This is RCCG Open Heaven daily devotional for adults and teens. By Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel. 1 Kings 18:46
READ: Nehemiah 2:1-18
1 And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence. 2 Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid, 3 And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire? 4 Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven. 5 And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers’ sepulchres, that I may build it.
6 And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time. 7 Moreover I said unto the king, If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, that they may convey me over till I come into Judah; 8 And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me. 9 Then I came to the governors beyond the river, and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me. 10 When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.
11 So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days. 12 And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon. 13 And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even before the dragon well, and to the dung port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire. 14 Then I went on to the gate of the fountain, and to the king’s pool: but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass. 15 Then went I up in the night by the brook, and viewed the wall, and turned back, and entered by the gate of the valley, and so returned.
16 And the rulers knew not whither I went, or what I did; neither had I as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest that did the work. 17 Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach. 18 Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king’s words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.
RCCG OPEN HEAVENS 1 MAY 2026 TODAY MESSAGE
Years ago, I sat for a mathematics examination, and Y when I was handed the question sheet, I discovered that I could not understand any of the questions. Even though I was really good at mathematics, my mind had become totally blank.
By then, I was sweating profusely. I looked around me, and I saw my coursemates writing earnestly.
Since I knew that any student who failed an examination would be allowed to retake it the following year, I decided to leave the examination hall after a while. As I was about to stand up, I felt a mighty, though invisible, hand pin me to my seat.
After another 15 minutes of wondering what to do, l decided to go through the questions again.
Suddenly, I realised that my understanding had returned to me and I could now answer all of them.
I started answering the questions, and I was able to finish answering them within the stipulated time. By the grace of God, I passed the examination with flying colours. Several years after the incident, I realised that it was God’s mighty hand that kept me on my seat during the examination, restored my understanding, and gave me supernatural speed. Even though I started slowly, His hand made me catch up with and even overtake some of my coursemates who had started writing before me.
In today’s memory verse, the mighty hand of the Lord rested on Elijah, and he outran the king’s chariot, which must have been pulled by the fastest horses in Israel at the time. God’s mighty hand gave him supernatural speed. Likewise, in today’s Bible reading, when Nehemiah wanted to return to Jerusalem to rebuild it, the mighty hand of God gave him great favour before the heathen king he worked for and also before the leaders in Jerusalem. He experienced supernatural speed in rebuilding the walls and gates of Jerusalem because of God’s mighty hand upon him.
Beloved, if you are a child of God, you can also experience the mighty hand of God upon you by spending quality time in prayer and studying His word daily. You must also humble yourself before Him and commit all your ways to Him so that you can receive His grace that births supernatural speed (James 4:6).
I pray for you today that the mighty hand of God will rest upon you and give you supernatural clarity and speed in all areas of your life, in Jesus’ name.
PRAYER POINT
Father, please let your mighty hand rest upon me and grant me supernatural understanding, speed, and favour, in Jesus’ name.
MEMORISE Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me? Jeremiah 32:27
READ: John 6:1-14
1 After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. 2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. 3 And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. 4 And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh. 5 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?
6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, saith unto him, 9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? 10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.
11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. 12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. 13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten. 14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.
RCCG OPEN HEAVENS 30 APRIL 2026 TODAY MESSAGE
Several years ago, we held a Holy Ghost Service at Rowe Park in Lagos, Nigeria. As I was preaching, the word of the Lord came to me, and I said, “There is someone here; you used to have only one testicle, which has now been destroyed. However, God says that He is giving you two new ones.”
Suddenly, a young man in the congregation began to shout. He had been born with one testicle, and his parents decided to take him to a herbalist who eventually destroyed the only testicle he had. He shouted because he knew that the word of prophecy was for him. He was a married man, and when he came to my office some months later to share his testimony, he said, “For you to know that God has given me new testicles as He said, let me show them to you.” I told him that there was no need to show me because the result of the miracle he had received was obvious – he had come to share his testimony with his wife, who was visibly pregnant.
There is no difficult problem with God. In today’s memory verse, God said that nothing is too hard for Him. There is no case that is too complex for God to resolve.
When you go through the Scriptures, you will see various instances where God handled issues that seemed complex or hopeless.
In today’s Bible reading, for example, He fed more than five thousand people with just five loaves of bread and two small fishes. He also raised a man who had been dead and buried for four days from his grave (John 11:1-44). Likewise, in Cana of Galilee, the Lord Jesus Christ turned water into wine at a wedding when the wine ran out (John 2:1-11). Luke 1:37 tells us that there is no impossibility with the Almighty God.
Beloved, you should never allow the presence of seemingly hopeless situations in your life to bring you to a state where you give up. If you are faced with such situations, instead of sinking into despair, put your trust in the Lord.
The Bible says in Romans 10:11 that those who believe in God will never be put to shame. Tell Him about the situation, and rest assured that He will do the impossible.
I decree that the Lord will save you from any situation in your life that may appear hopeless or too difficult to handle, in Jesus’ name.
KEY POINT:
Never allow yourself to sink into despair; rather, trust God to do the impossible.
“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?” This verse is God’s rhetorical question to a prophet who was struggling to believe. Jeremiah had just bought a field as a sign of hope, but the Babylonians were besieging Jerusalem and everything looked hopeless. God’s question cuts through the despair: “Is there anything too hard for Me?” The implied answer is obvious: absolutely nothing. Not barren wombs, not incurable diseases, not dead bodies, not empty wallets, not shattered dreams. The God of all flesh—the One who made every human body and every natural system—has no limitations. What looks impossible to you is simply an opportunity for Him to show what He can do.
BIBLE READING: John 6:1-14
This passage records the feeding of the five thousand, the only miracle of Jesus recorded in all four Gospels. A great multitude had followed Jesus because of the miracles they had seen Him do on the sick. When Jesus looked up and saw the crowd coming, He asked Philip a test question: “Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” Philip immediately calculated the impossibility: “Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.” Andrew found a boy with five barley loaves and two small fishes, but added, “What are they among so many?” Jesus took the meager provision, gave thanks, and distributed it to the people. Not only did everyone eat until they were full, but they gathered twelve baskets of leftovers. This passage demonstrates that God takes our impossibly small resources and multiplies them into abundantly more than enough.
The God of Impossible Situations
In today’s devotional, Pastor E.A. Adeboye (Daddy Adeboye) brings us face to face with the foundational truth of the Christian faith: nothing is too hard for God. Not the most complex case. Not the most hopeless situation. Not the most irreversible condition. Our God specializes in the impossible.
The Man with One Testicle
The devotional opens with a testimony that seems almost unbelievable—but it’s a real account of God’s creative power. During a Holy Ghost Service at Rowe Park in Lagos, as Daddy Adeboye was preaching, a word of knowledge came: “There is someone here; you used to have only one testicle, which has now been destroyed. However, God says that He is giving you two new ones.”
Suddenly, a young man in the congregation began to shout. He knew the word was for him. He had been born with one testicle, and his parents, in their desperation, had taken him to a herbalist who ended up destroying even that one. He was a married man, living with the shame and impossibility of ever having children.
Months later, he came to Daddy Adeboye’s office to share his testimony. He was so excited that he offered to show the evidence of his miracle. Daddy Adeboye declined, but the proof was already visible—his wife was visibly pregnant. God had done the impossible. He had created new organs where none existed.
Think about what this means. Medicine couldn’t help. Surgery couldn’t fix. The situation was completely hopeless by every human standard. But God spoke, and organs appeared. The impossible became reality.
The God Who Feeds Thousands with Nothing
The Bible reading gives us another impossible situation. Over five thousand men, plus women and children, were gathered in a remote place with no food. Philip, ever practical, calculated the cost: eight months’ wages wouldn’t be enough to give everyone even a small bite. Andrew found a boy with five small barley loaves and two fish—a child’s lunch—and asked the obvious question: “What are they among so many?”
Humanly speaking, the answer was nothing. Five loaves and two fish for five thousand people is mathematically absurd. It’s less than a crumb per person. The situation was impossible.
But Jesus took the impossible situation, gave thanks to the Father, and began to break the bread. As the disciples distributed it, the food multiplied. Everyone ate until they were full. And when they gathered the leftovers, there were twelve baskets—more than they started with.
The impossible became not just possible, but abundant.
Other Impossible Situations in Scripture
The devotional reminds us of other times God did the impossible:
Lazarus: Dead four days, buried, already decomposing. Jesus spoke, and he walked out of the tomb (John 11).
The wedding at Cana: Out of wine, facing public shame. Jesus turned water into the best wine of the feast (John 2).
Sarah: Ninety years old, womb dead for decades. God gave her Isaac (Genesis 21).
The man at Bethesda: Thirty-eight years paralyzed, no one to help him. Jesus healed him in an instant (John 5).
Every impossible situation in Scripture became a platform for God’s glory.
Why You Should Never Give Up
The devotional addresses those facing seemingly hopeless situations: “You should never allow the presence of seemingly hopeless situations in your life to bring you to a state where you give up.”
Despair is a lie from the enemy. It says, “This is too hard. God can’t fix this. It’s over.” But God’s question to Jeremiah echoes through the ages: “Is there anything too hard for me?”
Too hard? I made the universe with a word.
Too hard? I parted the Red Sea.
Too hard? I raised Jesus from the dead.
Too hard? I gave a child to a hundred-year-old man and his ninety-year-old wife.
Nothing is too hard for Him.
What to Do When Facing the Impossible
1. Put Your Trust in the Lord The devotional says, “Instead of sinking into despair, put your trust in the Lord.” Trust is the opposite of despair. Despair looks at the problem; trust looks at the Problem-Solver. Despair says, “This is impossible”; trust says, “Nothing is too hard for God.”
2. Tell Him About the Situation The man with one testicle didn’t have to tell God—God already knew. But bringing your situation to Him in prayer is an act of faith. It acknowledges that He is the only One who can help. It positions you to receive.
3. Rest Assured That He Will Do the Impossible The devotional promises: “Rest assured that He will do the impossible.” This is not blind optimism—it’s based on the character of God. He is faithful. He keeps His word. He specializes in impossibilities.
4. Remember Romans 10:11 “Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.” Shame is what comes when hope fails. But if you believe in God, you will never be put to shame. He will come through. He will act. He will vindicate your faith.
The Nature of Impossible Situations
Impossible situations come in many forms:
Medical impossibilities: Conditions doctors can’t cure, organs that don’t exist
Financial impossibilities: Debts you can’t pay, resources that won’t stretch
Relational impossibilities: Marriages that seem dead, families that are broken
Career impossibilities: Doors that won’t open, opportunities that have passed
Spiritual impossibilities: Loved ones who seem too far gone, hearts that seem too hard
Whatever form your impossibility takes, it is not too hard for God.
The God of All Flesh
The memory verse calls God “the LORD, the God of all flesh.” This means He is not just the God of spirits or angels—He is the God of physical bodies, physical needs, physical situations. He made flesh. He understands flesh. He can heal flesh, restore flesh, even create flesh where none exists.
