, and walk”
Hopeless, abandoned	Immediately made whole

Thirty-eight years is longer than many people live. This man had been sick for nearly four decades. Everyone else had given up on him. But Jesus had not forgotten him. And Jesus healed him instantly.

4. The Man with the Withered Hand (Mark 3:1-6)

*”Mark 3:1-6 also tells the story of a man who had a physical deformity. One of his hands was withered, meaning that it was dead and was no longer useful. He was limited because he could only use one of his hands. However, when the Burden Bearer met him at the synagogue, He had mercy on him and made the withered hand whole like the other.”*

His Burden	The Healing
Withered hand—dead, useless	Jesus said, “Stretch forth your hand”
Limited in what he could do	He stretched it, and it was restored
Had learned to live with his disability	Jesus removed the limitation completely

“I pray for you that in every area you may be experiencing limitations due to a physical ailment, the Almighty God will step into your case and restore you completely.”

The Pattern of Jesus’ Healing Ministry

From these examples, we see a pattern:

Example	Duration of Burden	Jesus’ Action	Result
Naaman	Unknown, but chronic	Instructed him to obey	Leprosy removed
Bent woman	18 years	Called her, laid hands	Made straight
Bethesda man	38 years	Commanded him to rise	Walked immediately
Withered hand	Unknown (likely lifelong)	Commanded him to stretch	Hand restored

Notice: Jesus did not need long prayers, special rituals, or the person’s faith to be perfect. He simply spoke. He touched. He commanded. And the burden was lifted.

How to Bring Your Physical Burden to Jesus (Practical Steps)

Based on Daddy Adeboye’s teaching, here is how to approach the Burden Bearer:

1. Recognize That Jesus Is Willing to Heal

The leper came to Jesus saying, “Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean” (Matthew 8:2). Jesus answered, “I will; be thou clean.” Do not doubt His willingness. He healed every sickness and every disease. He has not changed.

2. Come to Him Honestly

Do not hide your burden. Do not pretend you are fine. Come as you are—sick, weak, exhausted, limited. Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden.” Not “come when you have cleaned yourself up.” Come now.

3. Cast Your Burden Upon Him (1 Peter 5:7)

1 Peter 5:7 – “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

What Casting Means	What It Does Not Mean
Transfer the weight to Him	Continue to carry it yourself
Trust Him with the outcome	Give Him the burden but keep worrying
Release control	Hold on “just in case”

4. Obey Whatever He Tells You

Naaman had to dip seven times. The man with the withered hand had to stretch it out. The man at Bethesda had to rise and walk. Healing often requires an act of obedience. Listen. Obey. Even if it seems foolish.

5. Do Not Despair if the Answer Is Not Immediate

The bent woman was sick for 18 years. The Bethesda man for 38 years. They did not give up hope. Neither should you. Keep coming. Keep believing. Keep seeking the Burden Bearer.

Warning: Do Not Let Despair Keep You from the Healer

Daddy Adeboye’s devotional carries an urgent encouragement: do not despair. Do not let the length of your suffering convince you that God cannot or will not heal.

The Enemy’s Lie	The Truth
“It’s been too long”	38 years was not too long for Jesus
“You’ve tried everything”	You have not tried the Burden Bearer
“God doesn’t care about your body”	Jesus spent much of His ministry healing bodies
“Maybe it’s not God’s will”	Jesus healed “every” sickness—that is His will

Conclusion: Your Prayer for Physical Healing

Daddy Adeboye closes with a prayer for restoration. Whether your burden is physical, emotional, or otherwise, bring it to the Burden Bearer today.

Pray this:

“Lord Jesus, I thank You that You went about all the cities and villages healing every sickness and every disease. I thank You that You are the same yesterday, today, and forever. I come to You today with my physical burden. You know the pain, the limitation, the exhaustion, the despair. You see the length of time I have carried this weight. Like the woman bent double for 18 years, like the man at Bethesda for 38 years, I come to You. Speak Your word. Stretch out Your hand. Command my healing. I cast this burden upon You. I will not carry it alone any longer. I believe that You are willing. I believe that You are able. Restore me completely. Remove every limitation. Let me walk, stretch, stand, and glorify Your name. In Jesus’ mighty name.”

Action Steps:

1. Identify Your Burden: Write down the specific physical burden you are carrying—whether it is a diagnosed disease, chronic pain, a disability, or a limitation. Be specific. Name it.
2. Bring It to Jesus: In prayer, lay that piece of paper before the Lord. Tell Him: “I cannot carry this anymore. I give it to You.” Then thank Him for hearing you.
3. Take One Step of Obedience: Is there anything the Lord has been telling you to do—a doctor to see, a lifestyle change to make, a prayer to pray, a person to call? Do it today. Obedience often precedes the miracle.

• Facebook: RCCG Live

Read RCCG Open Heavens Devotional for Tomorrow

Download Open Heavens 14 July 2026 Devotional PDF

The Open Heavens 13 July 2026 devotional for today is SPEND QUALITY TIME WITH YOUR SPOUSE.

This is a daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

• Read: RCCG Open Heavens 12 July 2026 Devotional

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OPEN HEAVENS 13 JULY 2026 TODAY DEVOTIONAL

TOPIC: SPEND QUALITY TIME WITH YOUR SPOUSE

MEMORISE

Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 9:9

READ: Proverbs 5:15-19

¹⁵ Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well.
¹⁶ Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets.
¹⁷ Let them be only thine own, and not strangers’ with thee.
¹⁸ Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.
¹⁹ Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.

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RCCG OPEN HEAVENS 13 JULY 2026 TODAY MESSAGE

I am always concerned when I see married couples who don’t spend quality time together. Many of such couples spend the whole day away from each other at work and only come home to sleep at night, then they are off again in the morning. Even on weekends, they either go to work again or attend other engagements without their spouses.

This ought not to be so because when you truly love someone, you will always find a way to spend quality time with him or her, and the more time you spend together, the more your love will blossom.

Years ago, a woman who was sick confessed to me that she actually didn’t want to be healed because when she was hale and hearty, her husband wasn’t spending quality time with her. However, now that she was sick, he always returned home immediately after work. Husbands and wives should not abandon their spouses because of work or any other commitment. They must spend quality time with them to build strong bonds.

Married couples must also pray together. It is unfortunate that some married couples hardly ever pray together. They may attend prayer meetings, where they spend hours praying with others, but when they return home, they are often too tired to pray together. One way that married couples can maintain strong, loving relationships with one another is by praying together regularly. Prayer strengthens marriage bonds and solidifies the love between a man and his wife.

My wife and I have been married for 59 years, and we regularly create time to laugh and have fun together. We are lovers, not just a man and a woman who are living together under one roof.

Husbands and wives should play with one another. They shouldn’t be so serious that they cannot spend time laughing with their spouses or making them laugh. When laughter is always heard in a home, there will be fewer reasons for friction.

Husbands and wives must be intentional about creating time for fun activities with one another that will lighten the atmosphere in their homes and fill it with joy.

Lastly, married people should take time to shower their spouses with compliments. They must not take them for granted; instead, they should seek ways to express how special they are and thank them for everything they do. I pray that God will strengthen the relationships between all men and women who are joined in holy matrimony, in Jesus’ name.

PRAYER POINT

Today is my lover’s birthday. Please join me in asking God to continually strengthen her and multiply His grace and peace in her life.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Song of Solomon 1-4

Open Heavens HYMN 33: GUIDE ME, O THOU GREAT JEHOVAH!

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL 13 JULY 2026 COMMENTARY

MEMORISE: Ecclesiastes 9:9

“Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.”

This verse is God’s command for marital joy. Daddy Adeboye anchors today’s devotional on this text because it reveals that marriage is not merely a contract or a duty—it is a gift to be enjoyed. The phrase “live joyfully” implies active, intentional pursuit of happiness together. The words “all the days” mean this is not a temporary season but a lifelong commitment to joy. Solomon, writing from the perspective of “vanity” (the fleeting nature of life), says that joyful companionship with your spouse is your “portion”—your allotted gift from God. To neglect this is to miss one of the few pleasures God gives under the sun.

BIBLE READING: Proverbs 5:15-19

This passage is a celebration of marital love and fidelity. It uses vivid imagery: drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well. Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of your youth. She is described as a loving hind and a pleasant roe—graceful, desirable, delightful. The command is to let her breasts satisfy you at all times, and to be ravished always with her love.

The Concern: Married Couples Who Don’t Spend Time Together

1. The Modern Epidemic of Separation

“I am always concerned when I see married couples who don’t spend quality time together. Many of such couples spend the whole day away from each other at work and only come home to sleep at night, then they are off again in the morning. Even on weekends, they either go to work again or attend other engagements without their spouses.”

Consider the typical pattern:

Day	Morning	Evening	Problem
Monday–Friday	Leave early for work	Return exhausted, eat, sleep	No meaningful interaction
Saturday	Work, errands, engagements	Collapse from fatigue	No quality time
Sunday	Church, then rest for Monday	Prepare for the week	Missed opportunity for connection

“This ought not to be so because when you truly love someone, you will always find a way to spend quality time with him or her, and the more time you spend together, the more your love will blossom.”

If You Love Someone	The Evidence
You find time	You make sacrifices to be together
You prioritize them	They are not an afterthought
You enjoy their company	Time with them is not a duty but a delight
Your love grows	Proximity and attention deepen affection

If you never spend time with your spouse, you are not loving them well. Love requires presence. Love requires attention. Love requires the investment of time.

2. The Shocking Confession of a Sick Woman

“Years ago, a woman who was sick confessed to me that she actually didn’t want to be healed because when she was hale and hearty, her husband wasn’t spending quality time with her. However, now that she was sick, he always returned home immediately after work.”

This is a devastating testimony:

When She Was Healthy	When She Was Sick
Husband came home late or not at all	Husband returned immediately after work
He prioritized work and other engagements	He prioritized being with her
She felt abandoned	She felt attended to
She had no desire to return to that loneliness	She preferred sickness with attention over health with neglect

“Husbands and wives should not abandon their spouses because of work or any other commitment. They must spend quality time with them to build strong bonds.”

What Happens When You Abandon Your Spouse for Work	What Happens When You Prioritize Time Together
Your spouse feels neglected, unloved, unwanted	Your spouse feels cherished, valued, secure
Your marriage becomes a roommate arrangement	Your marriage becomes a partnership of love
The enemy gains a foothold for temptation	The marriage is fortified against attack
Your children learn a poor model of marriage	Your children see love modeled and imitate it

Do not wait for a crisis to be present with your spouse. Do not force them to choose between illness with your attention and health without it. Be present now.

The Power of Praying Together

“Married couples must also pray together. It is unfortunate that some married couples hardly ever pray together. They may attend prayer meetings, where they spend hours praying with others, but when they return home, they are often too tired to pray together.”

The Irony	The Tragedy
They pray for hours at church	They cannot pray five minutes together at home
They intercede for others	They neglect intercession for their own marriage
They are zealous in public	They are cold in private

“One way that married couples can maintain strong, loving relationships with one another is by praying together regularly. Prayer strengthens marriage bonds and solidifies the love between a man and his wife.”

What Prayer Together Does	Why It Matters
Invites God into the center of the marriage	God becomes the third strand (Ecclesiastes 4:12)
Creates vulnerability and intimacy	You cannot pray together and remain strangers
Aligns your hearts toward the same purpose	You become “one” in spirit as well as flesh
Defuses conflict	Hard to stay angry at someone you have just prayed with
Builds a spiritual hedge of protection	The enemy cannot easily penetrate a praying couple

Ecclesiastes 4:12 – “A threefold cord is not quickly broken.” You, your spouse, and God—woven together through prayer—form a cord that cannot be easily snapped.

Daddy Adeboye’s Testimony: 59 Years of Love

“My wife and I have been married for 59 years, and we regularly create time to laugh and have fun together. We are lovers, not just a man and a woman who are living together under one roof.”

What Their Marriage Is	What It Is Not
Lovers	Roommates
Partners in joy	Business partners managing a household
Intentional about fun	Serious, rigid, joyless
Laughter-filled	Tension-filled

After 59 years, Daddy Adeboye still calls his wife his lover. He still creates time for fun. He still laughs with her. This is not an accident—it is intentional.

The Role of Laughter and Play

“Husbands and wives should play with one another. They shouldn’t be so serious that they cannot spend time laughing with their spouses or making them laugh. When laughter is always heard in a home, there will be fewer reasons for friction.”

A Home with Laughter	A Home Without Laughter
Tensions are released quickly	Small irritations become big fights
Joy is present	Resentment grows
Children feel secure	Children sense the coldness
The marriage feels light	The marriage feels heavy

“Husbands and wives must be intentional about creating time for fun activities with one another that will lighten the atmosphere in their homes and fill it with joy.”

