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Showing posts from March, 2011

OCEAN TALES Friday 1 April

Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye MEMORIZE: “And he said unto him, if thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.” (Exodus 33:15). READ: Exodus 33:13-15 When Christ is with you, God is with you. Psalm 121:5 says, “The LORD is thy keeper: The LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand”. When Christ is with you, God’s shadow will follow you wherever you go. Three fishes in an ocean were terrified by some sharks whenever they went swimming. One day, they held a prayer meeting and invited God to be in attendance. When God came down, He asked them what they each wanted. The first fish asked for eyes all over its body so that from a long distance, it could sight the sharks approaching. The second fish requested wings to fly whenever it was being chased by the sharks. The third fish simply requested that God should follow it wherever it went. The Lord granted all their requests. Immediately God left, the first fish realized that all the scales on its body had become e

ONE MEAL, MULTIPLE HEALINGS Thursday 31 March

Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye MEMORIZE: “He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes.” (Psalm 105:37) READ: Psalm 105:36-38 T he Holy Communion is a powerful meal. When God was about to lead His children from Egypt into the promise Land, a journey of several years, He looked at their state. This was not a journey for the sickly or weak person. There was no way they could leave the aged, the children, the sick, the injured, the pregnant women or nursing mothers behind; all had to go at the same time. While the strong and healthy looked forward to that journey, the weak, sick and feeble did not. No sick person in right mind would want to embark on such a laborious journey. So, in order to achieve complete wellness, total healing and fitness, God gave them a meal. The night they took the Passover meal, all sickness disappeared from their bodies. Weakness, tiredness and pains were replaced by divine strengt

RELATIONS, NOT SPARED Wednesday 30 March

Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye MEMORIZE: “And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD’s anointed, and be guiltless?” (1 Sam. 26:9). READ: 2 Samuel 6:20-23 A part from sin and breaking God’s order on the Holy Communion, another cause of sickness among believers is the wrong use of tongue—particularly in speaking against the anointed of God. In Numbers 12:1-16, Miriam and Aaron were not happy that Moses married an Ethiopian woman. That became a subject of discussion to the extent that they began to say unprintable things about their younger brother who was the leader of the nation. Though Moses refrained from taking up issues with the leaders of the revolt who were his own siblings, God did something about it. God’s response brought about the worst disease outbreak of their day—leprosy, upon Miriam. But for Moses’ intercession, the leader of the Israeli women in the wilderness could have died a leper! If God’s rea

PARTIALITY NOT ALLOWED Tuesday 29 March

Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye MEMORIZE: “But if ye have respect for persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors” (James 2:9). READ: James 2:1-9 A ccording to James 3:17, God’s wisdom is not partial. In other words, it does not discriminate. As a believer in Christ, you must not be partial or discriminatory. Discrimination is one of Satan’s divisive tools in the church of God. In the Early Church, during the revival, some church workers began to discriminate in their service. They gladly served some people while others were deliberately neglected. It took the intervention of the apostles to arrest this anomaly (Acts 6:1-7). If you are partial, Satan is using you to divide the Body of Christ. Moreover, today’s reading raises crucial issues relating to partiality in the church of Christ. The first is that the Christian faith does not support the preferring of the rich over the poor. In God’s Kingdom, all are equal and should be given equal

TIME OF FREEDOM Monday 28 March

Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye MEMORIZE: “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink Of that cup.” (1 Cor. 11:28). READ: Exodus 12:21-23 T he Holy Communion is an uncommon meal that every believer in Christ should take periodically. The inherent blessings channeled to communicants are immense, and the effects can last a lifetime. When God was instructing the Israelites concerning the Passover, He asked them to apply the blood of the Lamb on the lintel and the two side posts of their front doors. Whenever God sees the blood of His Son Jesus Christ on the door post of your heart, He will instruct the destroyer to pass over you. This means that the blood of Jesus keeps the destroyer at bay. It also keeps destruction away. It brings about a separation. As you partake of the Holy Communion, apply the blood on your door, yourself, your family, and everything you have. The destroyer and destruction will stay far away from you. “And Jose