The man with one testicle experienced this. His flesh was restored by the God of all flesh. Your flesh—your physical situation, your material needs, your bodily conditions—is His concern too.
Conclusion: Nothing Is Too Hard
The testimony of the man with one testicle should encourage you today. If God could create new organs where none existed, what can He not do? If He could feed five thousand with five loaves, what shortage can He not supply? If He could raise a four-day-dead man, what situation is beyond His reach?
Your impossible situation is not too hard for Him. Bring it to Him. Trust Him. Rest in His faithfulness. And watch what He does.
Pray this: “Father, I thank You that nothing is too hard for You. You are the God of all flesh, the One who does impossibilities. I bring my impossible situation before You today—the thing that seems hopeless, the condition that seems irreversible. I trust You to do what only You can do. I will not give up. I will not despair. I believe that I will not be ashamed. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Action Steps:
Identify your impossible situation: Write down the one thing that seems most hopeless in your life right now.
Declare Jeremiah 32:27 over it: Say out loud, “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?” Personalize it: “God says nothing is too hard for Him—and that includes my situation.”
Tell God about it: Spend time this week bringing that situation to Him in prayer. Be specific. Be honest. Be expectant.
Look for testimonies: Read through the Bible and find other impossible situations God solved. Let them build your faith.
Prepare your testimony: Start thanking God now for the impossible thing He is about to do. When it happens, you’ll be ready to share.
MEMORISE I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Psalm 16:8
READ: 2 Kings 6:1-7
1 And the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell with thee is too strait for us. 2 Let us go, we pray thee, unto Jordan, and take thence every man a beam, and let us make us a place there, where we may dwell. And he answered, Go ye. 3 And one said, Be content, I pray thee, and go with thy servants. And he answered, I will go.
4 So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood. 5 But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water: and he cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed. 6 And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he shewed him the place. And he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither; and the iron did swim. 7 Therefore said he, Take it up to thee. And he put out his hand, and took it.
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 29 APRIL 2026 TODAY MESSAGE
Yesterday, we saw how Jesus’ disciples overcame a storm because He was in the same ship with them. When they called on Him, He arose and stilled the storm.
The truth is that everyone on earth will experience storms in life at some point, regardless of how anointed, gifted, influential, or powerful they may be. These storms can come in many forms, including sicknesses, delays, barrenness, and the loss of loved ones.
As I mentioned yesterday, if Jesus is in a fellow’s boat, he or she can overcome any storm. However, if the fellow does not cry out to Him in the midst of a storm, he or she might not emerge victorious. If believers do not involve God in every step they take and decide to lean on their own understanding, they might eventually drown in the storms of life.
In today’s Bible reading, the sons of the prophets came to Elisha to tell him that they wanted to expand their house to make it more comfortable.
Elisha gave them a go-ahead, but one of them wanted more than his permission; he asked Elisha to go with them to get the materials they needed to expand the house. As the men were chopping wood for the building, the axe head of the axe that one of them was using fell into the river.
Immediately, just like the disciples did in the midst of the storm, the man cried to Elisha for help because he had borrowed the axe. God stepped into the situation, and the axe head was miraculously recovered.
Beloved, the Lord can give you the go-ahead to start something; however, if you do not involve Him fully in that thing, you might not become successful with it as He intended. You shouldn’t wait for things to get bad before you cry out to Jesus; instead, involve Him in every single decision you make.
In today’s memory verse, David said that he always put God at the forefront of his decisions and actions. Because he always involved the Lord in his endeavours, he was not moved by the numerous challenges he encountered. You should imitate David by setting the Lord before you at all times.
Let Him be the centre of your life and direct you every step of the way. Don’t just make Jesus a figurehead in your life; involve Him in all you do, and you will overcome all of life’s challenges and experience victory at all times.
KEY POINT:
Having Jesus in your boat is not enough; let Him have the final say in all you do.
“I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.” This verse reveals David’s secret to stability in a unstable world. He didn’t just acknowledge God occasionally or call on Him in crisis—he set the Lord always before him. God was not an afterthought; He was the constant reference point for every decision, every step, every moment. The result was unshakeable confidence: “I shall not be moved.” When God is at your right hand—the place of strength and action—nothing can knock you off course.
BIBLE READING: 2 Kings 6:1-7
This passage records the miracle of the floating axe head, which we examined in a previous devotional. But today, Pastor Adeboye draws a different lesson from the same story. The sons of the prophets came to Elisha with a good idea—they wanted to expand their dwelling place because it was too small for them. Elisha gave them permission: “Go ye.” But one of them wanted more than permission; he asked Elisha to go with them. As they were cutting wood, an axe head fell into the water, and the man cried out because it was borrowed. Elisha threw a stick into the water, and the iron floated. This passage demonstrates that having God’s permission for a project is not the same as having His presence in it. The man who insisted on Elisha’s company was the one whose crisis was solved when disaster struck.
Don’t Just Get Permission—Get His Presence
In today’s devotional, Pastor E.A. Adeboye builds on yesterday’s message about having Jesus in your boat. He takes it a step further: it’s not enough to have God’s general permission—you need His specific presence in every endeavor. Many people start projects with God’s blessing but forget to involve Him in the daily details, and they wonder why things go wrong.
Permission vs. Presence
The Bible reading gives us a fascinating contrast. The sons of the prophets came to Elisha with a plan: the place where they were dwelling was too small, so they wanted to go to the Jordan, cut down trees, and build a larger meeting place. This was a good plan. It was for God’s work. It was practical and necessary.
Elisha gave them his blessing: “Go ye.” That was permission. That was approval. That was the green light.
But one of the men wanted more. He said to Elisha, “Be content, I pray thee, and go with thy servants.” He wanted the prophet’s presence, not just his permission. He understood that having Elisha with them would make all the difference.
Elisha agreed to go. And as they were cutting wood, disaster struck—an axe head flew off and sank into the river. The man cried out in distress because the axe was borrowed. And because Elisha was there, the problem was solved. The iron floated. The loss was recovered.
Now imagine if that man hadn’t insisted on Elisha’s presence. They would have had the prophet’s permission. They would have been doing God’s work. They would have been in the right place doing the right thing. But when crisis hit, they would have been alone. The axe head would have been lost forever, and the man would have faced shame and debt.
Permission without presence leaves you vulnerable when storms come.
The Difference Involvement Makes
The devotional makes a crucial distinction: God can give you the go-ahead to start something, but if you don’t involve Him fully in that thing, you may not become successful as He intended.
Think about it:
God told Israel to enter the Promised Land, but when they went without His presence at Hormah, they were defeated (Numbers 14:40-45).
God gave David permission to fight the Philistines, but David still inquired, “Shall I go up?” and God gave specific strategies each time (2 Samuel 5:19-25).
Jesus told the disciples to feed the multitude, but He also showed them how to do it with His blessing and multiplication.
Permission is the starting point. Presence is the power source.
Don’t Wait for the Crisis
One of the most important points in this devotional is this: you shouldn’t wait for things to get bad before you cry out to Jesus. The disciples waited until the storm was sinking the boat before they woke Jesus. They made it—barely—but they could have avoided the panic if they had involved Him from the beginning.
The man with the axe head cried out immediately when disaster struck, and Elisha was there to help because he had insisted on his presence from the start. He didn’t have to send a messenger to find the prophet. He didn’t have to wait for help to arrive. Elisha was right there.
When you involve God in every decision, every step, every detail, you position yourself for instant help when trouble comes. He’s already on the scene. He’s already aware. He’s already moving.
David’s Secret: Setting the Lord Always Before Him
The memory verse reveals David’s practice: “I have set the LORD always before me.” This was not occasional—it was constant. David didn’t just pray when he was in trouble. He didn’t just seek God when he needed direction. He lived with God as the reference point for everything.
The result? “Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.”
When Goliath challenged Israel, David didn’t panic—God was before him.
When Saul chased him through the wilderness, David didn’t despair—God was before him.
When he sinned with Bathsheba, David didn’t hide forever—God was before him (and he repented).
When Absalom rebelled, David didn’t give up—God was before him.
Setting the Lord always before you means:
Consulting Him before decisions, not just after problems arise
Seeking His will in the small things, not just the big things
Acknowledging His presence in success, not just in crisis
Living with an ongoing awareness that He is with you
How to Involve God Fully
1. Start with Surrender Before you begin any project—whether it’s a business, a ministry, a relationship, or a journey—surrender it to God. Acknowledge that without Him, you can do nothing (John 15:5).
2. Seek Specific Guidance Don’t just assume that because something is generally God’s will, you don’t need specific direction. David inquired of the Lord every time he went to battle, even against the same enemy. Ask God for wisdom for each step.
3. Pray Over Details The man with the axe head was involved in a mundane task—cutting wood. But when crisis hit, God cared about that borrowed tool. Involve God in the small things. He cares about everything that concerns you.
4. Check Your Motives The sons of the prophets wanted to expand their dwelling place. That was a good motive. But motives matter to God. Ask Him to search your heart and reveal any hidden selfishness in your plans.
5. Stay in Constant Communication Setting the Lord before you means maintaining an ongoing conversation with Him throughout the day. Not just formal prayer times, but continual awareness and quick prayers: “Lord, guide me here. Help me with this. Show me what to do.”
6. Invite Him Into Every Boat Yesterday’s message was about having Jesus in your boat. Today’s is about making sure He’s in every boat—every area of your life. Your family boat. Your career boat. Your health boat. Your finances boat. Your ministry boat. Don’t leave Him on the shore for any of them.
What Happens When You Involve God
The devotional promises several outcomes when you involve God fully:
You overcome challenges: Like the disciples, you emerge victorious from storms
You recover losses: Like the axe head, what is lost is found
You remain unshaken: Like David, you are not moved by circumstances
You experience victory at all times: Not just sometimes, but continually
Conclusion: Make Him the Center
Don’t make Jesus a figurehead in your life—a distant authority you acknowledge but don’t involve. Make Him the center. The heart. The constant reference point.
When you set the Lord always before you, you don’t have to panic when storms come because He’s already there. You don’t have to scramble for help when crisis hits because He’s already involved. You don’t have to wonder if you’ll make it because He’s already guaranteed your arrival.
Set Him before you today. In every decision, every conversation, every plan. And you will not be moved.
Pray this: “Father, forgive me for the times I have sought Your permission but not Your presence. Forgive me for starting things with Your blessing but leaving You out of the details. Today, I set You before me always. I invite You into every area of my life—my family, my work, my health, my finances, my future. Be at my right hand, and I will not be moved. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Action Steps:
Identify areas where you have God’s permission but not His presence: List the projects, relationships, or decisions where you’ve stopped involving Him daily.
Practice “setting the Lord before you” this week: Before every decision—big or small—pause and acknowledge His presence. Ask for His guidance.
Don’t wait for crisis: Start involving God now in areas that are currently calm. Build the habit before the storm comes.
Be like the wise prophet: In every endeavor, ask God not just for His blessing but for His company. “Lord, go with me in this.”