Ideas for Fun Together	Why It Works
A weekly date night	Protected time for connection
Watching a comedy together	Shared laughter breaks down walls
Taking a walk or hike	Conversation flows naturally
Cooking a meal together	Collaboration and fun
Playing a board game	Friendly competition, playfulness
Traveling together (even a short trip)	New experiences create shared memories

Fun does not happen by accident. It must be intentional. Schedule it. Protect it. Prioritize it.

The Power of Compliments and Gratitude

“Lastly, married people should take time to shower their spouses with compliments. They must not take them for granted; instead, they should seek ways to express how special they are and thank them for everything they do.”

Taking Your Spouse for Granted	Showering Your Spouse with Compliments
“They know I love them; I don’t need to say it”	You say it often, in many ways
You notice only their faults	You actively look for what to praise
You assume they will always be there	You treat each day as a gift
Thank-yous are rare	Thank-yous are frequent and specific

“I pray that God will strengthen the relationships between all men and women who are joined in holy matrimony, in Jesus’ name.”

Practical Steps for Strengthening Your Marriage

Based on Daddy Adeboye’s teaching and Scripture, here is how to build a strong, joyful, lasting marriage:

1. Prioritize Quality Time

Instead of…	Do This…
Working late every night	Set a time to leave work and come home
Weekends filled with outside engagements	Block out time for your spouse first, then schedule other things
Sitting on opposite sides of the couch	Sit close. Touch. Talk. Be present.

2. Pray Together Daily

Do not let prayer be only a Sunday activity or a mealtime ritual. Pray together before bed. Pray together in the morning. Share prayer requests. Intercede for your children, your future, your challenges. Let prayer be the glue that holds you together.

3. Laugh Together Often

Find what makes your spouse laugh. Do more of that. Watch something funny together. Share a funny memory. Do not be too serious. Marriage is a gift—enjoy it.

4. Compliment Generously

Each day, find at least one specific thing to compliment your spouse about:

• “Thank you for making dinner tonight.”
• “You handled that situation so wisely.”
• “You look beautiful/handsome today.”
• “I appreciate how hard you work for our family.”

5. Date Your Spouse (Even After 59 Years)

Do not stop courting. Do not stop pursuing. Your spouse should never feel that the chase ended at the wedding altar. Date nights. Surprise gifts. Unexpected affection. Keep the romance alive.

Warning: Do Not Let Work Destroy Your Marriage

Daddy Adeboye’s devotional carries an urgent warning: work is a thief. It steals time, attention, and affection from marriages.

Work Is a Good Servant	But It Is a Terrible Master
Provides for the family	Destroys the family when over-prioritized
Gives purpose and income	Becomes an idol when it takes God’s place
Can be done with excellence	Should not be done at the expense of your spouse

The sick woman preferred her illness because it brought her husband home. That is an indictment. Do not let your spouse feel that they must compete with your job for your attention—and lose.

Conclusion: Your Prayer for a Joyful Marriage

Daddy Adeboye closes with a prayer for strengthened marriages. Whether you have been married for 59 years or 59 days, commit to living joyfully with your spouse.

Pray this (for married couples):

“Lord Jesus, I thank You for the gift of my spouse. Forgive me for the times I have taken my marriage for granted—prioritizing work over presence, seriousness over laughter, silence over prayer, and neglect over compliments. Today, I recommit to my marriage. Help me to live joyfully with my spouse all the days of my life. Give me the discipline to pray with them, the intention to play with them, and the grace to compliment them generously. Let laughter fill our home. Let prayer strengthen our bond. Let love grow deeper with each passing year. I do not want to be a roommate; I want to be a lover. I do not want my spouse to prefer sickness because health brings neglect. I will be present. I will be intentional. I will love as Christ loves the church. In Jesus’ mighty name.”

Action Steps (for married couples):

1. The Time Audit: Track how much quality time you actually spend with your spouse this week (not just in the same room, but actively engaged with each other). If it is less than 5 hours, make a plan to increase it next week.
2. The Prayer Commitment: Commit to praying together every day for the next 30 days—at least 5 minutes. If you miss a day, do not give up; start again the next day.
3. The Compliment Challenge: Each day for the next week, give your spouse at least one specific compliment or expression of gratitude. Write it on a note. Say it aloud. Send it by text. Do not let a day pass without affirming them.

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The Open Heavens 12 July 2026 devotional for today is MIGHTY WORKS.

This is a daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

• Read: RCCG Open Heavens 11 July 2026 Devotional

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OPEN HEAVENS 12 JULY 2026 TODAY DEVOTIONAL

TOPIC: MIGHTY WORKS

MEMORISE:
Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
Mark 9:23

READ: Mark 6:1-6

And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him.
² And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?
³ Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

⁴ But Jesus, said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.
⁵ And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.
⁶ And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.

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RCCG OPEN HEAVENS 12 JULY 2026 TODAY MESSAGE

Jeremiah 32:19 tells us that the Almighty God is mighty in works. God loves doing mighty works.

Untortunately, however, in today’s Bible reading, Jesus could not do mighty works in His hometown because of the people’s unbelief. Unbelief or doubt will hinder a fellow from experiencing God’s mighty works in his or her life. When they are absent, however, the fellow’s life will reflect the mighty works of the Almighty God.

God delights in doing mighty works, and He seeks sons and daughters who will partner with Him to do them. He is on the lookout for men and women who will do greater works than the Lord Jesus Christ did while He was on earth. There is, however, the need to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ if you want to be eligible to do greater works (John 14:12).

Beloved, you don’t need to attend a seminary or attain a particular position to do mighty works; all that is required is your faith. When it was almost time for Jesus to ascend into heaven, He commissioned His disciples to preach the gospel all over the world and told them about the mighty signs that would follow them. He told them that they had the power to cast out devils, speak with new tongues, take up serpents, and lay hands on the sick (Mark 16:15-18). The only thing that qualified them to do all these was for them to believe in Him.

Child of God, God wants to do mighty works through you. He wants to use you as His battle axe to destroy the works of darkness (Jeremiah 51:20), but you must believe in Him for this to happen. It is true that He is sovereign and can do whatever He pleases, but He wants you to have faith in Him so all things can be possible for you (Mark 9:23). Have you allowed unbelief to cheat you out of the mighty works that God wants to do in you and through you? If you have, ask for His mercy today.

Fill your heart with His word because hearing God’s word continually will grow your faith. Romans 10:17 says that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. You must also flee from anything that will dampen your faith.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8), and the marvellous things He has done for others and through others, He can do for you and through you. Only believe!

Get up and work.

KEY POINT

Dear Father, please do mighty works in my life and through me, in Jesus’ name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Ecclesiastes 9-12

Open Heavens HYMN 32: TO THE WORK! TO THE WORK! WE ARE SERVANTS OF GOD

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL 12 JULY 2026 COMMENTARY

MEMORISE: Mark 9:23

“Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.”

This verse is Jesus’ declaration on the power of faith. Daddy Adeboye anchors today’s devotional on this text because it reveals that the only limiting factor in experiencing God’s mighty works is not God’s ability but your belief.

BIBLE READING: Mark 6:1-6

This passage records Jesus’ visit to His hometown of Nazareth. On the Sabbath, He began to teach in the synagogue. Many who heard Him were astonished, asking, “Where did this man get these things? What wisdom is given to Him?” But then they took offense at Him, saying, “Is this not the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? Are not His sisters here with us?”  Daddy Adeboye uses this to show that unbelief is not a harmless weakness—it actively hinders the power of God.

The Tragedy of Nazareth: Where Jesus Could Not Do Mighty Works

1. Jesus Marveled at Their Unbelief

“Jeremiah 32:19 tells us that the Almighty God is mighty in works. God loves doing mighty works. Unfortunately, however, in today’s Bible reading, Jesus could not do mighty works in His hometown because of the people’s unbelief.”

Consider the shock of this statement:

What Jesus Wanted to Do	What Actually Happened
Do mighty works	He could do no mighty work
Heal the sick	Only a few sick folk were healed
Reveal His power	His power was blocked by unbelief
Be received as Messiah	He was rejected as “the carpenter’s son”

“Unbelief or doubt will hinder a fellow from experiencing God’s mighty works in his or her life.”

With Faith	With Unbelief
All things are possible (Mark 9:23)	Jesus could do no mighty work (Mark 6:5)
God delights to show Himself strong	God marvels at the unbelief
The believer experiences the miraculous	The believer remains in the ordinary
The impossible becomes possible	The possible becomes difficult

Mark 6:6 – “And he marvelled because of their unbelief.” The same Jesus who marveled at the centurion’s great faith (Matthew 8:10) now marveled at Nazareth’s great unbelief. Faith delights Him; unbelief amazes Him—but not in a good way.

2. Why Did Nazareth Reject Jesus?

The people of Nazareth knew Jesus too well—or so they thought.

Their Familiarity	Their Conclusion
“Is this not the carpenter?”	He is just a worker; He cannot be the Messiah
“Is this not the son of Mary?”	We know His mother; He is ordinary
“Are not His brothers and sisters here?”	He grew up among us; there is nothing special

Their familiarity bred contempt. They could not see past the ordinary to recognize the divine. They had placed God in a box labeled “carpenter’s son,” and they could not get Him out.

The Danger of Familiarity	The Solution
You think you know all there is to know about God	Ask God to reveal Himself anew
You stop expecting miracles because you have “seen it all”	Cultivate fresh hunger and fresh expectation
You judge by outward appearances	Walk by faith, not by sight
You limit God by your past experiences	Believe that God can do what He has never done before

God Is Looking for Partners to Do Mighty Works

“God delights in doing mighty works, and He seeks sons and daughters who will partner with Him to do them. He is on the lookout for men and women who will do greater works than the Lord Jesus Christ did while He was on earth.”

John 14:12 – “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”

What Jesus Promised	What It Means
“The works that I do shall he do also”	Miracles, healings, deliverance—not just for Jesus
“Greater works than these shall he do”	Through the Church, Jesus’ works would expand globally
“Because I go unto my Father”	The Holy Spirit would empower believers

“There is, however, the need to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ if you want to be eligible to do greater works (John 14:12).”

Eligible for Greater Works	Not Eligible
Believes in Jesus	Does not believe
Has faith in His name	Trusts in self or other powers
Expects mighty works	Doubts that God still works miracles

What Qualifies You for Mighty Works? Faith, Not Credentials

“Beloved, you don’t need to attend a seminary or attain a particular position to do mighty works; all that is required is your faith.”

What You Do NOT Need	What You DO Need
A seminary degree	Faith in Jesus
A pastoral title	Belief that He is who He says He is
Years of theological training	Trust in His power
Ordination by men	Commission by the Holy Spirit

“When it was almost time for Jesus to ascend into heaven, He commissioned His disciples to preach the gospel all over the world and told them about the mighty signs that would follow them. He told them that they had the power to cast out devils, speak with new tongues, take up serpents, and lay hands on the sick (Mark 16:15-18). The only thing that qualified them to do all these was for them to believe in Him.”

Mark 16:15-18 – “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature… And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”

Notice the qualification: “them that believe.” Not “them that have doctorates.” Not “them that hold high office.” Not “them that have prayed for twenty years.” Them that believe.

The Signs That Follow Believers	What This Means for You
Cast out devils	You have authority over demons
Speak with new tongues	The Holy Spirit gives utterance
Take up serpents	Protection from harm
Drink deadly things without hurt	Divine preservation
Lay hands on the sick; they recover	Healing power flows through you

All of this is available to every believer. Not just pastors. Not just evangelists. Everyone who believes.

How Unbelief Cheats You Out of Mighty Works

“Child of God, God wants to do mighty works through you. He wants to use you as His battle axe to destroy the works of darkness (Jeremiah 51:20), but you must believe in Him for this to happen.”

Jeremiah 51:20 – “Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms.”

What God Wants to Make You	What Unbelief Does
A battle axe to destroy darkness	Leaves you as a dull, unused tool
A weapon of war in His hands	Renders you ineffective in spiritual battle
An instrument of mighty works	Cheats you out of your inheritance

“It is true that He is sovereign and can do whatever He pleases, but He wants you to have faith in Him so all things can be possible for you (Mark 9:23).”

God’s Sovereignty	God’s Requirement
He can do anything	He chooses to work through faith
He is not limited by anything	He limits Himself by our unbelief (as in Nazareth)
He is almighty	He partners with believers who believe

“Have you allowed unbelief to cheat you out of the mighty works that God wants to do in you and through you? If you have, ask for His mercy today.”

How to Grow Your Faith (Practical Steps)

Based on Daddy Adeboye’s teaching, here is how to move from unbelief to the faith that unlocks mighty works:

1. Fill Your Heart with God’s Word (Romans 10:17)

“Romans 10:17 says that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Where Faith Comes From	Where It Does NOT Come From
Hearing the word of God	Feelings or emotions
Reading Scripture daily	Human reasoning or philosophy
Listening to sound preaching	Wishful thinking or positive confession without biblical foundation
Meditating on God’s promises	Experiences alone (which can be deceptive)

Commit to daily Bible reading. Not just scanning, but listening. The word you hear and receive produces faith.