COMPLETE THE FAITH PROCESS Sunday 27 March

Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye MEMORIZE: “His mother saith unto the servants, whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.” (John 2:5) READ: 2 Kings 5:9-14 A part from believing in God, another appropriate thing to do during your time of favour is to obey God’s Word. For many years, Naaman, the captain of the Syrian army, nursed a secret problem—leprosy. Although to many, he was a perfect gentleman who had won several laurels for his nation, most people were ignorant of his private battles. But during the time of his favour, his Israeli housemaid repeatedly spoke of the possibility of being healed. He heard enough to stir up hope in him to the extent of embarking on a trip to Israel. But right at the threshold of his miracle, he almost bungled it. The prophet asked him to go and wash in the River Jordan seven times but he took offence. For your miracle to be delivered, faith must perform its perfect work. It took faith to listen to a hapless, young Israelite captive serv

MANAGING TIME Saturday 26 March

Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye MEMORIZE: “The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.” (Eccl. 1:5). READ: Ecclesiastes 1:3-6 “T o everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven” (Ecc. 3:1). One subject that is difficult to define is time. Although it can be measured in seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years and so on, yet, it will require a divine revelation to define it appropriately. Simply put, time is a segment of eternity. Time is somewhere inside eternity. According to Ecclesiastes 1:4, time is transient. As one generation goes another one comes. Time is a process that flows nonstop like a river. It is always on the move. Ecclesiastes 1:5 says, “The sun also ariseth and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose”. When it’s sunrise, before long it will be sunset. One lesson here is that we must never waste our time. Use the difference between sunrise and s

WHEN HEAVEN AND EARTH CONNIVE Friday 25 March

Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye MEMORIZE: : “And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron” (Deut. 28:23). READ: Haggai 1:6-9 O ne reason you should not lose your sleep over your enemies is: God has promised to bless those who bless you and to curse those who curse you (Gen. 12:3). In other words, God will repay people in their own coins commensurate to what they do to us as believers. Have you come into the Christian fold? If yes, from today anyone who curses you has placed a curse upon himself or herself. Anyone who blesses you shall be blessed. It is a great thing to be blessed. A blessing is the direct opposite of a curse. It is a terrible thing to come under a curse. Deuteronomy 28:23 says, “And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron”. For anyone to be really blessed or cursed, that fellow must be served both by Heaven and earth. Heaven and earth mus

GREAT PROMISES Thursday 24 March

Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye MEMORIZE: “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2 Peter 1:4). READ: 2 Peter 1:3-4 “M y soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him” (Ps. 62:5). Virtually everyone born into this world has some expectations. There are different categories of expectations ranging from the smallest to the largest. Proverbs 25:19 says, “Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint”. One quality that determines the level of expectation you can have of anyone is faithfulness. Faithfulness in this context refers to reliability, honesty, and truthfulness. If an unreliable person makes you a promise, it would be foolhardy to base all your expectations on such a promise. Sometimes, even when dealing with men or women of integrity, there ma

SIN AND SICKNESS Wednesday 23 March

Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye MEMORIZE: “Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee” (John 5:14). READ: John 5:14-16 “F or this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep” (1 Cor. 11:30). One very disturbing trend today is the rate at which people fall ill and are affected by diseases and sickness that God promised to keep from His children. In Exodus 15:26, the Lord promised that certain diseases will not find their way into our bodies. Similarly, Exodus 23:25 says, “And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee”. The question in the hearts of many is: ‘Why is it that many who believe in Christ still suffer from sickness?’ In other words, why do the righteous still die of sickness that should not be mentioned among believers? One major cause of sickness is sin. If