MEMORISE And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. Exodus 33:15
READ: Mark 4:35-41
35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. 36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. 37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
RCCG OPEN HEAVENS 28 APRIL 2026 TODAY MESSAGE
Years ago, I travelled to Abonnema in Rivers State, Nigeria, to hold a crusade. At that time, the only way one could get to Abonnema from Port Harcourt, the state capital, was by sea. Shortly before the crusade, we heard that a boat capsized on that sea and many people lost their lives. That news, however, did not deter me, as I had made up my mind to go for the crusade.
I called a meeting with the workers at the RCCG National Headquarters in Ebute Metta and asked for volunteers to accompany me. One of the workers raised his hand and asked me, “Sir, can I be in your boat?” I told him that he could. Then he responded, “That will be good” I asked him why he said so, and he replied that he knew that whatever boat I travelled in would not sink. He had so much confidence in a mere mortal like me because he knew that God is with me.
In today’s Bible reading, the disciples were travelling in a ship with Jesus. After a while, a terrible storm arose, but to their surprise, He remained fast asleep. In fear, they woke Him up, and He stilled the storm. After that, they arrived at their destination safely. This is a testament to the fact that it is a great blessing to have Jesus in the boat of your life!
Beloved, if you are a child of God, Jesus is in your boat as you journey through the waters of life. I know this because He said in Matthew 28:20 that He will be with you at all times. This is why, in the midst of life’s challenges, you must trust the One who is in the boat of your life because He alone has the power to make you victorious. If God is in the boat of your life, no weapon that is fashioned against you will prosper.
If you involve Him in every step you take, you can rest assured that all your endeavours will turn out fine. If you have not yet given your life to Christ, surrender completely to Him today and acknowledge Him as the Controller of your life. When you do this, He will not only begin to direct your ways, but He will also walk with you every step of the way as you journey through life.
KEY POINT:
When Jesus is in your boat, you will overcome every storm.
“And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.” This is one of the most powerful declarations in Scripture. Moses had just been told by God that He would send an angel to lead Israel into the Promised Land. But Moses refused to settle for an angel—he wanted God Himself. He understood that God’s presence was the only thing that distinguished Israel from every other nation. Without God’s presence, success was meaningless. With it, failure was impossible. This verse reveals the heart of a man who knew that God’s presence is the non-negotiable essential for any journey.
BIBLE READING: Mark 4:35-41
This passage records the famous storm on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus had been teaching all day, and when evening came, He said to His disciples, “Let us pass over unto the other side.” They took Him into the ship, just as He was, and began to cross. A great storm arose—so violent that waves beat into the ship, filling it with water. Meanwhile, Jesus was asleep on a pillow in the stern. The disciples, many of them experienced fishermen who knew this sea, were terrified. They woke Jesus, crying, “Master, carest thou not that we perish?” Jesus arose, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still.” The wind ceased, and there was a great calm. Then He asked them, “Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?” This passage demonstrates that having Jesus in your boat doesn’t mean the storm won’t come—it means the storm cannot win.
The Safety of Having Jesus in Your Boat
In today’s devotional, Pastor E.A. Adeboye shares a powerful truth that should bring peace to every believer: if Jesus is in your boat, your boat cannot sink. The storms will come, the waves will rise, but the presence of the Master guarantees your safe arrival.
The Testimony That Shook a Worker
The devotional opens with a remarkable personal testimony. Daddy Adeboye was planning to travel to Abonnema for a crusade, a journey that required crossing a dangerous stretch of water. Just before the trip, news came that a boat had capsized on that same route, drowning many people.
Most people would have cancelled. But Daddy Adeboye had made up his mind to go. He called a meeting at the national headquarters, asking for volunteers to accompany him.
One worker raised his hand and asked a strange question: “Sir, can I be in your boat?”
When told yes, he replied, “That will be good.” Curious, Daddy Adeboye asked why he said that. The worker’s answer revealed extraordinary faith: “I know that whatever boat you travel in would not sink.”
Think about this. A man looked at another mere mortal—a human being just like himself—and declared absolute confidence in his safety. Why? Because he knew that God was with Daddy Adeboye. He understood that the presence of God on a vessel makes that vessel unsinkable.
The Storm That Couldn’t Win
The Bible reading gives us the classic example of this truth. Jesus got into a boat with His disciples to cross the Sea of Galilee. He was physically present with them. Then a storm arose—a violent, life-threatening storm. Waves crashed over the boat. Water poured in. Experienced fishermen who had spent their lives on this sea were terrified.
And Jesus was asleep.
This detail is important. Jesus’ presence didn’t prevent the storm. The storm came even though He was in the boat. But His presence meant the storm had no authority. When He woke and spoke, the wind and waves had to obey. The storm that should have sunk them became the stage for His glory.
The disciples arrived safely at the other side—not because they were good sailors, but because He was in the boat.
What It Means to Have Jesus in Your Boat
Having Jesus in your boat means several things:
1. You Have Divine Presence The worker wanted to be in Daddy Adeboye’s boat not because of who Daddy Adeboye was, but because of Who was with him. When Jesus is in your boat, you carry the presence of the Almighty. You are not alone in your journey.
2. You Have Divine Protection The boat that capsized killed many people. But the worker knew that the boat carrying God’s servant would not sink. Not because the boat was special, but because the Passenger was special. Jesus in your boat means angels guard your path.
3. You Have Divine Authority Over Storms The disciples learned that storms have to obey Jesus. When He is with you, you can speak to your situation with His authority. The wind and waves—whether literal or metaphorical—must bow to His name.
4. You Have Divine Guarantee of Arrival Jesus said, “Let us pass over unto the other side.” He didn’t say, “Let us try to pass over.” He declared the destination. When Jesus is in your boat, your arrival is guaranteed. The storm cannot change His word.
The Difference Between Angel Presence and God Presence
Moses understood something crucial. God offered to send an angel to lead Israel into Canaan. An angel would have been powerful. An angel would have fought their battles. An angel would have guided their steps.
But Moses said no. “If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.”
Why? Because an angel can lead you into battle, but only God’s presence can give you peace. An angel can show you the way, but only God’s presence can make the way safe. An angel can fight for you, but only God’s presence can guarantee victory.
The worker who wanted to be in Daddy Adeboye’s boat understood this instinctively. He didn’t want just any boat—he wanted the boat that carried God’s presence. That was the only safe place to be.
How to Get Jesus in Your Boat
The devotional ends with a clear invitation: if you have not yet given your life to Christ, surrender completely to Him today. Acknowledge Him as the Controller of your life. When you do, He will not only begin to direct your ways, but He will also walk with you every step of the way.
Getting Jesus in your boat is not complicated:
Repent of your sins—turn away from the old life
Receive Him as Lord—acknowledge His authority over you
Follow Him daily—walk with Him in obedience
When you do this, He steps into your boat. And once He’s in, He never leaves. Matthew 28:20 is His promise: “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.”
What to Do When the Storm Comes
If Jesus is in your boat, storms will still come. They came for the disciples. They came for Paul. They will come for you. But here’s what to do:
1. Remember Who Is in Your Boat The disciples forgot. They saw the storm and panicked, even though the Creator of the storm was asleep in their vessel. Don’t let the size of the storm make you forget the greatness of your Passenger.
2. Trust His Timing Jesus slept through the storm. He wasn’t worried. He knew the storm had no authority over Him. When He seems silent, when He seems asleep, trust that He is still in control.
3. Wake Him with Faith The disciples woke Jesus with fear: “Carest thou not that we perish?” Better to wake Him with faith: “Lord, I know You’re in control, but I need You to speak to this situation.” He responds to faith, not panic.
4. Speak to Your Storm When Jesus spoke, the storm stopped. He has given you authority in His name. Speak to your situation. Command the wind and waves to be still.
5. Expect to Arrive Jesus said you’re going to the other side. That’s not a suggestion—it’s a promise. No matter how fierce the storm, you will arrive where He has destined you to go.
Conclusion: Your Boat Cannot Sink
The worker’s declaration should be your confidence today: if Jesus is in your boat, your boat cannot sink. It may rock. It may take on water. It may feel like it’s going under. But it cannot sink.
Why? Because the One who walked on water is in the boat. The One who calms storms with a word is in the boat. The One who holds the universe together is in the boat. And He has promised to bring you to the other side.
So rest in His presence. Trust His power. And keep sailing. Your destination is guaranteed.
Pray this: “Lord Jesus, I invite You into my boat today. Come into my life, my family, my marriage, my business, my future. I surrender control to You. I acknowledge You as the Controller of my life. When storms come, help me remember that You are with me. Speak to my storms and bring me safely to the other side. In Your mighty name, Amen.”
Action Steps:
If you’ve never invited Jesus into your life, do it now. Pray a simple prayer of surrender.
Identify the “boat” areas of your life: Your career, your family, your health, your finances. Consciously invite Jesus into each one.
When storms come, practice the presence of God. Remind yourself out loud: “Jesus is in my boat. This storm cannot win.”
Speak to your storms: Identify one area where a storm is raging and begin to speak Jesus’ words over it: “Peace, be still.”
Rest in His presence: This week, set aside time to simply be still and know that He is God. Let His presence fill your boat.
MEMORISE Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. James 4:10
READ: Psalm 10:17-18 17 Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear: 18 To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 27 APRIL 2026 TODAY MESSAGE
Today, I will conclude the teaching I started two days ago by discussing humility as another way of attracting God’s help. Today’s Bible reading makes us understand that God listens to the desires of the humble and delivers them from every form of oppression. This area of your life, you must be in a state of total surrender to Him. Romans 12:1 says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
When you present your body as a living sacrifice to God, it means that you have surrendered completely to Him, and He now has total control over your life.
In 2 Kings 5:11-12.Naaman was about to lose his miracle because of pride. He felt that a man of his social and financial status should be treated in a special way. If not for the fact that his servants advised him to obey the prophet of the Lord by dipping himself in River Jordan seven times, he probably would have died as a leper.
Child of God, whenever you come before your heavenly Father, do not consider whatever wealth or achievements you might have. Rather, you should always approach the Almighty God in total surrender so you can receive His help. I have walked with God for some decades now, and one of the things I can say about Him is that He hates pride. In fact, He said in James 4:6 that He resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. This tells us that God is always quick to help the humble.
David’s humility made him enjoy God’s help countless times in his lifetime. He never argued with God; rather, he saw himself as a mere work of creation before Him (Psalm 8:4). As a result, God continued to help him until he died at a good old age, full of riches and honour (1 Chronicles 29:28).
Beloved, if you want God to arise for your help, you must surrender your life totally to Him. You must acknowledge Him as the Owner and Controller of your life, and when you go before Him in prayers, you must totally disregard your social or financial status. With utmost humility in your heart, make your requests known to God, and I can assure you that He will arise and help you, even beyond your wildest imagination.
KEY POINT:
Pride is a major hindrance to attracting God’s help.