2. Flee from Anything That Dampens Your Faith

“You must also flee from anything that will dampen your faith.”

Faith Dampeners	What They Do
Unbelieving companions	Their doubt infects you (1 Corinthians 15:33)
Worldly entertainment that mocks miracles	Programs that ridicule supernatural faith
Constant exposure to bad news	Fear and anxiety replace faith
Neglect of prayer and the word	Faith starves without nourishment

Flee from these. You cannot keep company with unbelief and expect to maintain strong faith.

3. Remember That Jesus Never Changes (Hebrews 13:8)

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8), and the marvellous things He has done for others and through others, He can do for you and through you.”

What Jesus Did in the Past	What Jesus Can Do Now
Healed the sick	He still heals
Cast out demons	Demons still flee at His name
Raised the dead	Death still obeys His voice
Calmed storms	Your storms still respond to His command

He has not changed. His power has not diminished. His willingness has not decreased. The only variable is your faith.

4. Get Up and Work

“Get up and work.”

Faith is not passive. Believing does not mean sitting and waiting. It means acting on what God has said.

Passive “Faith”	Active Faith
“I believe God heals” but never prays for the sick	Lays hands on the sick and expects recovery
“I believe God saves” but never witnesses	Opens mouth and shares the gospel
“I believe God provides” but does nothing	Works diligently and trusts God for increase

Warning: Do Not Let Familiarity Breed Contempt

The people of Nazareth missed their miracle because they thought they knew Jesus. They had seen Him grow up. They knew His trade. They knew His family. And because of that familiarity, they could not believe.

Your Familiarity	The Danger
“I’ve been in church for years”	You may think you have seen everything
“I’ve heard this Bible story before”	You may stop expecting fresh revelation
“God hasn’t done it for me yet”	You may conclude He never will
“I know how God works”	You may limit Him to your past experiences

Do not let your history with God become a prison for your future. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever—but He is not predictable. He is not tame. He is always doing new things (Isaiah 43:19).

Conclusion: Your Prayer for Mighty Faith

Daddy Adeboye closes with a call to believe and to get up and work. Do not let unbelief cheat you. Do not let familiarity breed contempt. Believe. And watch God do mighty works through you.

Pray this:

“Lord Jesus, forgive me for every area of unbelief in my heart. Forgive me for the times I have limited You by my familiarity, my doubt, or my fear. Forgive me for being like Nazareth—astonished at Your wisdom but unwilling to believe that You could do mighty works through me. Today, I ask for mercy. Remove the unbelief that has cheated me out of my inheritance. Fill my heart with Your word. Let faith rise. I believe that all things are possible to me because I believe in You. I do not need a seminary degree or a title. I need only to believe. Use me as Your battle axe. Let the same signs that followed the early disciples follow me—casting out devils, healing the sick, preaching the gospel with power. I get up. I work. I believe. In Jesus’ mighty name.”

Action Steps:

1. The Unbelief Audit: Ask God to reveal any area where you have doubted His power or His willingness to work through you. Write it down. Confess it. Receive His mercy.
2. The Faith Diet: For the next 30 days, commit to feeding your faith daily: read one chapter of the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) each day. As you read, say aloud: “This same Jesus is alive today. He can do this through me.”
3. The Mighty Works Step: Identify one thing that God has been asking you to do that you have avoided because you felt unqualified. Do it this week. Lay hands on someone sick. Share your faith with someone. Act in faith. Get up and work.

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Read RCCG Open Heavens Devotional for Tomorrow

Download Open Heavens 12 July 2026 Devotional PDF

The Open Heavens 10 July 2026 devotional for today is CHRIST IN YOU

This is a daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

• Read: RCCG Open Heavens 9 July 2026 Devotional

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OPEN HEAVENS 10 JULY 2026 TODAY DEVOTIONAL

TOPIC: CHRIST IN YOU

MEMORISE:
To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Colossians 1:27

READ: Acts 16:19-34

¹⁹ And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,
²⁰ And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,

²¹ And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.
²² And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.
²³ And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:
²⁴ Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
²⁵ And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

²⁶ And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.
²⁷ And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
²⁸ But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
²⁹ Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
³⁰ And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

³¹ And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
³² And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
³³ And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
³⁴ And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.

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RCCG OPEN HEAVENS 10 JULY 2026 TODAY MESSAGE

The first time I visited the Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison was in 1975. I went there with an elderly pastor, and we saw a young man playing the piano and dancing joyfully. I asked the elderly pastor whether the young man was about to be released, and he responded that the man didn’t have any hope of being released because he was serving a life sentence. I then asked the pastor why the young man was so joyful despite his circumstances, and he replied that the man was joyful because he had met Jesus Christ while in prison.

Beloved, if you are going through a bad situation, ! want you to know that no matter how bad it is, you have a reason to rejoice as long as you have Jesus. Today’s memory verse says that Christ in you is the hope of glory. When Christ is in a fellow, no matter what he or she is facing, such a fellow has hope for a glorious future.

A songwriter once wrote a song that says, “I am glad I belong to Jesus.” Another songwriter wrote, “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.” These should be your declarations as a believer, even when the enemy knocks you down. Proverbs 24:16 says that the righteous may fall seven times, but they will surely rise again. This means that negative situations cannot keep you down permanently.

When the devil arranged for Jesus’ crucifixion and death, he thought he had won. However, 1 Corinthians 2:8 tells us that if the princes of this world had known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. Had they known that Jesus’ death would be their utter destruction, they would have tried to prevent Him from dying. In today’s Bible reading, the devil thought he had succeeded in shutting Paul and Silas up by getting them arrested. He didn’t know that God needed them to be in prison so they could show the jailer and his household the way to salvation. The devil’s attempts to make you fall will only lead to God being glorified in your life.

Child of God, are you going through a tough and uncertain situation? Rejoice because Christ in you is your hope of glory. Don’t despair or be discouraged. Rest assured that whatever you are passing through will give God a platform to announce His glory in your life, so long as you remain in Christ. May Christ indeed reveal His glory in your life, in Jesus’ name.

KEY POINT

As long as you have Christ in you, you have every reason to rejoice.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Ecclesiastes 1-4

Open Heavens HYMN 10: IN CHRIST ALONE

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL 10 JULY 2026 COMMENTARY

MEMORISE: Colossians 1:27

“To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

This verse unveils the greatest mystery of the Christian faith. Daddy Adeboye anchors today’s devotional on this text because it reveals that your hope does not come from favorable circumstances, material possessions, or human connections—it comes from Christ in you.

BIBLE READING: Acts 16:19-34

This passage records the dramatic account of Paul and Silas in the Philippian jail.

The Man in Kirikiri Prison: A Life Sentence, Yet Full of Joy

1. The First Visit to Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison (1975)

“The first time I visited the Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison was in 1975. I went there with an elderly pastor, and we saw a young man playing the piano and dancing joyfully. I asked the elderly pastor whether the young man was about to be released, and he responded that the man didn’t have any hope of being released because he was serving a life sentence.”

Consider the contrast:

The Man’s Circumstances	The Man’s Demeanor
Serving a life sentence (no hope of release)	Playing the piano joyfully
Locked in maximum security prison	Dancing with abandon
Humanly speaking, his future was over	Behaving like a free man
No earthly reason for joy	Overflowing with supernatural joy

“I then asked the pastor why the young man was so joyful despite his circumstances, and he replied that the man was joyful because he had met Jesus Christ while in prison.”

What the Man Did Not Have	What the Man Did Have
Freedom to leave the prison	Christ in him
A release date	The hope of glory
Comfortable circumstances	Unshakable joy
Human reason to celebrate	Divine reason to celebrate

He had met Jesus. That was enough. The walls did not matter. The life sentence did not matter. The chains did not matter. Christ in him was the hope of glory—and that hope produced joy that no prison could contain.

The Theology of Hope: Christ in You

“Beloved, if you are going through a bad situation, I want you to know that no matter how bad it is, you have a reason to rejoice as long as you have Jesus. Today’s memory verse says that Christ in you is the hope of glory. When Christ is in a fellow, no matter what he or she is facing, such a fellow has hope for a glorious future.”

Without Christ	With Christ
No hope in suffering	Hope of glory in suffering
Circumstances determine joy	Christ determines joy
Prison is the end	Prison is a platform
Life sentence is hopeless	Life sentence cannot touch the soul

“A songwriter once wrote a song that says, ‘I am glad I belong to Jesus.’ Another songwriter wrote, ‘Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.’ These should be your declarations as a believer, even when the enemy knocks you down.”

Declarations of Hope	Why You Can Declare Them
“I am glad I belong to Jesus”	Your identity is not in your circumstances
“Because He lives, I can face tomorrow”	His resurrection guarantees your future
“This too shall pass”	Suffering is temporary; Christ is eternal
“My glory is coming”	Christ in you is the guarantee

“Proverbs 24:16 says that the righteous may fall seven times, but they will surely rise again. This means that negative situations cannot keep you down permanently.”

The World’s Pattern	The Believer’s Pattern
Fall once, stay down	Fall seven times, rise seven times
Defeated by circumstances	Victorious over circumstances
Permanent despair	Temporary setback, permanent hope

The Devil’s Miscalculation: His Attacks Become God’s Platform

1. The Crucifixion: Satan’s Greatest Defeat

“When the devil arranged for Jesus’ crucifixion and death, he thought he had won. However, 1 Corinthians 2:8 tells us that if the princes of this world had known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. Had they known that Jesus’ death would be their utter destruction, they would have tried to prevent Him from dying.”

1 Corinthians 2:8 – “Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”

What Satan Thought	What Actually Happened
He was killing Jesus	He was fulfilling prophecy
He was winning a victory	He was sealing his own defeat
The cross was defeat	The cross was the means of salvation
Death was the end	Resurrection was the beginning

The devil’s greatest weapon (death) became the instrument of his own destruction. Jesus died, rose again, and took the keys of hell and death. Satan thought he had won. He had never been more wrong.

2. The Philippian Prison: Satan’s Second Miscalculation

“In today’s Bible reading, the devil thought he had succeeded in shutting Paul and Silas up by getting them arrested. He didn’t know that God needed them to be in prison so they could show the jailer and his household the way to salvation.”

The Devil’s Plan	God’s Plan
Silence Paul and Silas through arrest	Use their imprisonment to reach the jailer
Discourage them through suffering	Use their midnight praise to shake the prison
Hide the gospel from Philippi	Send the gospel to the jailer’s household

What the Devil Saw	What God Was Doing
Beaten, bruised, in stocks	Preparing a testimony
Locked in the inner prison	Positioning them for the jailer
Silenced (he thought)	Amplifying their witness

At midnight, Paul and Silas prayed and sang hymns. They did not complain. They did not despair. They praised. And God sent an earthquake that:

• Shook the foundations
• Opened all the doors
• Loosed every chain
• Opened the jailer’s heart

“The devil’s attempts to make you fall will only lead to God being glorified in your life.”

The Devil Intends	God Uses
To destroy you	To refine you
To silence you	To give you a louder testimony
To imprison you	To set others free through your witness
To defeat you	To display His glory in you

What the Man in Kirikiri Prison Understood

The young man serving a life sentence understood what many free people do not: Christ in you is enough.

What He Understood	What It Means for You
Prison walls cannot separate him from Christ	Your circumstances cannot separate you from His love
A life sentence cannot steal his hope	No situation is hopeless with Christ inside you
He could still praise while locked up	Your praise is not dependent on your freedom
His joy was not tied to his release date	Your joy is not tied to your breakthrough

If a man serving a life sentence can play the piano and dance with joy, what excuse do you have for despair? If he can rejoice with no hope of earthly freedom, how much more can you rejoice with the hope of eternal glory?

How to Maintain Hope When Circumstances Are Dark (Practical Steps)

Based on Daddy Adeboye’s teaching and the examples of Paul, Silas, and the man in Kirikiri Prison, here is how to keep Christ as your hope of glory:

1. Recognize That Your Circumstances Are Not Your Identity

The man in prison was not defined by his cell. He was defined by Christ in him. You are not your problem. You are not your failure. You are not your diagnosis. You are a carrier of Christ.

2. Praise Before the Earthquake

Paul and Silas did not praise after the earthquake; they praised at midnight while still in chains. The earthquake came because they praised. Do not wait for the breakthrough to praise. Praise until the breakthrough comes.

Before the Earthquake	After the Earthquake
Paul and Silas sang hymns	The jailer and his household were saved
They praised in chains	The chains fell off
They worshipped in the dark	The prison doors opened

3. Refuse to Believe the Devil’s Lie That This Is the End

The devil wants you to think that your current situation is final. It is not. The righteous fall seven times and rise again. This setback is a setup for a comeback. This prison is a platform for a testimony.

4. Look for the Hidden Purpose in Your Pain

Why was Paul and Silas’s imprisonment necessary? To reach the jailer. Why is your current trial necessary? There may be someone watching—someone who needs to see how a Christian responds to suffering. Your witness in the trial may be the key to someone else’s salvation.