WHITHER THAT LEADER? Tuesday 22 March

Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye MEMORIZE: “I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word” (John 17:6). READ: John 17:5-6 B ecoming an ecclesiastical leader is a serious issue. Not everyone can become a pastor or prophet. We need to be extremely prayerful and careful in choosing leaders. In Luke 6:12-16, the Lord had an all-night prayer meeting before picking His 12 apostles, yet, one of them was a traitor. If He needed to depend on God in appointing leaders, we need to depend on God all the more. Today, for our failing to take maximum care, more people who have no business with leadership in the church, find their way there. This is why the altar is polluted, divided and lacks the anointing. When wrong leaders find their way unto God’s altar, He vacates it for them. No wonder many altars have no divine fire. Their fire cannot even roast a fly! God will hold you

MAKING OTHERS RICH Monday 21 March

Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye MEMORIZE: “As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” (2 Cor. 6:10) READ: 2 Corinthians 6:4-10 I n Revelation 2:9, the church in Smyrna that was supposed to live in affluence, lived in poverty, possibly due to ignorance. Another likely cause of this could be semantics, since the way humans define ‘wealth’ is different from how God defines it. It is possible to be materially improvised yet, spiritually rich. Although God wants us to have abundance in all areas according to 3 John 2, yet, God places the highest premium on our spiritual prosperity. In Luke 6:20-21, our Lord Jesus Christ consoled His disciples with prospect of a glorious eternity. How many years can a man who can afford the best medical service attain? At most, it could be three hundred years. But in the hereafter, you will live for all eternity. So, why kill yourself because you lack this world’

ENGAGE THE HANDS OF FAITH Sunday 20 March

Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye MEMORIZE: “For with God nothing shall be impossible” (Luke 1:37). READ: Luke 1:34-38 W hen the time of favour comes, God may absolve you of any action. In other words, God may do everything possible to grant your expectations. But in most cases, at such a time, God still expects you to do certain things. If such steps are not forthcoming from you, that time of favour may just come and go without delivering its blessing. Many people have lost great blessings during their time of favour by folding their hands. May your day of favour not pass you by. What steps do you need to take to key into the blessings during your time of favour? You can simply believe God. Although in the time of your favour, God may not need your faith to do what He would, yet, sometimes it is required to possess your blessing. Picture it like this: the blessing is being offered by God and you need the hands of faith to receive it. Let us take Mary’s case as an

PREVAILING COUNSEL Saturday 19 March

Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye MEMORIZE: “There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand” (Prov. 19:21). READ: Proverbs 19:20-21 “A nd when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews’ children” (Exo. 2:6). God is simply marvelous and difficult to understand sometimes. Miriam wished that Pharaoh’s daughter never saw her brother because naturally, she would have killed him. But to her great surprise, he found favour before this princess. One lesson from this is that apart from Satan, demons, the world, and our flesh, believers have no permanent enemy. Someone can be an agent of Satan today, working against you; by tomorrow, the fellow can begin to work in your favour. Yes, your greatest enemy can become your strongest supporter. Do you know that your enemies are endowed? If they see you as an enemy, they will channel their reso

RETURN! Friday 18 March

Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye MEMORIZE: “If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles.” (Job 22:23) READ: Ruth 1:19-22 T here are vital things to know about economy-based famines. Taking unguarded steps during a famine can cause irreversible losses. One period you must be extremely careful, thoughtful and take Spirit-led decisions is during a famine. In Genesis 12:10-17, Abraham experienced a famine. He did not seek God’s face concerning the cause and how to overcome it. He simply applied his sixth sense and decided to relocate to Egypt. That trip could have cost him the mother of his heir—Sarah. He had indeed lost her; it took divine intervention for her to be restored. He could have avoided all the embarrassment. Today, when some people face a famine, they still follow Abraham’s example by relocating to a better city, state, or nation, without consulting God. How do you know where you are going i