“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” This verse contains one of the most direct promises in Scripture. It links humility with elevation. But notice the order: first humbling, then lifting. Not the other way around. We don’t get lifted so we can be humble—we humble ourselves, and God does the lifting. The humbling is our part; the lifting is His. And the promise is certain: when we humble ourselves, He shall lift us up. Not maybe, not sometimes—shall.
BIBLE READING: Psalm 10:17-18
“LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear: To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.” This passage reveals God’s special attention to the humble. It says He hears their desires—not just their words, but the deepest longings of their hearts. He prepares their hearts, making them ready to receive. He causes His ear to hear them, giving them His full attention. And He acts on their behalf, judging those who oppress them. The humble are not overlooked; they are the focus of God’s delivering power.
The Humility That Attracts Divine Help
In today’s devotional, Pastor E.A. Adeboye concludes his series on attracting God’s help with the most important quality of all: humility. Without humility, your cries for help may go unanswered. Without humility, your service may go unrewarded. But when you humble yourself before God, you position yourself for His lifting power.
What Humility Really Means
The devotional defines humility not as thinking less of yourself, but as total surrender to God. It’s presenting your body as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1)—holy, acceptable, completely available to God. It’s acknowledging that He is the Owner and Controller of your life, not you.
This kind of humility means:
You don’t argue with God’s instructions
You don’t insist on your own way
You don’t bring your status or achievements before Him as bargaining chips
You come empty-handed, desperate, dependent
Naaman: The Miracle Almost Lost to Pride
The story of Naaman is a powerful warning about what pride can cost you. Naaman was a great man—commander of the Syrian army, wealthy, respected, victorious. But he was a leper. When he came to Elisha for healing, he expected special treatment. He expected the prophet to come out, wave his hand over the leprosy, and call on God dramatically.
Instead, Elisha sent a messenger with a simple instruction: “Go and wash in Jordan seven times.”
Naaman was furious. He said, “Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.” He expected a performance. He expected recognition of his status. Instead, he got a command to dip in a muddy river.
His pride almost cost him his miracle. He turned away in rage, ready to go back home still leprous. But his servants—bless them—approached him humbly and said, “My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?”
Naaman listened. He humbled himself, went down to the Jordan, dipped seven times, and came out with skin like that of a little child.
The lesson is clear: pride blocks miracles; humility opens the door.
God’s War on Pride
Daddy Adeboye states plainly: “He hates pride.” This is not an overstatement. Scripture is filled with God’s opposition to the proud:
Proverbs 6:16-17 lists “a proud look” as the first of seven things God hates
Proverbs 16:5 says, “Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD”
James 4:6 declares, “God resisteth the proud”
1 Peter 5:5 repeats, “God resisteth the proud”
The word “resisteth” is strong—it means God sets Himself in opposition to the proud. He actively works against them. If you are proud, you are not just missing out on God’s help—you are facing His resistance.
But to the humble, He gives grace. He gives help. He gives favour.
David: A Model of Humility
The devotional points to David as an example of someone who enjoyed God’s help throughout his life because of his humility. Despite being a king, a warrior, a psalmist, David never forgot his place before God.
In Psalm 8:4, he wrote: “What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?” He saw himself as a mere work of creation, amazed that the Creator would pay attention to him.
When the ark of God was brought to Jerusalem, David danced before the Lord with all his might, wearing a linen ephod—not his royal robes. When his wife Michal despised him for it, he replied, “It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father… Therefore will I play before the LORD, and I will yet be more vile than thus” (2 Samuel 6:21-22). He was willing to be even more undignified in his worship.
Because of this humility, God helped David continually. He died at a good old age, full of riches and honour. His humility opened the door for a lifetime of divine assistance.
How to Practice Humility Before God
1. Present Your Body as a Living Sacrifice Romans 12:1 calls this your “reasonable service.” It means giving God complete control over your life—your time, your resources, your plans, your relationships, your future. You are no longer the owner; you are the steward.
2. Come Empty-Handed Before Him When you pray, don’t bring your resume. Don’t remind God of your achievements, your status, your wealth. Come as a beggar in need of bread. The ground is level at the cross.
3. Obey Without Arguing Naaman almost lost his miracle because he argued with God’s instructions. When God tells you to do something—even if it seems beneath you, even if it doesn’t make sense—obey. Humility says, “Your word is final.”
4. Accept Lowly Positions Jesus washed feet. David danced in an ephod. The greatest in the kingdom are the servants of all. Don’t be too important to serve, to clean, to help, to be unnoticed.
5. Welcome Correction The humble person can receive rebuke. Naaman’s servants corrected him, and he listened. When someone speaks truth to you—even if they are beneath you socially—receive it. It may save your miracle.
What Pride Costs You
The devotional implies several costs of pride:
Lost miracles: Like Naaman almost experienced
God’s resistance: Active opposition from heaven
Unanswered prayers: God hears the humble, but the proud He knows afar off
Stolen blessing: What should have been yours goes to someone more humble
What Humility Gains You
Conversely, humility brings:
God’s attention: He hears the desire of the humble
God’s help: He is quick to help the humble
God’s lifting: He raises the humble in due time
Sustained blessing: Like David, you can end your life full of honour
The Surrender That Attracts Help
The devotional emphasizes that humility is not just an attitude—it’s an action. It’s presenting your body as a living sacrifice. It’s total surrender. It’s saying to God, “I am Yours completely. Do with me as You please.”
This kind of surrender is what attracts God’s help because it removes the biggest obstacle to His work: you. When you stop trying to control things, God can take control. When you stop leaning on your own understanding, He can direct your paths. When you stop trusting in your status, He can fight your battles.
Conclusion: Humble Yourself and Be Lifted
The promise is clear: humble yourself, and He shall lift you up. Not in your timing, but in His. Not in your way, but in His. But the lifting is certain.
Naaman humbled himself and was lifted from leprosy to health.
David humbled himself and was lifted from shepherd to king.
You humble yourself, and God will lift you from your situation to His solution.
Don’t let pride rob you of your miracle. Don’t let your status keep you from your blessing. Lay it all down. Come empty. Come humbly. Come surrendered. And watch what God does.
Pray this: “Father, I come before You in humility. I lay down my status, my achievements, my pride. I present my body as a living sacrifice to You. I surrender completely—my life, my family, my future, my all. I don’t come with demands; I come with empty hands. Lift me up, Lord, in Your time and Your way. I receive Your grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Action Steps:
Examine your pride: Ask the Holy Spirit to show you areas where pride is operating—in your prayers, your service, your relationships. Confess them.
Practice humility this week: Find a task that is beneath you and do it cheerfully. Serve someone who cannot repay you. Accept a correction without defensiveness.
Come empty to prayer: Before you pray this week, pause and remind yourself that you are coming before the Creator of the universe. Lay aside your titles and achievements.
Memorize James 4:10: Write it down, put it where you’ll see it, and declare it daily: “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”
MEMORISE With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Ephesians 6:7
READ: Genesis 18:1-10
1 And the Lord appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day; 2 And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground, 3 And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant: 4 Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree: 5 And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said.
6 And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth. 7 And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetcht a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it. 8 And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat. 9 And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent. 10 And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him.
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 26 APRIL 2026 TODAY MESSAGE
Today, I will be discussing how God’s children can attract His help by serving Him willingly, joyfully, and wholeheartedly.
In today’s Bible reading, when Abraham saw three men passing by his tent, he ran to meet them and invited them to take a break from their journey by resting under the shade of a nearby tree. Even though they were complete strangers, he voluntarily offered to host them, and by so doing, he unknowingly hosted God’s presence. Abraham’s hospitality must have prompted God to arise for him and heal the barrenness he was experiencing in his marriage. Those who serve God voluntarily always attract His help.
One day, someone asked me, “Sir, what do you think about instrumentalists who insist on being paid by churches before they minister with their instruments? Should they be paid?” I replied, “No one pays for the same service twice. If they insist on being paid before they minister, the church should pay them. However, they should not expect any special blessing from God for their service because the church has already paid them.” If a fellow insists on being paid to serve God, such a fellow should not expect any special help from God on account of that service. A son who asks his father to pay him before he will wash the father’s car cannot expect to enjoy the same benefits as the one who serves the father willingly and joyfully.
One of the reasons I enjoy God’s help today is that | left everything to serve Him when there was nothing enticing, humanly speaking, about working for Him.
There is a difference between serving man and serving God. With a man, it is possible for a fellow to get away with eye service and even get promoted, even though he or she is not serving willingly from the heart. However, God sees the heart, and if anyone serves Him unwillingly, не does not owe such a person any reward.
And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly love you, the less I be loved. 2 Corinthians 12:15
In the Scripture above, Apostle Paul expressed his willingness to spend and be spent for the work of God, not only because he loved God but also because he loved the people whom God had sent him to.
Beloved, if you want to attract God’s help, serve Him willingly and wholeheartedly. He is faithful, and He will never forget your labour of love (Hebrews 6:10).
KEY POINT:
Those who serve God willingly, joyfully, and wholeheartedly will attract His help and blessings.
“With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men.” This verse captures the heart of true service. It’s not about what you do, but the attitude behind it. Paul instructs us to serve “with good will”—willingly, cheerfully, from the heart. And the key is the audience: we serve “as to the Lord, and not to men.” When your service is directed to God, human recognition becomes irrelevant. You don’t need applause, payment, or promotion because you’re serving the One who sees in secret and rewards openly. This is the kind of service that attracts divine help.
BIBLE READING: Genesis 18:1-10
This passage records one of the most remarkable hospitality stories in Scripture. Abraham was sitting at his tent door in the heat of the day when he saw three men standing nearby. He immediately ran to meet them, bowed himself to the ground, and begged them to stay for refreshment. He offered water to wash their feet, rest under the tree, and bread to comfort their hearts. He then hurried to Sarah to prepare cakes, ran to the herd to choose a tender calf, and had it prepared. He stood by them under the tree while they ate, treating them like royalty. After the meal, one of the visitors—revealed to be the LORD Himself—said, “I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son.” This passage demonstrates that willing, joyful, wholehearted service to others can open the door for God to visit you with your miracle.
The Service That Attracts Divine Help
In today’s devotional, Pastor E.A. Adeboye continues his teaching on how to attract God’s help. He moves from crying out to God to serving God willingly and wholeheartedly. This is not about earning salvation—it’s about positioning yourself for the overflow of God’s blessing through a heart of service.
Abraham: The Man Who Served Strangers and Met God
The Bible reading gives us the classic example of Abraham’s hospitality. Notice the details:
He ran to meet them—urgency in service
He bowed to the ground—humility in service
He begged them to stay—persistence in service
He offered water for their feet—practical service
He promised bread to comfort their hearts—thoughtful service
He hurried to Sarah—involving others in service
He ran to the herd—sacrificial service (a tender calf was valuable)
He stood by them while they ate—attentive service
Abraham didn’t know these men were divine visitors. As far as he knew, they were just travelers passing by in the heat of the day. But he treated them like kings. He gave his best, his time, his resources, his attention—all to strangers.