5. Declare Your Hope Aloud

Do not keep your hope silent. Declare:

• “Christ in me is the hope of glory”
• “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow”
• “I am glad I belong to Jesus”
• “This trial will end in God’s glory”

Warning: Do Not Let Your Prison Steal Your Song

Daddy Adeboye’s devotional carries a sobering warning: it is possible to be free physically but imprisoned in your spirit by despair.

The Physically Free Prisoner	The Physically Imprisoned Free Man
Out of jail but bound by worry, fear, depression	In jail but joyful because Christ is in him
Has freedom of movement but no freedom of spirit	Has no movement but complete freedom of spirit
Complains about inconveniences	Sings in the darkest dungeon

Which one are you? Are you free but miserable? Or are you in a difficult situation but full of hope because Christ is in you?

Conclusion: Your Prayer for Hope and Glory

Daddy Adeboye closes with a prayer that Christ will reveal His glory in your life. Do not despair. Do not give up. Christ in you is the hope of glory.

Pray this:

“Lord Jesus, I thank You that You live in me. I thank You that Christ in me is the hope of glory. Forgive me for the times I have allowed my circumstances to steal my joy—when I have despaired as if I had no hope, when I have complained as if You were not with me. Today, I remember the man in Kirikiri Prison—serving a life sentence, yet playing the piano and dancing with joy. If he could rejoice in that prison, I can rejoice in mine. I declare: I am glad I belong to Jesus. Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. I will not despair. I will not be discouraged. Whatever I am going through, You will use it as a platform to announce Your glory. The devil meant it for evil, but You will turn it for good. I will praise at midnight. I will sing in the stocks. And the earthquake is coming. In Jesus’ mighty name.”

Action Steps:

1. The Prison Audit: Identify one area of your life where you feel “imprisoned”—a difficult situation, a chronic problem, a seemingly hopeless circumstance. Ask God: What if this prison is actually a platform for Your glory?
2. The Midnight Praise Practice: This week, at a time when you feel most discouraged, deliberately stop and praise. Sing a hymn. Declare God’s goodness. Do not wait for the feeling; praise by faith.
3. The Hope Declaration: Write Colossians 1:27 on an index card: “Christ in me, the hope of glory.”Place it where you will see it every morning. Every time you see it, say aloud: “I have hope because Christ lives in me. My future is glorious, no matter my present.”

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The Open Heavens 9 July 2026 devotional for today is THE CITY OF THE DEAD.

This is a daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

• Read: RCCG Open Heavens 8 July 2026 Devotional

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OPEN HEAVENS 9 JULY 2026 TODAY DEVOTIONAL

TOPIC: THE CITY OF THE DEAD

MEMORISE:
And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Colossians 2:13

READ: Ephesians 2:1-6

And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
² Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
³ Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
⁴ But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

⁵ Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
⁶ And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

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RCCG OPEN HEAVENS 9 JULY 2026 TODAY MESSAGE

Years ago, I visited a country which had one of the largest cemeteries in the world. On top of every grave in that cemetery, there is a concrete slab, and some homeless residents of that city lived in tents that were built over these slabs. For that reason, the cemetery was called the city of the dead’.

Beloved, do you know that people who have not given their lives to Christ or who claim to have done so but are still indulging in sin are living in a spiritual city of the dead?
Today’s Bible reading tells us that we were once dead in our sins and trespasses before Jesus made us alive through His death and resurrection. He went to the city of the dead and took the keys of hell and death from satan (Revelation 1:18). Jesus died so that nobody would have to experience the torture of eternal death. If you are currently living in the city of the dead, I implore you to escape from there right now by accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour before it is too late. Turn to Him today, and He will change your address from the city of the dead to the Kingdom of Life.

If you are God’s child, it is your responsibility to preach the gospel to those who haven’t given their lives to Jesus Christ. Don’t be so busy minding your business that you neglect the Lord’s business of witnessing to lost souls. Sometimes, the blessing you desire is hidden in your obedience to the Lord’s command to preach the gospel and make disciples of all nations.

Years ago, a lady was praying to God for a husband, and God told her, Go out and win souls. Your husband is not part of My family yet.” She obeyed and focused on preaching to the lost.

About six months later, she came to me and said, “Daddy, I have a problem.” I asked her what the problem was, and she said, “One of the converts that I have just won to Christ says that he wants to marry me.” I asked her to pray about it and accept his proposal if she’s convinced about him. Today, they are one of the best couples that I know.

Beloved, if God has saved you from the city of the dead, don’t be selfish; reach out to those who are still living there so they can also join you in His Kingdom of Life.

KEY POINT

It is every Christian’s responsibility to witness to those who are still living in the city of the dead.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Proverbs 30-31

Open Heavens HYMN 32: TO THE WORK! TO THE WORK! WE ARE SERVANTS OF GOD

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL 9 JULY 2026 COMMENTARY

MEMORISE: Colossians 2:13

“And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses.”

This verse describes the spiritual condition of every person before Christ.

BIBLE READING: Ephesians 2:1-6

This passage is one of the most complete summaries of the gospel in Scripture. Paul describes the pre-conversion state of every believer: dead in trespasses and sins, walking according to the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air (Satan), living in the lusts of the flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and mind, and by nature children of wrath, even as others. But then the great transition: “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ… and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.“

The City of the Dead: A Sobering Illustration

1. The Cemetery That Became a Home

“Years ago, I visited a country which had one of the largest cemeteries in the world. On top of every grave in that cemetery, there is a concrete slab, and some homeless residents of that city lived in tents that were built over these slabs. For that reason, the cemetery was called ‘the city of the dead’.”

This is a haunting image:

The Physical Reality	The Spiritual Parallel
A cemetery filled with graves	The world without Christ
Concrete slabs over each grave	Spiritual deadness covering every lost soul
Homeless people living on top of graves	Lost people going about daily life while spiritually dead
They called it “the city of the dead”	The Bible calls the lost “dead in trespasses and sins”

These homeless residents were physically alive—eating, sleeping, moving, talking. But they lived in a cemetery, surrounded by death. They called their dwelling place “the city of the dead” because they slept on graves.

“Beloved, do you know that people who have not given their lives to Christ or who claim to have done so but are still indulging in sin are living in a spiritual city of the dead?”

The Spiritual City of the Dead	Who Lives There
Those who have never given their lives to Christ	The unreached, the resistant, the unrepentant
Those who claim to be saved but live in sin	Nominal Christians, hypocrites, the self-deceived
Those who are spiritually dead but physically alive	The majority of the world

They may look alive. They may go to work, raise families, laugh, and plan for the future. But spiritually, they are corpses walking. They live in the city of the dead.

2. What It Means to Be Dead in Sin

“Today’s Bible reading tells us that we were once dead in our sins and trespasses before Jesus made us alive through His death and resurrection.”

What Spiritual Death Means	What It Is Not
Separation from God, the source of all life	Physical death (cessation of bodily functions)
Inability to respond to God without His grace	Inability to make choices in natural life
Under the dominion of Satan (“prince of the power of the air”)	Under the control of every demon
A child of wrath by nature	A child of God by nature

Ephesians 2:1 – “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins.”

The lost person is not sick; he is dead. He does not need resuscitation; he needs resurrection. He does not need reformation; he needs regeneration. Only the same power that raised Jesus from the dead can raise a sinner from spiritual death.

3. The Escape: Jesus Took the Keys

“He went to the city of the dead and took the keys of hell and death from satan (Revelation 1:18). Jesus died so that nobody would have to experience the torture of eternal death.”

Revelation 1:18 – “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”

Before Jesus	After Jesus
Satan held the power of death (Hebrews 2:14)	Jesus took the keys of hell and death
Death was the final enemy	Death is a defeated enemy
The grave had dominion	The grave has been conquered
The city of the dead was a permanent address	There is an escape: Jesus

“If you are currently living in the city of the dead, I implore you to escape from there right now by accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour before it is too late. Turn to Him today, and He will change your address from the city of the dead to the Kingdom of Life.”

Your Address Without Christ	Your Address With Christ
City of the dead	Kingdom of Life
Dead in trespasses and sins	Alive together with Christ
Children of wrath	Children of God
Following the prince of the power of the air	Seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus

Do not stay in the cemetery. Do not live on top of graves. Jesus has taken the keys. He has opened the door. Escape now.

The Responsibility of the Living: Go Back to the City of the Dead

1. Preach the Gospel to Those Still Dead

“If you are God’s child, it is your responsibility to preach the gospel to those who haven’t given their lives to Jesus Christ. Don’t be so busy minding your business that you neglect the Lord’s business of witnessing to lost souls.”

Minding Your Own Business	Doing the Lord’s Business
Focused on career, family, hobbies	Focused on the Great Commission
Comfortable in your salvation	Concerned for the lost
Pray for your needs only	Pray for souls to be saved
Neglect the cemetery around you	Go back to the city of the dead to rescue others

“Sometimes, the blessing you desire is hidden in your obedience to the Lord’s command to preach the gospel and make disciples of all nations.”

Your breakthrough may be buried in your witness. Your miracle may come wrapped in a mission trip. Your answer may arrive as you open your mouth to speak to someone who is still dead in sin.

2. The Lady Who Prayed for a Husband

“Years ago, a lady was praying to God for a husband, and God told her, ‘Go out and win souls. Your husband is not part of My family yet.’ She obeyed and focused on preaching to the lost.”

The Lady’s Request	God’s Response
“Lord, give me a husband”	“Go win souls”
She expected God to bring a saved man	God revealed her husband was not yet saved
She could have complained	She obeyed

“About six months later, she came to me and said, ‘Daddy, I have a problem.’ I asked her what the problem was, and she said, ‘One of the converts that I have just won to Christ says that he wants to marry me.’”

Her Obedience	The Result
She went out to win souls	Her future husband was among the converts
She focused on the Lord’s business	The Lord attended to her business
She preached to the dead	Her husband was made alive and then became her partner

“I asked her to pray about it and accept his proposal if she’s convinced about him. Today, they are one of the best couples that I know.”

The blessing she desired was hidden in her obedience. She thought she was going to win souls. God was sending her to meet her husband. The same is true for you. Your obedience in witnessing may unlock the very answer you have been praying for.

What Keeps Believers from Witnessing

Based on Daddy Adeboye’s teaching, here are common excuses and the responses:

Excuse for Not Witnessing	The Truth
“I’m too busy”	You are never too busy to rescue the dying
“I don’t know what to say”	You know what Jesus did for you. Start there.
“I’m afraid of rejection”	Eternity is at stake; fear of rejection is not greater than fear of hell
“People won’t listen”	Some will. You are responsible for sowing, not for the harvest.
“Let me get my own life together first”	You will never be perfect. Witness now.

How to Fulfill Your Responsibility to the City of the Dead (Practical Steps)

Based on Daddy Adeboye’s teaching, here is how to reach out to those still living in spiritual death:

1. Recognize That They Are Not Your Enemies

The homeless residents of the cemetery were not evil—they were desperate. Likewise, the lost are not your enemies; they are captives of the enemy. Have compassion on them. They live on graves. They need someone to tell them there is a way out.

2. Start with Prayer

Before you speak to anyone, pray: “Lord, open the eyes of the spiritually dead around me. Give me opportunities to speak. Give me boldness when the opportunity comes.”

3. Share Your Testimony

You do not need a theology degree. You need a story. Tell them: “I was once dead in my sins. I lived in the city of the dead. But Jesus made me alive. He can do the same for you.”

4. Obey Even When You Don’t See the Connection

The lady who prayed for a husband did not know that her obedience in witnessing would bring her husband. You do not know what blessing is hidden in your next conversation. Obey anyway.

5. Make Disciples, Not Just Converts

Do not just lead someone to Christ and abandon them. Teach them. Baptize them. Help them grow. The lady’s convert became her husband because he was discipled, not just converted.

Warning: Do Not Stay Comfortable in the Kingdom While Others Perish

Daddy Adeboye’s devotional carries an urgent warning: it is selfish to enjoy your salvation while others remain dead.

Selfish Christianity	Biblical Christianity
“I have my ticket to heaven”	“How can I bring others?”
“I am saved; that’s enough”	“I am saved to save others”
“Let them find their own way”	“How shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14)

“Beloved, if God has saved you from the city of the dead, don’t be selfish; reach out to those who are still living there so they can also join you in His Kingdom of Life.”

What You Have Received	What You Must Give
Forgiveness of all trespasses	The message of forgiveness
Life instead of death	The offer of life
A new address (Kingdom of Life)	An invitation to move

Conclusion: Your Prayer for the Lost and for Boldness

Daddy Adeboye closes with an imploration: escape from the city of the dead if you are still there, and if you have escaped, go back to rescue others.