And what was the result? God visited him with the impossible. Sarah, barren for decades, past the age of childbearing, received the promise of a son. The willing servant became the recipient of a miracle.
The Difference Between Paid Service and Willing Service
Daddy Adeboye addresses a practical question that reveals a deep spiritual principle: Should church instrumentalists be paid?
His answer is profound: “No one pays for the same service twice. If they insist on being paid before they minister, the church should pay them. However, they should not expect any special blessing from God for their service because the church has already paid them.”
This doesn’t mean it’s wrong to receive payment for work done in ministry. The Bible says the labourer is worthy of his hire. But it reveals a principle: when you serve for payment, you receive payment. When you serve willingly, you position yourself for divine reward.
A son who asks his father to pay him before washing the car cannot expect the same benefits as the son who serves willingly. The paid son gets money. The willing son gets a relationship, favour, and access.
Eye Service vs. Heart Service
The devotional makes a crucial distinction between serving man and serving God. When you serve man, you can sometimes get away with eye service—working hard only when the boss is watching, slacking off when no one sees. You might even get promoted based on appearances.
But God sees the heart. You cannot fool Him with eye service. He knows whether you serve willingly or grudgingly. He knows whether your heart is in it or not. And if you serve unwillingly, He does not owe you any reward.
This is sobering. It means that much of what we call “service” in the church may earn us nothing in heaven if our hearts are not in it. The songs we sing without feeling, the duties we perform without joy, the hours we put in without love—God sees it all, and He responds accordingly.
Paul’s Example of Willing Sacrifice
The devotional quotes 2 Corinthians 12:15, where Paul declares: “And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.”
Notice the key words:
Gladly—not grudgingly
Spend and be spent—not holding back
Though the less I be loved—not dependent on response
Paul served not because people appreciated him, but because he loved God and loved the people God sent him to. His service was not conditional on their gratitude. He served willingly even when his love was not returned.
This is the level of service that attracts God’s attention. When you serve without expecting anything back—not payment, not praise, not appreciation—you create a debt that only God can repay. And He always pays His debts.
Why Willing Service Attracts God’s Help
1. It Reflects God’s Own Heart God is a willing Giver. He didn’t send Jesus grudgingly. He doesn’t bless reluctantly. When we serve willingly, we reflect His nature, and He is drawn to those who reflect Him.
2. It Demonstrates Trust When you serve without demanding payment or recognition, you’re showing that you trust God to be your reward. You’re not depending on human provision for your motivation. This kind of trust moves His heart.
3. It Positions You for Blessing Abraham served strangers and received a son. The widow of Zarephath served Elijah and received endless flour and oil. The Shunammite woman served Elisha and received a child. Service positions you on the pathway of blessing.
4. It Opens Doors You Cannot Open When you serve willingly, God becomes obligated—not because you earned it, but because He is faithful. Hebrews 6:10 says, “God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love.” He keeps records. He remembers. He repays.
How to Serve Willingly
1. Check Your Heart Before you serve, ask yourself: Why am I doing this? Am I seeking recognition? Am I hoping for something in return? Or am I doing it as unto the Lord? Adjust your heart before you lift your hand.
2. Serve Without Conditions Don’t say, “I’ll serve if I get this position” or “I’ll help if they appreciate me.” Serve because you love God. Serve because it’s who you are. Serve without strings attached.
3. Give Your Best Abraham gave a tender calf—the best he had. Don’t give God your leftovers—your leftover time, leftover energy, leftover resources. Give your best, and He will notice.
4. Be Attentive Like Abraham Abraham stood by while the visitors ate. He was present, available, attentive. When you serve, be fully there. Don’t multitask your way through ministry. Be present with God and with people.
5. Involve Others Abraham got Sarah involved. Willing service is contagious. When you serve joyfully, you draw others into the joy of serving with you.
What Kind of Service Attracts Help?
The devotional applies to every form of service:
Church work: Ushering, cleaning, teaching, singing
Helping others: Visiting the sick, feeding the poor, encouraging the downcast
Prayer ministry: Interceding for others, standing in the gap
Hospitality: Opening your home, feeding guests, hosting strangers
Whatever form your service takes, do it willingly, joyfully, as unto the Lord.
Conclusion: Your Service Is Not in Vain
You may serve in obscurity. You may give when no one notices. You may work when no one appreciates you. But God sees. God remembers. God repays.
Abraham didn’t know he was serving angels, but God knew. The strangers didn’t know they were bringing a miracle, but God did. Your service today may be opening the door for your visitation tomorrow.
Keep serving. Serve willingly. Serve joyfully. Serve as unto the Lord. And watch what God does.
Pray this: “Father, forgive me for the times I have served grudgingly, seeking recognition or reward. Create in me a willing heart. Let me serve You and Your people with joy, as unto You alone. I don’t need payment or praise—You are my reward. Use my hands, my time, my resources for Your glory. And as I serve, visit me with Your blessing. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Action Steps:
Examine your service: This week, look at everything you do for God and others. Check your heart. Are you serving willingly or grudgingly?
Find one hidden service: Look for something that needs to be done that no one else wants to do—and do it cheerfully, without telling anyone.
Serve someone who cannot repay you: Visit a shut-in, help a struggling family, encourage someone who has nothing to give back. Let your service be pure.
Thank those who serve you: Recognize the willing servants in your life—your pastor, your ushers, your volunteers—and encourage them with your appreciation.
MEMORISE But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: thou art my help and my deliverer; O LORD, make no tarrying. Psalm 70:5
READ: 2 Kings 6:1-7
1 And the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell with thee is too strait for us. 2 Let us go, we pray thee, unto Jordan, and take thence every man a beam, and let us make us a place there, where we may dwell. And he answered, Go ye. 3 And one said, Be content, I pray thee, and go with thy servants. And he answered, I will go. 4 So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood.
5 But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water: and he cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed. 6 And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he shewed him the place. And he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither; and the iron did swim. 7 Therefore said he, Take it up to thee. And he put out his hand, and took it.
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 25 APRIL 2026 TODAY MESSAGE
It is very important for children of God to know the things they can do to attract God’s help. The Bible is filled with several accounts of how people attracted God’s help, and over the next few days, l will be discussing some of these accounts and things you can do to attract divine help.
In today’s Bible reading, the sons of the prophets were felling wood by River Jordan when the axe head of the axe that one of them was using fell into the river. The man cried to the man of God for help, and God stepped in to remedy the situation. God helps those who cry to Him for help.
In Psalm 3:4, David said, “I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill.” Also, in Mark 10:46-52, Bartimaeus cried out to Jesus, and despite attempts by some people around him to shut him up, he refused to be silenced. As a result of his persistent cries for help, Jesus had mercy on him, and he received his sight.
Sometimes, when I see people praying nonchalantly, I wonder if they really want God’s help. If you really want to receive help from the only One who can truly come to your aid, you must shun pride and approach Him humbly for help. 2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
I remember when I just joined The Redeemed Christian Church of God. During a service, somebody on the altar said, “Praise the Lord,” and the fellow who was sitting beside me shouted ‘Hallelujah’ so loudly that I almost ran out of the church.
Beloved, don’t let anything prevent you from being fervent in the things of God. When it is time to praise Him, dance with all the strength within you. Also, when it is time to pray, let your focus be on Him alone. When you are in the presence of your Maker, nothing else should matter. Believe me, God is still in the business of performing miracles as He did in the days of old. If you humbly cry out to Him in prayers, He will indeed arise to help you.
ACTION POINT:
Call on God fervently today, and ask Him to come to your aid in all areas where you need His help.
“But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: thou art my help and my deliverer; O LORD, make no tarrying.” This verse captures the heart cry of someone who knows their desperate need for God. David doesn’t pretend to be self-sufficient. He openly declares his poverty and need. He doesn’t demand that God help him—he humbly asks. And he asks urgently: “make haste,” “make no tarrying.” This is not a casual prayer—it is the cry of someone who knows that without God’s intervention, they are lost. This is the kind of prayer that attracts divine help.
BIBLE READING: 2 Kings 6:1-7
This passage records a seemingly small miracle that reveals a great truth about God’s help. The sons of the prophets were building a larger dwelling place near the Jordan River. As they were cutting down trees, one man’s axe head fell into the water. This was a crisis because the axe was borrowed. In those days, an iron axe head was a valuable tool—losing one was a serious matter, especially since it belonged to someone else. The man cried out to Elisha, “Alas, my master! for it was borrowed.” Elisha asked where it fell, cut a stick, threw it in, and made the iron float. The man reached out and took it. This passage demonstrates that God cares about every detail of our lives—even lost tools—and He responds to the cry of those who call out to Him.
How to Attract Divine Help
In today’s devotional, Pastor E.A. Adeboye begins a new series on the things that attract God’s help. He starts with the most fundamental of all: crying out to God. Not casual praying, not religious routine, but desperate, humble, persistent crying out to the only One who can truly help.
The Axe Head That Sank
The Bible reading gives us a simple but profound story. A group of prophets were cutting wood by the Jordan River. They were engaged in honest work, expanding their living space, serving God with their hands. But in the middle of their labor, disaster struck: an axe head flew off its handle and sank into the river.
This was not just an inconvenience. The man cried out, “Alas, my master! for it was borrowed.” The axe wasn’t his. He was responsible for returning it. Losing it would bring shame, debt, and difficulty. He was in trouble.
Notice what he did: he cried out. He didn’t try to dive in and find it himself. He didn’t pretend it didn’t matter. He didn’t hope the problem would go away. He went straight to the man of God and cried for help.
And God responded. Elisha threw a stick into the water, and the iron floated. The man reached out and took it. What was lost was found. What was sunk was raised.
The Cry That Cannot Be Ignored
The devotional gives other examples of people whose cries attracted God’s help:
David said in Psalm 3:4, “I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill.” David was a king, a warrior, a man after God’s own heart. But when trouble came, he didn’t rely on his status or his army. He cried out to God.
Bartimaeus was a blind beggar sitting by the road when Jesus passed by. When he heard it was Jesus, he began to cry out, “Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.” The crowd tried to silence him. They told him to be quiet. But he cried out even more. And Jesus stopped. He called for the man and gave him sight. His persistent cry overcame the crowd’s resistance and attracted the Master’s attention.
The Problem with Nonchalant Prayer
Daddy Adeboye makes a striking observation: “Sometimes, when I see people praying nonchalantly, I wonder if they really want God’s help.”
Nonchalant prayer is prayer without passion. It’s going through the motions without engaging the heart. It’s saying words without meaning them. It’s asking God for things while mentally checking out.
God is not impressed by eloquent prayers or religious routines. He is moved by desperate hearts. When you truly need something from God, it shows in how you pray. There is an urgency, a fervency, a focus that cannot be faked.
The Humility That Opens Heaven
The devotional quotes 2 Chronicles 7:14, which outlines the conditions for God to hear from heaven:
Humble themselves: Acknowledge that you cannot help yourself
Pray: Actually talk to God about your need
Seek His face: Pursue His presence, not just His hand
Turn from wicked ways: Repent of anything that blocks His blessing
Humility is the foundation. You cannot cry out to God while maintaining pride. You cannot acknowledge your desperate need while pretending to be self-sufficient. The cry for help only comes from those who know they cannot make it alone.