Pray this (if you are not yet saved):

“Lord Jesus, I confess that I have been living in the city of the dead—dead in trespasses and sins. I have been physically alive but spiritually dead. Today, I hear Your voice calling me out of the cemetery. You died to take the keys of hell and death. You rose to give me life. I turn from my sins. I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Change my address from the city of the dead to the Kingdom of Life. Write my name in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Thank You for saving me. In Jesus’ name.”

Pray this (if you are saved but have been silent):

“Lord Jesus, You rescued me from the city of the dead. Forgive me for the times I have been selfish with my salvation—comfortable in the Kingdom while others perished on graves. Forgive me for being so busy with my own business that I neglected Your business of witnessing. Today, I ask for boldness. Open my eyes to the lost around me. Use me to preach the gospel. Let my obedience unlock blessings I have not yet seen. And like the lady who won her husband through witnessing, let me see those I lead to Christ become part of my eternal family. In Jesus’ mighty name.”

Action Steps:

1. The Address Check: Ask yourself honestly: Am I still living in the city of the dead, or have I been made alive in Christ? If you are not sure, settle it today. Confess, believe, receive.
2. The Witnessing Target: Identify one person in your life who is still spiritually dead (unsaved). Commit to praying for them daily for the next 30 days. Ask God for an opportunity to share the gospel with them.
3. The Obedience Blessing: Ask God: What blessing have I hidden in my disobedience? What answer to prayer am I missing because I have not gone out to witness? Then go. Speak. Invite. The blessing may be closer than you think.

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The Open Heavens 8 July 2026 devotional for today is EXCEED IN PRAYER.

This is a daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

• Read: RCCG Open Heavens 7 July 2026 Devotional

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OPEN HEAVENS 8 JULY 2026 TODAY DEVOTIONAL

TOPIC: EXCEED IN PRAYER

MEMORISE:
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Ephesians 6:18

READ: Genesis 32:24-30

²⁴ And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.
²⁵ And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.

²⁶ And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.
²⁷ And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.
²⁸ And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
²⁹ And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.
³⁰ And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.

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RCCG OPEN HEAVENS 8 JULY 2026 TODAY MESSAGE

Sometime in 1975, my Father in the Lord, Pa Josiah Akindayomi, came to stay with me in my little house in Ilesha, a city in South West Nigeria. Even though it was a mud house that was plastered with cement, I was happy to host my Father in the Lord.

When it was nighttime, we prayed together, and l prepared to go to bed. As I went into my room to sleep, I saw that he was still on his knees, praying, and when I woke up to use the toilet in the middle of the night and again around 5am, the old man was surprisingly still on his knees, praying. I was worried, so I asked if there was a problem, and he said I would soon understand. I have followed in his footsteps since then, and I truly now understand that, as believers, we ought to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

Beloved, God has called all His children to a life of prayer. Unfortunately, however, many believers don’t see any reason to pray when things are going well for them. They feel that there is no need to pray because they are not experiencing any challenges. However, if you are a genuine child of God, you must pray without ceasing.

No matter how much you pray now, you can always go higher in the place of prayer. Never let your current prayer lifestyle, no matter how vibrant you think it is, make you feel as if you are doing your best. Keep pushing to be better so you don’t begin to relax and lose your fervency.
When I became the General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, I went with six of my best friends to llorin, a state in North Central Nigeria, to pray for 36 hours nonstop. After the 36 hours of prayers, God revealed several things to us. We felt good with ourselves, and we thought we had achieved something unbelievable. The following week, however, I was told about a man who prayed nonstop for 30 days!

In today’s Bible reading, we saw Jacob wrestling until he obtained a blessing from God that changed his life for good. Beloved, God expects you to hold on to Him in prayer without fainting (Luke 18:1). Do not relax or boast about any milestones you might have reached in the place of prayer; rather, always seek to exceed them. May the Lord continually empower you to wait on Him as you should in every season of your life, in Jesus’ name.

KEY POINT

God wants you to keep going higher in the place of prayer.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Proverbs 27-29

Open Heavens HYMN 11: I’VE FOUND A FRIEND IN JESUS

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL 8 JULY 2026 COMMENTARY

MEMORISE: Ephesians 6:18

“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.”

This verse is the apostle Paul’s command for the believer’s prayer life.

BIBLE READING: Genesis 32:24-30

This passage records Jacob’s all-night wrestling match at Peniel. Jacob was alone, facing the return of his brother Esau, whom he had deceived years earlier. Esau was coming with four hundred men. Jacob was terrified. Daddy Adeboye uses this to show that persistent, wrestling prayer that refuses to let go is what brings the life-changing blessing.

Pa Josiah Akindayomi: A Father in the Lord’s Prayer Life

1. The Night That Changed Daddy Adeboye’s Prayer Life

“Sometime in 1975, my Father in the Lord, Pa Josiah Akindayomi, came to stay with me in my little house in Ilesha, a city in South West Nigeria. Even though it was a mud house that was plastered with cement, I was happy to host my Father in the Lord.”

This was a humble setting. A mud house, plastered with cement. But the value was not in the building; it was in the guest. Pa Akindayomi was the founder of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. His presence was a blessing.

2. The Prayer Marathon

“When it was nighttime, we prayed together, and I prepared to go to bed. As I went into my room to sleep, I saw that he was still on his knees, praying, and when I woke up to use the toilet in the middle of the night and again around 5am, the old man was surprisingly still on his knees, praying.”

Consider the timeline:

Time	Activity	Pa Akindayomi’s Posture
Nighttime	Daddy Adeboye and Pa prayed together	On his knees
Bedtime	Daddy Adeboye went to sleep	Still on his knees
Middle of the night	Daddy Adeboye used the toilet	Still on his knees
5:00 AM	Daddy Adeboye woke again	Still on his knees

“I was worried, so I asked if there was a problem, and he said I would soon understand. I have followed in his footsteps since then, and I truly now understand that, as believers, we ought to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).”

Pa Akindayomi’s Lesson	What It Produced
Prayer is not a brief duty	It is a lifestyle
Prayer is not only for crisis	It is for all seasons
Prayer can continue through the night	It is not limited by time
A father’s example shapes the son	Daddy Adeboye followed his footsteps

The old man was not in crisis. He was not praying because something was wrong. He was praying because that was who he was—a man of ceaseless prayer. And his example became the inheritance of the son who watched him.

The Error of Crisis-Only Prayer

“Beloved, God has called all His children to a life of prayer. Unfortunately, however, many believers don’t see any reason to pray when things are going well for them. They feel that there is no need to pray because they are not experiencing any challenges.”

Crisis-Only Prayer	Continuous Prayer
Prays only when there is a problem	Prays in good times and bad
Treats prayer as an emergency call	Treats prayer as oxygen
Relationship with God is intermittent	Relationship with God is constant
Weak when the crisis comes	Strong because the connection is always live

“However, if you are a genuine child of God, you must pray without ceasing.”

Why must you pray without ceasing? Not because God needs your information. Not because you need to twist His arm. But because:

• Prayer keeps you connected to the Vine (John 15:4-5)
• Prayer keeps you alert to the enemy’s schemes (Matthew 26:41)
• Prayer aligns your will with God’s will
• Prayer positions you to receive what God wants to give
• Prayer is how you abide in Him

The Danger of Spiritual Plateau: There Is Always Higher

“No matter how much you pray now, you can always go higher in the place of prayer. Never let your current prayer lifestyle, no matter how vibrant you think it is, make you feel as if you are doing your best. Keep pushing to be better so you don’t begin to relax and lose your fervency.”

The Danger of Feeling You Have Arrived	The Remedy
You stop growing	Keep pushing to be better
You become complacent	Never feel you have done your best
You lose your fervency	Always seek to exceed your milestones

“When I became the General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, I went with six of my best friends to Ilorin, a state in North Central Nigeria, to pray for 36 hours nonstop. After the 36 hours of prayers, God revealed several things to us. We felt good with ourselves, and we thought we had achieved something unbelievable.”

36 hours of nonstop prayer is extraordinary. Most believers have never prayed for 36 consecutive hours. Daddy Adeboye and his friends had every right to feel they had done something significant.

“The following week, however, I was told about a man who prayed nonstop for 30 days!”

Daddy Adeboye’s 36 Hours	The Unknown Man’s 30 Days
Felt like an achievement	Put 36 hours in perspective
Thought they had done something unbelievable	Revealed that there is always higher
Good, but not the ceiling	A reminder not to relax

“Do not relax or boast about any milestones you might have reached in the place of prayer; rather, always seek to exceed them.”

If you pray 30 minutes a day, do not settle there. Press to one hour. If you pray one hour, press to two. If you pray two, press to an overnight vigil. If you pray one night, press to three nights. There is always higher. There is always deeper. The moment you think you have arrived in prayer, you have begun to decline.

Jacob at Peniel: Wrestling Until the Blessing Comes

“In today’s Bible reading, we saw Jacob wrestling until he obtained a blessing from God that changed his life for good.”

Jacob’s Wrestling	What It Teaches Us
He wrestled all night	Prayer sometimes requires sustained, prolonged effort
He refused to let go	“I will not let thee go except thou bless me”
He was persistent even when injured	His hip was dislocated; he still held on
He walked away with a new name	From Jacob (supplanter) to Israel (prince with God)

“Beloved, God expects you to hold on to Him in prayer without fainting (Luke 18:1).”

Luke 18:1 – “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.”

The Persistent Widow (Luke 18)	Jacob at Peniel
Kept coming to the unjust judge	Kept wrestling through the night
Refused to give up	Refused to let go
Eventually received justice	Eventually received the blessing

Do not faint in prayer. Do not give up after five minutes because you have not felt anything. Do not stop after one request because the answer has not come. Wrestle. Persist. Hold on. The blessing comes to those who refuse to let go.

How to Grow in Prayer Without Ceasing (Practical Steps)

Based on Daddy Adeboye’s teaching and the examples of Pa Akindayomi, Jacob, and the 30-day praying man, here is how to press higher in prayer:

1. Establish a Non-Negotiable Prayer Schedule

Do not pray only when you feel like it. Set fixed times. Daniel prayed three times daily (Daniel 6:10). David prayed evening, morning, and noon (Psalm 55:17). Start with a schedule and stick to it.

2. Lengthen Your Prayer Time Gradually

If you pray 15 minutes, aim for 20. If you pray 30, aim for 45. Do not be satisfied with your current duration. Add five minutes this week. Another five next week. Growth is incremental.

3. Incorporate Prayer into Every Activity

Pray without ceasing means turning daily activities into prayer:

• While driving, pray for other drivers
• While cooking, pray for your family
• While walking, pray for your neighborhood
• While waiting in line, pray for the people around you

4. Plan Extended Prayer Sessions

Do not rely only on daily short prayers. Schedule:

• A weekly prayer vigil (one night per week)
• A monthly prayer retreat (half day or full day)
• An annual prayer fast (24 hours, 3 days, 7 days, or more)

5. Learn from Those Ahead of You

Daddy Adeboye learned by watching Pa Akindayomi. Who is ahead of you in prayer? Ask them to mentor you. Watch how they pray. Learn from their example.

6. Never Compare Downward; Always Compare Upward

When you hear of someone who prayed 30 days straight, do not feel discouraged. Feel challenged. Say, “If they can do that by God’s grace, perhaps I can press further than I have.”

Warning: The Danger of a Comfortable Prayer Life

Daddy Adeboye’s devotional carries a sobering warning: comfort is the enemy of fervency.

When Things Are Going Well	The Temptation	The Remedy
No crisis, no obvious need	To pray less or stop praying	Pray without ceasing regardless
Life is stable, predictable	To rely on routine rather than God	Keep the connection live
You have prayed a “long” prayer	To feel you have arrived	There is always higher

Pa Akindayomi did not pray all night because there was a problem. He prayed all night because that was his lifestyle. Do not wait for crisis to drive you to your knees. Stay on your knees even when the sun is shining.

Conclusion: Your Prayer for Perseverance in Prayer

Daddy Adeboye closes with a prayer that the Lord will continually empower you to wait on Him in every season. Do not relax. Do not boast. Keep pressing.

Pray this:

“Lord Jesus, I thank You for the example of Pa Akindayomi—a man who prayed through the night not because of crisis but because of devotion. Forgive me for the times I have prayed only when I needed something. Forgive me for being satisfied with my current prayer life. Forgive me for relaxing when things are going well. Today, I ask for the spirit of Jacob—the spirit that wrestles through the night and refuses to let go until the blessing comes. I ask for the perseverance to pray without ceasing, not just in emergency but as my daily breath. Break every comfort that makes me complacent. Show me there is always higher. Help me to exceed every milestone I have reached. Give me 36 hours. Give me 30 days. Give me a prayer life that never stops. In Jesus’ mighty name.”

Action Steps:

1. The Prayer Audit: Track your prayer time for one week. How many minutes per day? How many hours per week? Be honest. Then set a goal to increase by 10% next week.
2. The Extended Prayer Plan: Schedule one extended prayer session this month (e.g., 2 hours, 6 hours, or overnight). Put it on your calendar as a non-negotiable appointment with God.
3. The “Higher” Challenge: Identify one person you know (or know of) whose prayer life exceeds yours. Ask God: What can I learn from their example? Then commit to one specific practice they model.

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The Open Heavens 7 July 2026 devotional for today is HIS REFINING PROCESS

This is a daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

• Read: RCCG Open Heavens 6 July 2026 Devotional

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OPEN HEAVENS 7 JULY 2026 TODAY DEVOTIONAL

TOPIC: HIS REFINING PROCESS

MEMORISE:
Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron: Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him.
Psalm 105:18-19

READ: Exodus 13:17-18

¹⁷ And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt:
¹⁸ But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.

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RCCG OPEN HEAVENS 7 JULY 2026 TODAY MESSAGE

In His wisdom, God often takes His children through different paths on their journey to greatness. He uses each step to refine their character and to separate them from anything that could hinder or destroy them after attaining greatness. For example, before Joseph became great, God took him through a pit, Potiphar’s house, and prison, so as to build his character in preparation for the role of a ruler in Egypt. Today’s memory verse says that he was laid in irons until God’s word came.

God’s word tried him as gold is tried in fire until he was certified fit for greatness. David also had to go through God’s process on his way to becoming a king. His path to becoming a king was marked by numerous challenges, including a period of exile in the wilderness.

The path to greatness is often paved with many challenges. The process of attaining true greatness is never easy, but it is always worth it. Apostle Paul described the process as ‘our light affliction’ in 2 Corinthians 4:17. However, no matter how tough the process gets, it is nothing compared to the far exceeding and eternal weight of glory that God has prepared for us.

People who want to become great without going through God’s process do not usually last if they eventually become great. Like King Saul, they often end up losing their place because of habits and weaknesses that should have been addressed.

Those who choose to follow God’s process, however, always emerge purified like precious gold.

They become men and women whom God can trust with great resources and other people. Even our Lord Jesus Christ followed God’s process, and when the time came for Him to fulfil God’s assignment, He was baptised, and God’s Spirit came upon Him (Matthew 3:16-17). He didn’t start performing miracles the moment He was born, because God never raises a fellow without first ‘trying’ and preparing him or her.

As we see in today’s Bible reading, God guided the Israelites through His process by making them take a longer route on their journey to the Promised Land. He didn’t want them to run back to Egypt at the first hint of war; He wanted to help them become a strong and resilient nation. Beloved, is God currently taking you through a refining process that you find difficult? I implore you to endure the process, as it is part of His plan in preparing you for true and lasting greatness.

PRAYER POINT

Lord, please help me to go through Your refining process successfully.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Proverbs 24-26

Open Heavens HYMN 30: WHEN WE WALK WITH THE LORD

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL 7 JULY 2026 COMMENTARY

MEMORISE: Psalm 105:18-19

“Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron: Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him.”

This verse captures the essence of divine preparation. Daddy Adeboye anchors today’s devotional on this text because it reveals that the painful seasons of life are not random misfortunes—they are the “iron” that shapes and tests the one destined for greatness.

BIBLE READING: Exodus 13:17-18

This passage records God’s strategic routing of the Israelites after their exodus from Egypt.

Joseph: The Iron That Prepared a Throne

1. The Journey Through Suffering

“In His wisdom, God often takes His children through different paths on their journey to greatness. He uses each step to refine their character and to separate them from anything that could hinder or destroy them after attaining greatness.”

Consider Joseph’s path:

Stage	Location	What Joseph Learned
Stage 1	His father’s house (favored son)	Dreams, vision, purpose
Stage 2	The pit	Betrayal, loss, humility
Stage 3	Potiphar’s house (slave)	Hard work, service, integrity under temptation
Stage 4	Prison (convicted criminal)	Patience, leadership over prisoners, interpretation of dreams
Stage 5	Pharaoh’s court (second in Egypt)	Ruling, saving nations, forgiving brothers

“Before Joseph became great, God took him through a pit, Potiphar’s house, and prison, so as to build his character in preparation for the role of a ruler in Egypt.”

The Process	The Purpose
Pit (abandonment)	To kill pride and self-sufficiency
Slavery (subjection)	To teach service and humility
False accusation (injustice)	To develop trust in God’s justice
Prison (confinement)	To develop patience and leadership in obscurity

“God’s word tried him as gold is tried in fire until he was certified fit for greatness.”

Psalm 105:19 – “The word of the LORD tried him.” The promise (the dream) was tested. Joseph had dreamed of greatness—sheaves bowing, stars bowing. But between the dream and its fulfillment came the iron. The word tried him. Would he still believe when he was in the pit? Would he still trust when he was in prison? The testing certified that he was ready.

2. The Result: A Man Fit for the Throne

Before the Process	After the Process
A boastful, favored young man	A humble, wise leader
Tattled on his brothers	Forgave his brothers
Shared dreams without wisdom	Interpreted dreams with discretion
Unproven character	Tested, refined, certified

When Joseph stood before Pharaoh, he was not the same boy who had been sold into slavery. The iron had done its work. He was ready.

David: The Wilderness on the Way to the Throne

“David also had to go through God’s process on his way to becoming a king. His path to becoming a king was marked by numerous challenges, including a period of exile in the wilderness.”

Consider David’s path:

Stage	Duration	What David Learned
Anointed by Samuel	A single day	Divine calling
Serving Saul’s court	Months/years	Loyalty, service, music, warfare
Exile in the wilderness	Years	Patience, trust, leadership of outcasts, refusing to touch God’s anointed

David was anointed king as a young man. But he did not sit on the throne until many years later. Between the anointing and the coronation came the wilderness. Cave dwelling. Running for his life. Gathering a ragtag army of the discontented. Learning to lead, to wait, to trust, and to honor Saul even when Saul was trying to kill him.

David’s Wilderness Lessons	Why They Were Necessary
Do not touch the Lord’s anointed	To learn reverence for God’s timing and authority
Wait on the Lord	To kill impatience and self-promotion
Lead outcasts	To learn compassion for the broken
Trust God for daily provision	To kill reliance on human resources

Without the wilderness, David would have been a disaster as king. The wilderness made him a man after God’s own heart.

The Israelites: The Long Route to the Promised Land

“As we see in today’s Bible reading, God guided the Israelites through His process by making them take a longer route on their journey to the Promised Land. He didn’t want them to run back to Egypt at the first hint of war; He wanted to help them become a strong and resilient nation.”

The Short Route (Philistine Road)	The Long Route (Wilderness)
A few days journey	Forty years
Immediate warfare	Graduated testing
Would have faced the Philistines (trained warriors)	Faced the Red Sea (God’s miracle), then manna, then water from rock, then battles one by one
Likely would have fled back to Egypt	Became a strong, resilient nation

“Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt.”

God knew His people. They had slave mentality. They had no military training. They had no experience trusting God for victory. If they had faced war immediately, they would have run back to Egypt. The long route was not punishment; it was preparation. Forty years to unlearn Egypt and learn dependence on God.

What They Unlearned in the Wilderness	What They Learned
Slave mentality	Sonship
Fear of enemies	Trust in God
Reliance on Egypt’s resources	Dependence on manna from heaven
Impatience	Waiting on the Lord

Why God’s Process Is Necessary

1. The Process Prepares You for the Weight of Greatness

“People who want to become great without going through God’s process do not usually last if they eventually become great. Like King Saul, they often end up losing their place because of habits and weaknesses that should have been addressed.”

Saul (Shortcut)	David (Process)
Made king quickly	Anointed early, enthroned late
Disobeyed God	Learned to obey through suffering
Spared Agamemnon (partial obedience)	Refused to touch Saul (full honor)
Lost the kingdom	Established an everlasting dynasty

Saul had the position but not the character. He looked like a king, but inside he was still insecure, impulsive, and disobedient. When pressure came, he collapsed. David had been forged in the wilderness. When pressure came, he sought the Lord.

“Those who choose to follow God’s process, however, always emerge purified like precious gold. They become men and women whom God can trust with great resources and other people.”

Processed Gold	Shortcut Tin
Durable, valuable, trusted	Brittle, worthless, discarded
Reflects the refiner’s image	Exposes the lack of refinement
Can bear weight	Cracks under pressure

2. Even Jesus Followed the Process

“Even our Lord Jesus Christ followed God’s process, and when the time came for Him to fulfil God’s assignment, He was baptised, and God’s Spirit came upon Him (Matthew 3:16-17). He didn’t start performing miracles the moment He was born, because God never raises a fellow without first ‘trying’ and preparing him or her.”

Jesus’ Process	Duration
Birth in a manger	Day one
Childhood in Nazareth	Thirty years
Private life, growing in wisdom and stature	Three decades
Baptism, then testing in the wilderness	Forty days
Public ministry	Three years

The Son of God did not bypass the process. He did not begin His public ministry as an infant. He waited. He prepared. He was tested. If Jesus submitted to the Father’s process, how much more should you?

What the Process Produces

Based on Daddy Adeboye’s teaching and Scripture, here is what God’s refining process accomplishes:

What the Process Removes	What the Process Produces
Pride	Humility
Impatience	Patience
Self-reliance	Dependence on God
Fear of man	Fear of God
Unforgiveness	Forgiveness
Impulsiveness	Wisdom
Worldly ambition	Kingdom purpose

“Apostle Paul described the process as ‘our light affliction’ in 2 Corinthians 4:17. However, no matter how tough the process gets, it is nothing compared to the far exceeding and eternal weight of glory that God has prepared for us.”

2 Corinthians 4:17 – “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”

The Affliction	The Glory
Light (not heavy)	Far more exceeding (overwhelming)
But for a moment (temporary)	Eternal (never ending)
Works for us (productive, purposeful)	Weight of glory (massive, substantial)

Your present suffering is not meaningless. It is working. It is producing. It is preparing you for a glory so great that the affliction will seem light and momentary by comparison.

How to Endure God’s Process (Practical Steps)

Based on Daddy Adeboye’s teaching, here is how to persevere through the refining process:

1. Recognize That the Process Is Not Punishment

God is not angry with you. He is not punishing you. He is preparing you. Joseph was not in prison because God was against him; he was in prison because God was for him. The process is proof of purpose.

2. Embrace the Iron While You Are in It

Do not fight the process. Do not try to escape through shortcuts, compromises, or self-promotion. Joseph did not try to break out of prison. David did not kill Saul to seize the throne. They endured the iron. So must you.

3. Learn What the Process Is Teaching You

Each stage has a lesson. Ask God: What am I supposed to learn in this pit? In this prison? In this wilderness? Do not waste your suffering by refusing to learn.

The Stage	Likely Lesson
Pit of betrayal	God’s presence even when others abandon you
Slavery	Service as preparation for leadership
False accusation	God is your vindicator; do not defend yourself
Prison	Patience, trust, and leadership in obscurity

4. Trust the “Until the Time That His Word Came”

There is an “until” in your process. Until the word of the Lord tries you. Until the iron has done its work. Until you are certified fit for greatness. That time will come. Do not abandon the process before the “until” is fulfilled.

5. Keep Your Eyes on the Glory, Not the Affliction

Paul called it “light affliction” compared to the weight of glory. You may not feel it is light. But from eternity’s perspective, it is. Keep looking ahead. The glory is coming.

Warning: The Shortcut Leads to Shame

Daddy Adeboye’s devotional carries a sobering warning: do not take the shortcut. Do not bypass God’s process.

The Shortcut	The Outcome
Self-promotion	Humiliation
Compromise to get ahead	Loss of integrity
Taking what God has not yet given	Losing what you took
Impatience with the process	Extended time in the process

Saul took the shortcut (offered sacrifices himself, spared Agag, consulted a medium). He lost the kingdom. Do not be like Saul. Be like Joseph. Be like David. Endure the iron. Trust the process.

Conclusion: Your Prayer for Endurance Through the Process

Daddy Adeboye closes with an imploration: if God is taking you through a refining process you find difficult, endure it. It is part of His plan for true and lasting greatness.

Pray this:

“Lord Jesus, I thank You that the iron on my feet is not punishment—it is preparation. Forgive me for the times I have complained against Your process, tried to take shortcuts, or doubted Your love because of the difficulty. Today, I embrace the pit, the prison, the wilderness. I will not run back to Egypt at the first hint of war. I trust that You are refining me like gold, certifying me for the greatness You have planned. Help me to learn what each stage is teaching me. Give me Joseph’s patience, David’s trust, and Jesus’ submission to the Father’s timing. I will not despise the long route, for I know that the short route would destroy me. Let the word of the LORD try me until the time that Your word comes. And when the process is complete, let me emerge purified, trusted, and ready for the weight of glory. In Jesus’ mighty name.”