The Fervency That Moves Mountains
The devotional ends with a personal memory from Daddy Adeboye’s early days in RCCG. During a service, someone on the altar said, “Praise the Lord,” and the person sitting beside him shouted “Hallelujah!” so loudly that he almost ran out of the church.
That kind of fervency might seem excessive to some. It might seem undignified. But God is not looking for dignified worship—He is looking for heartfelt worship. When you are in the presence of your Maker, nothing else should matter.
When it’s time to praise, praise with all your strength.
When it’s time to pray, pray with all your focus.
When it’s time to cry out, cry out with all your heart.
How to Cry Out Effectively
1. Recognize Your Need The man with the axe head knew he was in trouble. David admitted he was poor and needy. Bartimaeus knew he was blind. You cannot cry out for help if you don’t know you need it. Be honest about your situation.
2. Be Specific The man told Elisha exactly what happened—the axe head fell in the river. Bartimaeus was specific—he wanted to receive his sight. Don’t give God vague prayers. Tell Him exactly what you need.
3. Be Persistent Bartimaeus cried out even when the crowd told him to be quiet. The more they tried to silence him, the louder he cried. Don’t let opposition—whether from people, circumstances, or the enemy—stop your cry.
4. Be Humble The man didn’t demand that Elisha help him. He cried, “Alas, my master!” He acknowledged his dependence. Approach God not as someone entitled to His help, but as someone desperate for His mercy.
5. Be Fervent Nonchalant prayer doesn’t work. If you really want God’s help, let your prayer show it. Put your heart into it. Let your voice reflect your desperation.
What Kind of Help Do You Need?
The devotional applies to every kind of need:
Lost opportunities that need to be recovered like the axe head
Blindness that needs sight like Bartimaeus
Enemies that need deliverance like David
Borrowed things that need restoration
Impossible situations that need divine intervention
Whatever your need, the path is the same: cry out to God.
The God Who Hears Cries
The memory verse says, “Make haste unto me, O God.” David wasn’t afraid to ask God to hurry. He knew that God is not offended by urgent prayers. He is not bothered by desperate requests. He is moved by them.
The God who made iron float for a crying prophet is the same God today. The God who stopped for a crying beggar is the same God today. The God who heard David’s cry from the hill is the same God today.
He still hears. He still responds. He still helps.
Conclusion: Cry Out and Keep Crying
The man with the axe head cried once and received his miracle. Bartimaeus cried persistently and received his sight. David cried and was heard.
Your cry may need to be once. It may need to be persistent. But either way, the key is to cry out. Don’t suffer in silence. Don’t pretend you don’t need help. Don’t let pride or fear keep you quiet.
Open your mouth. Lift your voice. Cry out to the only One who can truly help. And watch what He does.
Pray this: “Father, I come to You as someone poor and needy. I cannot help myself. I cannot fix my situation. I cry out to You for help. Hear my cry, O God. Make haste to help me. Let nothing silence my prayer. I will cry out until You answer. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Action Steps:
Identify your need: What is the one thing you most need God’s help with right now? Be specific.
Set aside time for desperate prayer: This week, find a place where you can be alone and cry out to God without distraction. Let your prayer be fervent, not nonchalant.
Refuse to be silenced: If people or circumstances try to discourage your prayer, cry out even more. Your persistence will be rewarded.
Combine crying with turning: According to 2 Chronicles 7:14, crying out must be accompanied by turning from wicked ways. Examine your life and repent of anything blocking your prayers.
MEMORISE Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited US, Luke 1:78
READ: Psalm 65:9-13
9 Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it. 10 Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly: thou settlest the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers: thou blessest the springing thereof. 11 Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness. 12 They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness: and the little hills rejoice on every side. 13 The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing.
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 24 APRIL 2026 TODAY MESSAGE
Years ago, I travelled to Port Harcourt, a city in the South-South region of Nigeria, to hold a crusade, and God specifically told me who I was to stay with.
I obeyed the Lord, but I wondered why He chose this person because he was not a member of our church; we were just acquaintances, and I had many spiritual children I could have stayed with in that city. When I arrived at the fellow’s home, he treated me like a king. He also introduced me to his children, and I got on very well with them. One of them clung to me closely, and I started calling him my friend.
On the second day of the crusade, I was preparing to go to the crusade venue when my host drove in from his children’s school. I saw his other children with him, but I didn’t see the one I called my friend, so I asked after him.
To my shock, he replied, “Your friend is in the hospital, dying.” He added that he would not have told me if I had not asked, because he saw that I was preparing to go to the crusade venue. Immediately, God told me, “This is why I asked you to stay here.” I then said to him, “We will go to the hospital first. The crusade will wait.”
We went to the hospital, and I saw the boy sweating profusely even though he was completely naked in an air-conditioned room. I was told at that point that he had been poisoned in school. As I looked at the doctor, he signalled to me that there was no hope for the boy. Since God had earlier told me that He orchestrated my stay with the family for that reason, I simply said a short prayer and left for the crusade.
After the crusade, I returned to the man’s house, and as I was settling in, he drove in with my friend. He had been discharged from the hospital!
Beloved, as you see in today’s Bible reading, many good things will happen to you when God visits you. However, He cannot visit you and give you those good things if you have not given your life to Jesus Christ. If you are not yet born again, accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour and surrender your life completely to Him. When you do this, He will make you a part of His family and visit you with many tremendous blessings.
“Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us.” This verse speaks of the coming of Jesus as the “dayspring”—the sunrise, the dawn, the breaking of a new day. It tells us that God’s visitation is not harsh or angry but flows from His “tender mercy.” When God visits, it is like the sun rising after a long night. Darkness scatters, warmth returns, and life springs forth. His visitation is always an expression of His compassionate heart toward His children.
BIBLE READING: Psalm 65:9-13
This passage is a beautiful description of God’s visitation upon the earth. It speaks of how He visits the land and waters it, enriching it greatly with the river of God full of water. He prepares the earth for crops, watering its furrows, settling its ridges, softening it with showers, and blessing its growth. The result is abundance: the pastures are clothed with flocks, the valleys are covered with corn, and everything shouts for joy and sings. This passage reveals that God’s visitation brings provision, fruitfulness, and joy. When He visits, barren places become fruitful, dry places become watered, and silent places break into song.
The Divine Appointment Behind Every Miracle
In today’s devotional, Pastor E.A. Adeboye shares a powerful personal testimony that reveals a profound truth: God often arranges our circumstances not just for our own blessing, but so that we can be channels of His blessing to others. His visitations are purposeful, and He positions us in specific places at specific times to accomplish specific miracles.
The Mysterious Instruction
The story begins with a seemingly simple instruction from God. Daddy Adeboye was travelling to Port Harcourt for a crusade, and God specifically told him who to stay with during his visit. This was puzzling because the person was not a member of the church—just an acquaintance. There were many spiritual children in that city who would have been honoured to host him. Why would God choose this particular man?
But Daddy Adeboye obeyed. He stayed where God told him to stay.
When he arrived, the host treated him like royalty. He introduced him to his children, and one of them—a particular boy—formed a close bond with Daddy Adeboye. They became friends, and Daddy Adeboye affectionately called him “my friend.”
The Crisis Revealed
On the second day of the crusade, Daddy Adeboye was preparing to leave for the venue when his host drove in from his children’s school. He saw the other children but not his special friend. He asked, “Where is my friend?”
The answer was devastating: “Your friend is in the hospital, dying.”
The host explained that he hadn’t planned to tell him because he saw Daddy Adeboye preparing for the crusade. He didn’t want to interrupt the ministry. But Daddy Adeboye had asked, and now the truth was out.
The boy had been poisoned at school. He was in the hospital, fighting for his life.
The Moment of Understanding
Then God spoke: “This is why I asked you to stay here.”
Suddenly, everything made sense. The mysterious instruction, the choice of host, the friendship with the boy—God had been arranging a divine appointment for deliverance. He knew the attack was coming before it happened, and He positioned His servant in exactly the right place at exactly the right time.
Daddy Adeboye immediately said, “We will go to the hospital first. The crusade will wait.”
At the hospital, the scene was dire. The boy was sweating profusely even though he was completely naked in an air-conditioned room. The poison was ravaging his body. The doctor’s expression said it all: there was no hope. Medically, the case was closed.
But Daddy Adeboye knew why he was there. He simply said a short prayer and left for the crusade.
After the service, he returned to the house. As he was settling in, his host drove in with the boy. He had been discharged. Alive. Healed. Restored.
The Pattern of Divine Visitation
This testimony reveals several important truths about how God’s visitation works:
1. God Knows the Future Before the boy was poisoned, God knew it would happen. Before the crisis came, God had already arranged the solution. He positioned Daddy Adeboye in that house days in advance. This means that God is never caught off guard by your emergency. He has already prepared your deliverance.
2. Obedience Unlocks Protection If Daddy Adeboye had chosen his own lodging—perhaps staying with one of his spiritual children for convenience or comfort—he would not have been in the right place when the crisis hit. His obedience to God’s specific instruction positioned him to be the channel of healing. Your obedience today may be preparing your deliverance for tomorrow.
3. God Uses Relationships The boy had bonded with Daddy Adeboye. They had become friends. This relationship wasn’t accidental—it was part of God’s plan. When the crisis came, there was already a connection, a love, a concern that made intervention natural. God often works through the relationships He builds.
4. Ministry Can Wait, But Miracles Cannot Daddy Adeboye was willing to delay the crusade to go to the hospital. He understood that saving a life was more important than keeping a schedule. Sometimes we are so focused on “ministry” that we miss the divine appointments right in front of us.
5. God’s Power Overrides Medical Verdicts The doctor had given up. Medicine had failed. But God’s visitation overruled the prognosis. The boy who was dying came home alive. When God visits, human hopelessness becomes irrelevant.
What Happens When God Visits
The Bible reading in Psalm 65 describes the results of God’s visitation on the land:
The earth is watered: Dry places receive rain
Furrows are settled: Chaos becomes order
Ridges are softened: Hard places become pliable
Crops are blessed: Barrenness becomes fruitfulness
Pastures are clothed: Nakedness becomes covering
Valleys are covered: Emptiness becomes abundance
Everything sings: Silence becomes praise
This is what happens when God visits a person, a family, a church, or a nation. Everything changes for the better.
The Prerequisite for Visitation
The devotional ends with a crucial point: God cannot visit you with these blessings if you have not given your life to Jesus Christ. His visitation is reserved for His children. The blessings described in Psalm 65—provision, fruitfulness, joy—flow from a relationship with Him.
If you are not yet born again, today’s message is an invitation. Accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. Surrender your life completely to Him. When you do, He makes you part of His family. And as a child of God, you become eligible for His visitations—the divine appointments, the timely interventions, the miraculous deliverances.