Action Steps:

1. The Process Audit: Identify one area where you feel stuck in a “long route”—a delay, a difficulty, a wilderness. Ask God: What are You trying to teach me in this season? Write down the answer. Commit to learning the lesson.
2. The Shortcut Rejection: Is there any shortcut you have been tempted to take (compromise, self-promotion, dishonesty) to get out of your current difficulty? Write it down. Renounce it. Commit to God’s timing.
3. The Glory Focus: Find 2 Corinthians 4:17. Write it on an index card. Place it where you will see it daily. Every time you feel the weight of affliction, read it aloud: “This light affliction is working for me a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”

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The Open Heavens 6 July 2026 devotional for today is WILL YOU BE THERE?

This is a daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

• Read: RCCG Open Heavens 5 July 2026 Devotional

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OPEN HEAVENS 6 JULY 2026 TODAY DEVOTIONAL

TOPIC: WILL YOU BE THERE?

MEMORISE:
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where am, there ye may be also.
John 14:3

READ: Revelation 21:1-27

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
² And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
³ And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
⁴ And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
⁵ And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

⁶ And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
⁷ He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
⁸ But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
⁹ And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.
¹⁰ And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,

¹¹ Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
¹² And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
¹³ On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.
¹⁴ And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
¹⁵ And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.

¹⁶ And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.
¹⁷ And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.
¹⁸ And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.
¹⁹ And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;
²⁰ The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.

²¹ And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
²² And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
²³ And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
²⁴ And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
²⁵ And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.

²⁶ And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.
²⁷ And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

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RCCG OPEN HEAVENS 6 JULY 2026 TODAY MESSAGE

The first time I travelled to the United States of America was in the summer of 1979, and I had an experience that can be described as heavenly. I stayed in Tulsa, and in that city, the sun would still be up late into the evening. The streets were so clean that it felt like one could eat off them. The bathroom of my hotel room had three faucets: one for hot water, another for warm water, and the last for cold water. Also, the electricity never went out, and everything was just fantastic.
After two weeks, I returned to Nigeria, and as the plane was about to land, I looked out of the window and noticed a stark difference between where I was coming from and where I was returning to, because in those days Nigeria was far less developed than it is now.

Beloved, my experience in Tulsa, all those years ago, can in no way be compared to heaven. In heaven, there is no night at all because, in today’s Bible reading, we are made to understand that ” the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof” (Revelation 21:23). Heaven is a beautiful place that no one should miss, and I pray that you will not miss it, in Jesus’ name.

Heaven is God’s promise to all believers. Jesus said in today’s memory verse that where He is, we will also be. If you have given your life to Jesus and are following Him faithfully, you will end up where He is at the end of your earthly sojourn. When children go to school, they know that at the end of the school day, they will return home to their parents.

Likewise, if God is truly your Father, you have an assurance that you will reign with Him in eternity after your sojourn here on earth. However, only those who have surrendered their lives to Jesus can be children of God, and only His children can spend eternity with Him in heaven.

Beloved, are you sure of where you will spend eternity? If you want your stay in heaven to be guaranteed, you must not allow sin in your heart.

You must be fully committed to Jesus Christ and do His will at all times. I have made up my mind to shun sin and be fully committed to Jesus Christ so l can spend my eternity with Him in heaven.

Will I see you there?

REFLECTION

Where will you spend eternity, Heaven or Hell?

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Proverbs 21-23

Hymn: I’m Pressing on the Upward

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL 6 JULY 2026 COMMENTARY

MEMORISE: John 14:3

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

This verse is Jesus’ personal promise to every believer. Daddy Adeboye anchors today’s devotional on this text because it guarantees that heaven is not a vague hope or a wishful dream—it is a prepared place for a prepared people.

BIBLE READING: Revelation 21:1-27

This passage is the apostle John’s vision of the New Jerusalem—the final dwelling place of God with His people. It describes a city of unimaginable beauty: walls of jasper, foundations adorned with every precious stone, gates of pearl, streets of pure gold like transparent glass. There is no temple, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. There is no need for sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates it. There is no night, no curse, no tears, no death, no sorrow, no pain. Nothing impure or shameful will ever enter it.

An Earthly “Heaven” That Could Not Compare

1. Daddy Adeboye’s First Trip to America (1979)

“The first time I travelled to the United States of America was in the summer of 1979, and I had an experience that can be described as heavenly. I stayed in Tulsa, and in that city, the sun would still be up late into the evening. The streets were so clean that it felt like one could eat off them. The bathroom of my hotel room had three faucets: one for hot water, another for warm water, and the last for cold water. Also, the electricity never went out, and everything was just fantastic.”

Consider what made Tulsa feel “heavenly” to Daddy Adeboye in 1979:

Feature of Tulsa (1979)	Why It Seemed Heavenly
Long daylight hours	The sun stayed up late into the evening
Clean streets	So clean you felt you could eat off them
Three faucets in the bathroom	Hot, warm, and cold water options
Uninterrupted electricity	The power never went out
Everything fantastic	A stark contrast to developing Nigeria

For a man coming from a country where electricity was unreliable, water was scarce, and streets were not pristine, Tulsa felt like another world. It was, as he said, “an experience that can be described as heavenly.”

2. The Stark Contrast Upon Returning to Nigeria

“After two weeks, I returned to Nigeria, and as the plane was about to land, I looked out of the window and noticed a stark difference between where I was coming from and where I was returning to, because in those days Nigeria was far less developed than it is now.”

The contrast was jarring. One place had everything; the other had far less. But then Daddy Adeboye makes a crucial point:

“Beloved, my experience in Tulsa, all those years ago, can in no way be compared to heaven.”

Tulsa (1979)	Heaven (Revelation 21)
Sun still up late into evening	No need for sun or moon; God’s glory is the light
Clean streets (like you could eat off them)	Streets of pure gold, like transparent glass
Hot, warm, and cold water faucets	River of the water of life, clear as crystal
Electricity never went out	No night, no darkness, no need for lamps
Fantastic (humanly speaking)	Inexpressible glory; eye has not seen, nor ear heard

“Heaven is a beautiful place that no one should miss, and I pray that you will not miss it, in Jesus’ name.”

If Tulsa seemed heavenly to a man coming from 1970s Nigeria, how much more glorious is the actual heaven? No earthly comparison suffices. The most luxurious palace on earth is a shack compared to the New Jerusalem. The most advanced city on earth has no street that can compare to gold like transparent glass. The most reliable electricity grid eventually fails; heaven has no night.

Heaven: God’s Promise to Believers

1. Jesus’ Personal Promise (John 14:3)

“Heaven is God’s promise to all believers. Jesus said in today’s memory verse that where He is, we will also be.”

The Promise	The Certainty
“I go to prepare a place for you”	Heaven is being readied for you right now
“I will come again”	Jesus is returning; it is not a myth
“I will receive you unto myself”	Personal, not impersonal—He will come for you
“That where I am, there ye may be also”	You will be where He is, forever

“If you have given your life to Jesus and are following Him faithfully, you will end up where He is at the end of your earthly sojourn.”

Your Earthly Sojourn	Your Eternal Destination
Temporary, brief, a vapor	Permanent, unending, forever
Filled with trouble, tears, toil	Filled with glory, joy, rest
You follow Jesus by faith	You see Jesus face to face

2. The Child’s Assurance of Returning Home

“When children go to school, they know that at the end of the school day, they will return home to their parents. Likewise, if God is truly your Father, you have an assurance that you will reign with Him in eternity after your sojourn here on earth.”

The Child at School	The Believer on Earth
Knows school is temporary	Knows earth is temporary
Longs for home at the end of the day	Longs for heaven at the end of life
Trusts that parents are waiting	Trusts that the Father is waiting
Is not anxious about being abandoned	Has assurance of eternal home

“However, only those who have surrendered their lives to Jesus can be children of God, and only His children can spend eternity with Him in heaven.”

This is the critical condition. Heaven is not for good people. Heaven is not for religious people. Heaven is not for those who have done more good than bad. Heaven is for the children of God—those who have surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ, been born again, and received the right to become children of God (John 1:12).

The Urgent Question: Will You Be There?

“Beloved, are you sure of where you will spend eternity?”

Assurance of Heaven	No Assurance
You have surrendered your life to Jesus	You have not fully surrendered
You are following Him faithfully	You are living in sin or compromise
Sin is not allowed to reign in your heart	Sin has a place in your heart
You are committed to doing His will	You pick and choose which commands to obey

“If you want your stay in heaven to be guaranteed, you must not allow sin in your heart. You must be fully committed to Jesus Christ and do His will at all times.”

Allowing Sin in the Heart	Keeping the Heart Pure
Makes you unfit for heaven’s presence	Prepares you to dwell with the Holy God
Gives the devil a foothold	Gives the Spirit full access
Risks your eternal destination	Secures your place in glory

Hebrews 12:14 – “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.”

Holiness is not optional for heaven. It is the prerequisite. Not sinless perfection, but a life that does not “allow sin in the heart”—a life that confesses, repents, and pursues righteousness.

Daddy Adeboye’s Personal Declaration

“I have made up my mind to shun sin and be fully committed to Jesus Christ so I can spend my eternity with Him in heaven. Will I see you there?”

Daddy Adeboye’s Decision	Your Decision
Made up his mind (resolute, settled)	Have you made up your mind?
To shun sin (avoid, reject, flee from)	Are you shunning sin or playing with it?
To be fully committed (not partially, not occasionally)	Are you fully committed or half-hearted?
So he can spend eternity with Jesus	Where will you spend eternity?

This is the most important question you will ever face. Not “How much money will you make?” Not “What will you achieve?” But: Will I see you in heaven?

What Heaven Will Be Like (Based on Revelation 21)

Daddy Adeboye highlights key features of heaven from today’s Bible reading:

Feature of Heaven	Earthly Contrast
No need for sun or moon	Earth’s light depends on celestial bodies
The glory of God is the light	Earth’s light is physical, not divine
The Lamb is the light thereof	Jesus is the center of heaven’s radiance
No night	Earth has darkness, shadows, fear
No curse	Earth is groaning under the curse of sin
No tears, death, sorrow, or pain	Earth is filled with all of these
Nothing impure or shameful enters	Earth has sin, corruption, impurity
The river of the water of life	Earth’s water is temporary, often polluted
The tree of life with healing leaves	Earth has sickness, disease, death

“Heaven is a beautiful place that no one should miss.”

How to Guarantee Your Place in Heaven (Practical Steps)

Based on Daddy Adeboye’s teaching, here is how to ensure that heaven is your eternal home:

1. Surrender Your Life to Jesus

If you have never given your life to Christ, do it now. Not tomorrow. Not “when you are better.” Now. Confess your sins. Believe that Jesus died for you and rose again. Receive Him as your Lord and Savior.

2. Do Not Allow Sin in Your Heart

What “Not Allowing Sin” Means	What It Does Not Mean
You confess and repent when you sin	You never sin (impossible)
You hate sin and fight against it	You are indifferent to sin
You do not make peace with sin	You are perfect (only Jesus was)
You flee temptation	You never face temptation

1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

3. Be Fully Committed to Jesus

Partial commitment is not enough. Jesus said, “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62). Fully committed means:

• Your life is not divided between God and the world
• Your first priority is His kingdom
• You obey His word even when it costs you
• You are willing to go where He sends, do what He commands, give what He asks

4. Do His Will at All Times

Not only when it is convenient. Not only when you feel like it. Not only when others are watching. At all times—in public and private, in crisis and calm, in success and failure.

5. Keep Your Eyes on the Eternal, Not the Temporary

Tulsa was beautiful, but it was not heaven. The most wonderful earthly experience cannot compare to what God has prepared for those who love Him (1 Corinthians 2:9). Do not trade your eternal home for temporary pleasure.

Warning: It Is Possible to Miss Heaven

Daddy Adeboye’s devotional carries an urgent warning: heaven is a promise, but it is a conditional promise. Not everyone will be there.

Who Will Be in Heaven	Who Will Not Be in Heaven
Those who have surrendered to Jesus	Those who have not surrendered
Those who do not allow sin in their hearts	Those who live in unrepentant sin
Those who are fully committed to Christ	Those who are lukewarm, half-hearted
Those who do His will	Those who do their own will

Revelation 21:27 – “And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”

Is your name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life? Not “were you born in a Christian home?” Not “do you attend church?” Not “are you a good person?” Is your name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life?

Conclusion: Your Prayer for Eternal Assurance

Daddy Adeboye closes with a personal declaration and a searching question: “Will I see you there?”Do not let this question go unanswered.

Pray this:

“Lord Jesus, I thank You that You have gone to prepare a place for me. I thank You that heaven is real, that it is glorious beyond imagination, and that You have promised to receive me to Yourself. Today, I examine my heart. Have I truly surrendered my life to You? Do I allow sin to reign in my heart? Am I fully committed to You, or am I holding back? Forgive me for every area of compromise. Forgive me for treating heaven as a vague hope rather than a certain destination. I make up my mind today: I will shun sin. I will be fully committed to You. I will do Your will at all times. I want my name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. I want to see Your face. I want to dwell in the city where there is no night, no tears, no pain. Prepare me for that place. Keep me faithful until the end. And when I close my eyes on this earth, let me open them in Your presence. In Jesus’ mighty name.”

Action Steps:

1. The Eternal Audit: Ask yourself honestly: If I died today, am I 100% certain that I would go to heaven? If there is any doubt, settle it today. Confess your sins. Renew your surrender to Christ.
2. The Sin Check: Identify any sin you have been “allowing in your heart”—any area where you have made peace with disobedience. Bring it to God in confession. Ask for grace to shun it completely.
3. The Final Question: Write on an index card: “Will I see you there?” Place it somewhere you will see daily. Let it remind you that your eternal destination is the most important reality you will ever face. Live today in light of that reality.

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The Open Heavens 5 July 2026 devotional for today is WHAT IS YOUR DEEPEST DESIRE?

This is a daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

• Read: RCCG Open Heavens 4 July 2026 Devotional

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OPEN HEAVENS 5 JULY 2026 TODAY DEVOTIONAL

TOPIC: WHAT IS YOUR DEEPEST DESIRE?

MEMORISE:

My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.
Psalm 130:6

READ: John 12:20-21

²⁰ And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast:
²¹ The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.

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RCCG OPEN HEAVENS 5 JULY 2026 TODAY MESSAGE

One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.
Psalm 27:4

In the Scripture above and many other instances in the Bible, David expressed his desire to dwell in God’s presence. In Psalm 63:1-2, he expressed his yearning to seek God early and see His power and glory. In verse 6 of the same chapter, he said that he remembered God upon his bed and meditated on Him in the night watches. Also, in today’s memory verse, he said that his soul waited for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning.

Watchmen always look forward to daybreak when they would be free to rest and relax, and David likened his intense desire for God to their longing for daybreak.

Beloved, what or whom are you seeking? In today’s Bible reading, certain Greeks went to worship at the feast in Jerusalem, and when they saw Philip, they said, “Sir, we would see Jesus.” If God gives you a blank cheque today, what will you ask for?

Will you ask for things that will perish with time, or will you ask to see Jesus? People who seek God only for material things will never truly be satisfied because they will ultimately fade away. However, those who genuinely seek God and His Kingdom always find Him (Jeremiah 29:13) and become truly satisfied, as every other thing they need is added to them (Matthew 6:33)

God will always draw near to those who draw near to Him (James 4:8); He showed this clearly in His relationship with David. Do you want God to love you in a special way? Do you want His presence with you at all times? Then your deepest desire should be to always please him (1 Thessalonians 4:1) and to continually grow in your knowledge of Him (Philippians 3:10).

Child of God, what is your deepest heart cry? What keeps you awake at night? Do you regularly think of how to amass material things for yourself or how to know God more? Whatever you are hungry and thirsty for will determine what you will get, and as Matthew 5:6 says, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” I pray that you will truly seek God’s face and experience the beauty of His holiness, in Jesus’ name.

REFLECTION:

What is your deepest heart cry: material things or Jesus?

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL 5 JULY 2026 COMMENTARY

MEMORISE: Psalm 130:6

“My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.”

This verse captures the intensity of spiritual longing. Daddy Adeboye anchors today’s devotional on this text because it compares the believer’s desire for God to the watchman’s desperate anticipation of daybreak.

BIBLE READING: John 12:20-21

This passage records a brief but profound encounter. Certain Greeks had come to Jerusalem to worship at the feast. They approached Philip with a simple request: “Sir, we would see Jesus.” No other request. No list of needs. No demands for miracles or blessings. Just the desire to see Jesus.

The Heart of David: One Thing Have I Desired

1. David’s Single-Minded Pursuit (Psalm 27:4)

“In the Scripture above and many other instances in the Bible, David expressed his desire to dwell in God’s presence. In Psalm 63:1-2, he expressed his yearning to seek God early and see His power and glory.”

Psalm 27:4 – “One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.”

Notice the singularity: “One thing have I desired.” David was not distracted by a thousand competing ambitions. He had one consuming passion: to dwell in God’s presence, to behold God’s beauty, to inquire in God’s temple.

What David Desired	What He Did Not Prioritize
To dwell in God’s house	Palaces, thrones, earthly security
To behold God’s beauty	Gold, silver, material riches
To inquire in God’s temple	Human wisdom, political alliances
God’s presence	God’s presents (blessings, gifts, prosperity)

“In verse 6 of the same chapter, he said that he remembered God upon his bed and meditated on Him in the night watches. Also, in today’s memory verse, he said that his soul waited for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning.”

Psalm 63:6 – “When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.”

David did not only seek God when he was in trouble. He did not only pray when he needed something. He remembered God upon his bed—in the quiet hours, in the darkness, when no one was watching. His desire for God was not performance; it was passion.

2. The Watchman’s Longing (Psalm 130:6)

“Watchmen always look forward to daybreak when they would be free to rest and relax, and David likened his intense desire for God to their longing for daybreak.”

The Watchman’s Longing	David’s Longing for God
Desperate for the night to end	Desperate for more of God’s presence
Strains his eyes toward the horizon	Strains his soul toward the Lord
Cannot rest until dawn comes	Cannot rest until he encounters God
Morning is his only hope	God is his only hope

“More than they that watch for the morning” — the repetition emphasizes intensity. David does not just say it once; he says it twice: “I say, more than they that watch for the morning.” His desire for God exceeds every other longing.

The Greeks’ Request: “We Would See Jesus”

“In today’s Bible reading, certain Greeks went to worship at the feast in Jerusalem, and when they saw Philip, they said, ‘Sir, we would see Jesus.’”

Consider what these Greeks did NOT ask for:

What They Did Not Ask	What They Asked
Healing for a sick relative	“We would see Jesus”
Financial breakthrough	“We would see Jesus”
Deliverance from oppression	“We would see Jesus”
Political favor or protection	“We would see Jesus”
A miracle, a sign, a wonder	“We would see Jesus”

They had heard about Jesus. They had traveled to the feast. They could have asked for anything. But their request was simple, direct, and profound: “Sir, we would see Jesus.”

“If God gives you a blank cheque today, what will you ask for? Will you ask for things that will perish with time, or will you ask to see Jesus?”

The Blank Cheque Test	What Your Answer Reveals
If you ask for money, houses, cars	You value perishable things
If you ask for healing, deliverance, breakthrough	You value temporary relief
If you ask for ministry success, fame, influence	You value earthly recognition
If you ask for more of God, to see Jesus, to know Him	You value the eternal

“People who seek God only for material things will never truly be satisfied because they will ultimately fade away. However, those who genuinely seek God and His Kingdom always find Him (Jeremiah 29:13) and become truly satisfied, as every other thing they need is added to them (Matthew 6:33).”

Seek God Only for What He Gives	Seek God for Who He Is
Never truly satisfied	Truly satisfied
The things they pursue fade away	God never fades; He is eternal
They may get things but miss the Giver	They get the Giver, and things are added

God’s Response to Those Who Seek Him

1. He Draws Near to Those Who Draw Near (James 4:8)

“God will always draw near to those who draw near to Him (James 4:8); He showed this clearly in His relationship with David.”

If You Draw Near to God	God’s Response
You take a step toward Him	He takes a step toward you
You seek His face	He reveals Himself to you
You desire His presence	He dwells with you
You pursue Him	He is found by you (Jeremiah 29:13)

David was not perfect. He sinned grievously. But his heart was always oriented toward God. He sought God early, meditated on Him at night, waited for Him more than watchmen wait for morning. And God responded by calling David “a man after mine own heart” (Acts 13:22).

2. He Gives Himself to the Hungry (Matthew 5:6)

“Whatever you are hungry and thirsty for will determine what you will get, and as Matthew 5:6 says, ‘Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.’”

What You Hunger For	What You Will Receive
Righteousness, God’s presence, to see Jesus	Filled to overflowing
Money, possessions, worldly success	You may get them, but you will not be filled
Fame, recognition, power	Empty, dissatisfied, always wanting more

“Do you want God to love you in a special way? Do you want His presence with you at all times? Then your deepest desire should be to always please him (1 Thessalonians 4:1) and to continually grow in your knowledge of Him (Philippians 3:10).”

1 Thessalonians 4:1 – “Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.”

Philippians 3:10 – “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.”

Paul’s deepest desire was not for comfort, safety, or material blessing. It was to know Christ. To know Him in the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings. That is the heart of one who has learned to say, “We would see Jesus.”

Examining Your Deepest Heart Cry

Daddy Adeboye asks penetrating questions:

“Child of God, what is your deepest heart cry? What keeps you awake at night? Do you regularly think of how to amass material things for yourself or how to know God more?”

Questions to Ask Yourself	What Your Answers Reveal
What do you think about when you cannot sleep?	Your deepest obsession
What would you ask for if God gave you a blank cheque?	Your true priority
What are you hungry and thirsty for?	What you will be filled with
What keeps you seeking, praying, pursuing?	The true desire of your heart

“I pray that you will truly seek God’s face and experience the beauty of His holiness, in Jesus’ name.”

How to Cultivate a Heart That Seeks God Above All (Practical Steps)

Based on Daddy Adeboye’s teaching and the examples of David and the Greeks, here is how to make “seeing Jesus” your deepest desire:

1. Conduct a Blank Cheque Test

Today, imagine God says to you, “Ask what you will, and I will give it to you.” Write down your immediate answer. Then ask yourself: Does this request reveal a heart that seeks God or merely His gifts? If your answer is not “more of You, Lord,” repent and redirect your desire.

2. Practice the Discipline of Waiting for the Lord

David said, “My soul waiteth for the Lord.” Waiting is not passivity; it is active expectation. Set aside time each day to simply be in God’s presence—not asking, not listing needs, not rushing. Wait. Long. Watch.

Instead of…	Practice…
Rushing through prayer	Lingering in God’s presence
Asking for many things	Seeking His face above all
Focusing on needs	Focusing on Him
Checking the clock	Waiting like a watchman for morning

3. Memorize and Meditate on Psalm 27:4

Make David’s “one thing” your one thing. Write it on an index card. Recite it daily: “One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.”

4. Let “We Would See Jesus” Be Your Prayer

When you wake, pray: “Lord, today, I would see Jesus.” When you read Scripture, read to see Jesus. When you worship, worship to encounter Jesus. When you pray, pray to know Jesus. Make seeing Him your singular pursuit.

5. Evaluate What Keeps You Awake

If you lie awake at night worrying about money, planning your career, or replaying offenses, your heart is not set on God. Redirect those sleepless hours to prayer and meditation on God. Let what keeps you awake be the longing for His presence.

Warning: You Can Seek God’s Gifts and Miss God Himself

Daddy Adeboye’s devotional carries a sobering warning: it is possible to be religious, to pray, to attend church, to even serve in ministry—all while seeking God’s hand rather than His face.

Seeking God’s Hand	Seeking God’s Face
Focused on what God gives	Focused on who God is
Prayers are shopping lists	Prayers are encounters
Satisfaction depends on receiving	Satisfaction is found in Him alone
When gifts stop, seeking stops	Even in drought, the seeker remains
May receive things but miss the Giver	Receives the Giver, and all things with Him

Do not be satisfied with blessings. Do not settle for miracles. Do not trade the Presence for the presents. Let your deepest heart cry be: “Sir, we would see Jesus.”

Conclusion: Your Prayer to See Jesus

Daddy Adeboye closes with a prayer that you will truly seek God’s face and experience the beauty of His holiness. Not His hand. Not His gifts. His face.

Pray this:

“Lord Jesus, I confess that too often I have sought Your hand rather than Your face. I have asked for blessings, miracles, and provision—but I have not asked simply to see You. Forgive me for treating You like a vending machine rather than the Lover of my soul. Today, I echo the cry of David: ‘One thing have I desired—to dwell in Your house, to behold Your beauty, to inquire in Your temple.’ I echo the request of the Greeks: ‘Sir, we would see Jesus.’ Give me a hunger and thirst for righteousness that cannot be satisfied with anything less than You. Let my soul wait for You more than the watchman waits for morning. Whether You give me anything else or not, give me Yourself. You are my deepest heart cry. You are my one thing. In Jesus’ mighty name.”

Action Steps:

1. The Blank Cheque Test: Take a sheet of paper. Write at the top: “If God gave me a blank cheque today, I would ask for…” Write your honest answer. Then examine it. If Jesus is not at the top of the list, tear up the paper, repent, and rewrite it.
2. The Night Watch Practice: For the next seven nights, before you sleep, spend five minutes in silence, saying to the Lord: “My soul waits for You more than watchmen wait for morning.” Let this prayer be the last thing on your lips.
3. The “We Would See Jesus” Prayer: Every morning this week, pray: “Lord, I don’t know what else this day holds, but I know what I want: I want to see Jesus. Open my eyes to see Him in Scripture, in worship, in prayer, in the faces of Your people. Sir, I would see Jesus.”

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