How to Position Yourself for Visitation
Be Born Again: This is the foundation. You cannot experience the fullness of God’s visitation outside of a relationship with Him through Jesus Christ.
Obey Specific Instructions: God told Daddy Adeboye exactly where to stay. He may give you specific directions too. Obey them, even when they don’t make sense.
Build Relationships: The boy became “my friend.” Invest in the relationships God brings into your life. You never know which one will be the channel of your miracle.
Prioritize People Over Programs: Daddy Adeboye was willing to delay the crusade for one dying boy. Don’t be so busy with “ministry” that you miss the person God has placed before you.
Trust Even When Doctors Give Up: The medical report said no hope. God’s visitation said otherwise. Hold on to God’s word, not human prognoses.
Conclusion: Your Visitation Is Arranged
The boy in this testimony didn’t know that days before his poisoning, God was already arranging his rescue. The host didn’t know that his hospitality was positioning him for a miracle. Daddy Adeboye didn’t know why God chose that particular house until the crisis hit.
You may not understand your current circumstances. You may not know why God has placed you where you are, connected you to certain people, or given you specific instructions. But He knows. He sees the future. He has already arranged your visitation.
When the crisis comes – and it may come – you will discover that God was there first. He prepared your deliverance before your problem arrived.
Pray this: “Father, I thank You that You know the future and have already prepared my deliverance. Thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who makes me part of Your family. Help me to obey Your instructions, even when I don’t understand them. Position me for divine appointments. Use me to be a blessing to others, and let me receive Your visitation in every area of my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Action Steps:
If you are not born again, make that decision today. Pray a simple prayer, surrendering your life to Jesus Christ.
Review your current circumstances: Is there a situation you don’t understand? A relationship that seems random? An instruction you’ve been resisting? Consider that God may be arranging your visitation.
Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit: He may be prompting you to go somewhere, call someone, or do something that seems unrelated to your current need. Obey.
Build your relationships: Invest time in the people God has placed around you. You never know who will be the channel of your miracle—or whose miracle you will be.
Keep trusting: Even when doctors, experts, and circumstances say there’s no hope, hold on to the God who visits with tender mercy.
MEMORISE Thou hast granted me life and favour, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. Job 10:12
READ: 1 Samuel 16:1-13
1 And the Lord said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons. 2 And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the Lord said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the Lord. 3 And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee. 4 And Samuel did that which the Lord spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably? 5 And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the Lord: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.
6 And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him. 7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lordlooketh on the heart. 8 Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the Lord chosen this. 9 Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the Lord chosen this.
10 Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The Lord hath not chosen these. 11 And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither. 12 And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the Lord said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he. 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 23 APRIL 2026 TODAY MESSAGE
Today’s memory verse shows that God’s visitation brings life and preservation. When God visits a fellow, things begin to change positively in his or her life. His visitation always leaves a lasting mark in the lives of those He Visits.
In today’s Bible reading, God told Samuel to go to Jesse’s house to anoint the next king. When he got there, Jesse presented all his sons to him, except David. This shows the extent to which David was disregarded by his own family. However, the Almighty God had arranged a divine visitation for David while he was busy looking after his father’s sheep. God instructed Samuel to anoint him in the presence of his family members, and from that day on, things began to change positively in his life.
And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, l am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. Genesis 28:13-14
In the Scripture above, the Almighty God visited Jacob, and from that day on, the blessings of the Lord became evident in his life. He became prosperous and continued to find favour in the sight of God and man.
When God visited Sarah, she laughed for joy, and those who heard her story rejoiced with her (Genesis 21:1-6). God also visited Hannah, and her years of barrenness and sorrow vanished (1 Samuel 1:19-20). Likewise, when He visited Joseph, his years of suffering, slavery, and hardship vanished overnight; he woke up as a prisoner but ended the day as Pharaoh’s second-in-command (Genesis 41:14, 41-44). The day God visited the man at the pool of Bethesda was the day he walked. Before then, he had been paralysed for 38 years (John 5:1-2).
Beloved, my Daddy specialises in making the impossible possible. If you are stuck in what seems like a hopeless situation, cry out to Him today and ask for a divine visitation. Inasmuch as you are His child, He will heed your cry and cause a positive turnaround in your life. I pray that God will visit you today, and every impossibility in your life will become possible, in Jesus’ name.
PRAYER POINT:
Father, please visit me and everything that concerns me, in Jesus’ name.
“Thou hast granted me life and favour, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit.” This verse captures the essence of what happens when God visits a person. Job acknowledges that his very life and the favour he enjoys are gifts from God. But the most powerful phrase is “thy visitation hath preserved my spirit.” God’s visitation is not just a nice experience—it is preservation. It keeps your spirit alive when circumstances want to kill it. It maintains your sanity when madness threatens. It holds you together when everything else is falling apart.
BIBLE READING: 1 Samuel 16:1-13
This passage records the anointing of David as king of Israel. God sent Samuel to the house of Jesse in Bethlehem to anoint one of his sons as the next king. When Samuel arrived, he looked at Jesse’s eldest son, Eliab, and thought, “Surely this is the LORD’s anointed.” But God corrected him: “Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” Jesse then presented seven of his sons to Samuel, one by one, but God rejected each one. Finally, Samuel asked, “Are here all thy children?” Jesse admitted there was still the youngest—David—who was out in the fields tending the sheep. They sent for him, and when he arrived, the LORD said, “Arise, anoint him: for this is he.” David was anointed in the presence of his brothers, and from that day forward, the Spirit of the LORD came upon him. This passage demonstrates that God’s visitation often comes when you are overlooked, disregarded, and hidden in the background.
The God Who Visits the Forgotten
In today’s devotional, Pastor E.A. Adeboye (Daddy Adeboye) brings us to one of the most comforting truths in Scripture: God specializes in visiting those whom everyone else has forgotten. When you are overlooked, disregarded, and hidden in the background, that is exactly when God shows up to change everything.
David: The Boy They Left in the Fields
The Bible reading tells the story of David’s anointing, and the details are striking. Samuel, the great prophet, arrived at Jesse’s house with a divine assignment: anoint the next king of Israel. Jesse, understandably excited, gathered all his sons to present them to the prophet.
One by one, they passed before Samuel. Eliab—tall, handsome, impressive. Surely this was the one. But God said no. Abinadab? No. Shammah? No. Seven sons in total, all presented, all rejected.
Then Samuel asked a question that must have stunned Jesse: “Are here all thy children?”
Jesse hesitated. “There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep.”
Think about what this means. Jesse had seven sons worthy of presentation. He brought out the best, the most eligible, the most impressive. But David? David was so insignificant in his father’s eyes that he wasn’t even called in from the fields. He was left with the sheep while his brothers met the prophet. He was forgotten.
But God had not forgotten him. While Jesse was presenting his seven sons, God was waiting for the eighth. While Samuel was rejecting one after another, God was looking at the field where a young shepherd boy was watching sheep. The boy no one thought to invite became the man God chose to anoint.
When David finally arrived, probably dusty and smelling of sheep, God said, “Arise, anoint him: for this is he.” And in that moment, everything changed. The forgotten boy became the chosen king. The disregarded youngest became the ancestor of Messiah.
What Divine Visitation Does
The devotional gives multiple examples of what happens when God visits:
For Sarah: God visited, and her years of barrenness ended. She who had been childless into old age became the mother of Isaac. Her laughter of despair became laughter of joy (Genesis 21:1-6).
For Hannah: God visited, and her sorrow vanished. The woman who wept at the temple, who was provoked by her rival, who poured out her soul in desperate prayer—became the mother of Samuel, the prophet who would anoint kings (1 Samuel 1:19-20).
For Joseph: God visited, and his years of suffering ended overnight. In the morning, he was a prisoner, forgotten in a dungeon. By evening, he was Pharaoh’s second-in-command, ruling Egypt (Genesis 41:14, 41-44).
For the man at Bethesda: God visited, and thirty-eight years of paralysis ended in a moment. The man who had no one to help him into the pool walked out carrying his bed (John 5:1-9).
For Jacob: God visited, and a fugitive running from his brother became the father of twelve tribes, the recipient of the Abrahamic covenant (Genesis 28:13-14).
This is what divine visitation does. It doesn’t just improve your situation—it transforms it completely. It takes the forgotten and makes them famous. It takes the barren and makes them fruitful. It takes the prisoner and makes them prime minister.
You May Be Forgotten, But Not by God
The devotional speaks directly to those who feel overlooked:
You may be the one left out when opportunities are shared
You may be the one not invited to the table
You may be the one working in the background while others get recognition
You may be the one your family disregards
You may be the one society has written off
But hear this: God sees you. Just as He saw David in the fields, He sees you in your hidden place. Just as He knew where Joseph was in prison, He knows where you are right now. And He is arranging a divine visitation that will change everything.
How to Position Yourself for Visitation
1. Stay Faithful in Your Current Assignment David was doing his job when God visited him. He was tending sheep, protecting the flock, being faithful in the small thing. He didn’t neglect his duties because he felt overlooked. He kept working, and God visited him at his post.
2. Don’t Despise Your Low Position David could have resented being left with the sheep. He could have complained about his brothers getting all the attention. But he didn’t. He accepted his place and waited on God. Your humility in the low place positions you for elevation.
3. Be Ready When Called When Samuel sent for David, he came immediately. He didn’t say, “Tell the prophet to wait while I clean up.” He came as he was, and God accepted him. Be ready to respond when God’s call comes.
4. Cry Out for Visitation The devotional says, “If you are stuck in what seems like a hopeless situation, cry out to Him today and ask for a divine visitation.” God responds to desperate prayer. Hannah cried out, and God visited. The man at Bethesda didn’t even ask, but Jesus saw him. Your cry reaches His heart.
5. Expect Impossibilities to Become Possible The devotional declares: “Every impossibility in your life will become possible.” When God visits, natural laws don’t apply. Barren wombs conceive. Prison doors open. Sheep fields become palaces.
Lasting impact: The change is permanent, not temporary
This is not just improvement—this is reversal. This is not just help—this is visitation.
What Kind of Visitation Do You Need?
The devotional asks: what area of your life needs God to visit?
Barren areas: Places where nothing is growing, no matter what you do
Prison areas: Places where you feel trapped, unable to escape
Paralyzed areas: Places where you’ve been stuck for years
Forgotten areas: Places where no one notices or remembers you
Impossible areas: Places where human resources have failed completely
Whatever your need, God’s visitation is the answer.
Conclusion: Your Visitation Is Coming
David was in the fields, but God saw him. Sarah was in her tent, but God visited her. Hannah was at the temple, and God remembered her. Joseph was in prison, and God elevated him. The man was at the pool, and Jesus healed him.
Where are you right now? In a field? In a prison? In a tent? At a pool? Wherever you are, God knows your location. He is arranging your visitation. He is coming to where you are.
And when He comes, everything changes. The forgotten become famous. The barren become fruitful. The imprisoned become free. The impossible becomes possible.
Get ready. Your visitation is on the way.
Pray this: “Father, I cry out to You for a divine visitation. You saw David in the fields when his family forgot him. You saw Joseph in prison when everyone else moved on. You saw Hannah at the temple when she was desperate. See me, Lord. Visit me today. Turn my hopeless situation around. Make every impossibility in my life possible. Let my visitation leave a lasting mark. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Action Steps:
Identify your “field”: Where are you currently positioned? What is your daily assignment? Recognize that God can visit you right where you are.
Stay faithful: Don’t neglect your current responsibilities because you feel overlooked. Keep working, keep serving, keep trusting.
Cry out daily: This week, set aside time each day to specifically ask God for a divine visitation in your situation.
Watch for His coming: Be alert. Visitation often comes when you least expect it—through a person, a message, a circumstance. Don’t miss it.
Prepare your testimony: Start thanking God now for the visitation you are believing for. When it comes, you’ll be ready to share.
MEMORISE Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame. Zephaniah 3:12
READ: John 2:1-11
1 And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: 2 And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. 3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. 4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. 5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.
6 And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. 7 Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. 9 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,
10 And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now. 11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 22 APRIL 2026 TODAY MESSAGE
Sometime ago, a woman came to the church, saying, “Please, help me, I don’t know what to do.
My husband keeps wandering aimlessly at night without being in full control of his senses.” We led her to Christ and prayed with her. Shortly after, she was promoted at her workplace and got a new car.
As she couldn’t drive, she begged her husband to drive her to church so that her pastor could bless the car. He agreed and told her that he would only drive to the church premises, but he wouldn’t enter the building. He did so and sat in the car while his wife entered the church building. As he sat in the car, he could hear the sermon being preached.
After some time, an altar call was made, and he went inside the church to gave his life to Christ.
Some weeks later, the devil attacked him while he was driving to work. He lost his senses immediately and began to drive around aimlessly until the Holy Spirit took control and instructed him to drive to the church. When he got to the church and stepped out of the car, people could tell immediately that something was wrong with him. They sprang into action and helped him into the church. We prayed for him, and God took control of the situation. God knew beforehand that trouble was coming for the man, and if he hadn’t become born again, he would have gone mad. Therefore, He arranged for a place where he could turn to in the day of trouble. I pray that every plan of shame the enemy has arranged for you will be cancelled today, in Jesus’ name.
In today’s Bible reading, a couple was getting married, and Jesus was invited to the feast.
Everything was going well until they ran out of wine. They had not even started their lives together, but they were already experiencing a crisis and were on the verge of being put to shame.
Thankfully, Jesus turned what would have resulted in shame into honour, as they later had more than enough good wine to serve their guests.
Beloved, Romans 10:11 says that whosoever believes in God will not be ashamed. If you are currently in a shameful situation, put your trust in God and cry out to Him. He will heed your cry and turn your shame into a testimony, in Jesus’ name.
KEY POINT:
Father, please never let me experience shame in any area of my life, in Jesus’ name.
“I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the LORD.” This verse reveals a surprising truth: God often allows His people to go through affliction and poverty not to destroy them, but to teach them where their true trust belongs. When everything else is stripped away, when human resources fail, when we are brought low—that is when we learn to trust in the name of the LORD. The verse is a promise that even in our lowest state, God preserves a remnant who know that His name is their only hope.
BIBLE READING: John 2:1-11
This passage records the first miracle of Jesus, performed at a wedding in Cana of Galilee. The wedding was a celebration, a time of joy and honor for the newly married couple. But halfway through the feast, a disaster struck: they ran out of wine. In that culture, running out of wine at a wedding was not just an inconvenience—it was a profound shame. It would mark the couple and their family for years to come. Mary, the mother of Jesus, noticed the problem and brought it to His attention. Jesus initially responded that His hour had not yet come, but Mary told the servants, “Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.” Jesus instructed them to fill six stone waterpots with water, then draw some out and take it to the governor of the feast. When the governor tasted it, it was not water—it was the best wine of the feast. This miracle demonstrated that Jesus can take a situation destined for shame and turn it into a display of His glory.
The God Who Turns Shame into Honour
In today’s devotional, Pastor E.A. Adeboye reveals another dimension of God’s power to reverse the irreversible: He specializes in turning shame into honour. When you are on the verge of disgrace, when everything is falling apart, when the enemy has planned your public humiliation—that is exactly when God steps in to arrange a divine rescue.
The Man Who Was Destined for Madness
The devotional shares a remarkable testimony of a couple facing a terrifying situation. The wife came to church desperate: “Please help me, I don’t know what to do. My husband keeps wandering aimlessly at night without being in full control of his senses.”
Something was seriously wrong. The man was losing his mind, and the attacks were coming at night. His wife led her to Christ, and the church prayed with her. Shortly after, God blessed her with a promotion at work and a new car.
But here’s where the story gets interesting. She couldn’t drive, so she asked her husband to drive her to church so the pastor could bless the car. He agreed but made a condition: he would only drive to the church premises; he wouldn’t enter the building. He sat in the car while she went inside.
But as he sat there, he could hear the sermon being preached. The Word of God was reaching him even through the car windows. When the altar call was made, something shifted. He got out of the car, went inside, and gave his life to Christ.
Some weeks later, the devil attacked him while he was driving to work. He lost his senses completely and began driving aimlessly, wandering just as his wife had described. But this time, something was different. The Holy Spirit took control and instructed him to drive to the church.
When he arrived and stepped out, people could immediately see something was wrong. They sprang into action, helped him inside, and prayed. God took control of the situation.
Daddy Adeboye makes a profound observation: God knew beforehand that trouble was coming for this man. He knew the enemy planned to drive him mad. So He arranged a divine insurance policy—he arranged for the man to be born again before the attack came. If he hadn’t become a child of God, he would have been lost. But because he was now in the family, he had a place to run to when trouble struck.
The shame of madness was turned into the testimony of deliverance.
The Wedding That Ran Out of Wine
The Bible reading presents another situation ripe for shame. A wedding feast was in progress—a celebration of love, family, and community. But halfway through, disaster struck: the wine ran out.
In that culture, this was catastrophic. It wasn’t just an embarrassment; it was a lasting shame. The couple would be remembered for years as the ones who couldn’t provide properly for their guests. Their marriage would start under a cloud of disgrace.
But Jesus was there. His mother noticed the problem and brought it to Him. She didn’t tell Him what to do; she simply presented the need and told the servants, “Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.”
Jesus instructed them to fill six stone waterpots—the kind used for Jewish purification rites—with water. When they drew it out and took it to the master of the feast, it wasn’t water anymore. It was wine, and not just any wine—the best wine of the feast.
Think about what happened here. The couple’s shame was not just covered—it was completely reversed. What should have been their greatest embarrassment became the moment the glory of Jesus was revealed. The waterpots of purification, symbols of the old way, became vessels of new wine. Their potential shame became their lasting honour.
The Promise: No Shame for Those Who Trust
The devotional anchors this truth in Romans 10:11: “Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.” This is not just a nice sentiment—it’s a divine guarantee.
You shall not be ashamed for trusting Him when others said you were foolish.
You shall not be ashamed when your situation seems hopeless.
You shall not be ashamed when the enemy plans your downfall.
You shall not be ashamed when everything around you is collapsing.
God Himself guarantees your honour. He will not let His child be put to shame.
How God Turns Shame into Honour
1. He Arranges Preemptive Protection The man was born again before the attack came. God knew what was coming and positioned him in a place of safety. Sometimes God’s preparation looks like ordinary obedience—attending church, responding to altar calls, joining prayer groups. But these seemingly small steps become lifelines when trouble strikes.
2. He Uses the Humble to Confound the Mighty The man sat in the car, refusing to enter church, but the Word still reached him. God can use any means to draw His children. He doesn’t need perfect circumstances to work.
3. He Provides a Place of Refuge The church became a sanctuary when the attack came. When the enemy struck, there was a place to run to. God’s house is not just a building—it’s a shelter in the time of storm.
4. He Turns Crisis into Testimony The man who was supposed to go mad became a testimony of deliverance. The couple who ran out of wine became the showcase of Jesus’ glory. Your greatest crisis can become your greatest testimony.
What Kind of Shame Needs Reversing?
The devotional speaks to every form of shame:
Marital shame: Relationships that are failing, secrets being exposed
Financial shame: Debt, bankruptcy, inability to provide
Family shame: Children gone astray, scandals, disgrace
Personal shame: Addictions, failures, secret sins coming to light
Professional shame: Demotion, firing, public failure
Health shame: Conditions that humiliate, bodies that betray
Whatever form of shame is threatening you, the God of the wedding at Cana is your God.
How to Position Yourself for Honour
Invite Jesus to Your Feast: The couple invited Jesus to their wedding. Is He invited to your life? Your home? Your marriage? Your business? His presence is essential for turning shame into honour.
Bring Your Problem to Him: Mary didn’t hide the wine shortage. She brought it to Jesus. Don’t cover your shame—bring it to the One who can reverse it.
Do Whatever He Says: The servants filled waterpots even though it seemed pointless. They drew water even though wine was needed. Obedience to His instructions, no matter how illogical, is the path to miracle.
Trust in His Name: The memory verse says the afflicted and poor will trust in the name of the LORD. When you have nothing else, trust His name. His name is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe.
Stay in the Refuge: The man drove to the church when attacked. He knew where to go. Make sure you have a spiritual home, a place of refuge, before trouble comes.
The Enemy’s Plans Cancelled
The devotional declares: “I pray that every plan of shame the enemy has arranged for you will be cancelled today.”
The enemy is a planner. He arranges scenarios designed to humiliate you. He sets traps to expose you. He prepares stages for your public disgrace.
But God is the Canceller. He cancels the enemy’s plans. He overturns the verdict. He shuts down the prosecution. He turns the stage of shame into a platform for testimony.
Conclusion: Your Shame Is Becoming Your Honour
The man destined for madness is now a testimony. The couple who ran out of wine are now part of Scripture. Your story can be next.
Whatever shame is threatening you—whether it’s already happened or is still looming—bring it to Jesus. Invite Him to your feast. Do what He says. Trust in His name.
He will not let you be ashamed. He will turn your water into wine. He will make the best wine come last.
Pray this: “Father, I bring my shame to You today. The things that threaten to disgrace me. The situations that seem destined for humiliation. The enemy’s plans against me. I cancel them in Jesus’ name. Turn my shame into honour. Make the best wine come last in my life. Let me not be ashamed for trusting You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Action Steps:
Identify the shame: What situation is threatening to disgrace you? Write it down. Be honest.
Invite Jesus in: Pray specifically over that area, acknowledging His Lordship.
Do what He says: This week, identify one instruction God has given you that you’ve been ignoring. Obey it, even if it seems small or illogical.
Find your refuge: If you don’t have a church home, find one. If you have one, commit to it. Make sure you have a place to run to when trouble comes.
Declare His promise: Memorize Romans 10:11 and speak it over your situation daily: “Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed.”