REVEALING GOD’S LOVE Thursday 17 March

Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye MEMORIZE: “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” (1 John 3:16). READ: John 15:9-13 W hen God wanted to reveal His invisible self to man, He clothed the Word with flesh In the Person of Jesus Christ, and sent Him into the world. Genesis 1:26-27 talks of the decision to create man which was taken by the Godhead. Why was man created? It is so that there will be someone who can see little of God whenever He came to earth. Some ages past, nothing existed but God. All you see today—sun, moon and stars, planet earth, human beings, etc., once existed only as an essential part of God’s thought. But at some point, He decided to bring to manifestation a portion of it. Although inanimate objects and animals have their ways of relating with their Creator, none of them can understand God. As a result God made man so that at least someone will be able to unde

WHEN IT’S NOT TOO LATE Wednesday 16 March

Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye MEMORIZE: “And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.” (Rom. 4:21). READ: Romans 4:16-24 G od uses His vessels to prove a point. Believe it or not, your personal relationship with God paints a picture of Him to those around you. If you paint a bad picture, people will never want to associate with your God. What kind of picture is your life painting to the world? In Genesis 26:12-14, God used Isaac to prove the infallibility of His law of harvest. Sometimes, God uses a vessel to make everyone know that with Him, all things are possible (Luke 1:37). Abraham and Sarah are a case in point. When the former was 75 years old, God promised that He would make him the father of many nations. At this time, his wife was barren at the age of 65. They were already too old to bear children, yet God deliberately waited 25 more years until Abraham was 100 and Sarah 90 before bringing His promise to pass. Has

WHAT’S IN YOUR STOREHOUSE? Tuesday 15 March

Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye MEMORIZE: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” (Col. 3:16). READ: Colossians 3:15-17 O ne thing a believer who truly wants to make it to Heaven must never do, is to become his own worst enemy. Proverbs 6:27-28 says, “Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?” When a man offers a sister a contract, promotion or an opportunity with the intention of sleeping with her; it will be foolishness to accept it. When a church member offers you a gift with the intention of silencing you, controlling your sermons or entering an unholy relationship with you, do not take it. Many victims of such pitfalls saw themselves sliding but did nothing to prevent their fall. Apart from keeping a distance from sin, another way of iden

THE WORD AND DISCIPLESHIP Monday 14 March

Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye MEMORIZE: “But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” (Heb 5:14). Read: Hebrews 5:11-14 “A nd ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). The differences between a child and an elder are numerous, some of which are, experience and knowledge made possible by the period of time available to each of them. For a child to attain the status of an elder, he or she would need to be exposed to what the elders have gone through. In the same way, a young convert will need to be spiritually processed before becoming a disciple. Calling yourself a disciple does not make you one. Self-professing disciple abound but Heaven-recognized disciples are in short supply. Are you a disciple ‘indeed’? In addition, you will differentiate a believer from a disciple by what is fed each. While believers are fed with milk, the so

UNUSUAL VISIT FROM GOD Sunday 13 March

Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye MEMORIZE: “And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blesses art thou among women” (Luke 1:28). READ: Luke 1:26-32 W hen every satanic and human design to cut short your fame fails, you will know it is your day of favour. This season, the Lord will frustrate every plan of the enemy to stop your fame. Good news about you will continue to spread until it gets the ears of those who should know of you and assist you into your place of destiny in Jesus name. Another way of recognizing your time of favour is when you receive an unusual divine visitation. One beneficiary of divine visitation was Mary. There is no record that she ever had such a visit before this time. But when her day of favour came, an angel—Heaven’s minister of information—Archangel Gabriel paid her a visit. The way he greeted her was strange and she immediately realized there was something good in store for h

HANDLING ENEMIES Saturday 12 March

Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye MEMORIZE: “For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? Do not even the publicans the same?” (Matt. 5:46). READ: Matthew 5:43-48 F rom the story of Moses, we learn that sometimes, the person we would not want to see may really be the one we are waiting for. This season, the Lord will give you pleasant surprises from the camp of your enemy in Jesus name. In addition, we learn that God can cause your helpers to locate you right where you are. Miriam did not move Moses from where he was kept. Help located him where he was. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, help will locate you through your unpleasant situation. Everything meant to hinder your help from reaching you shall be stopped. This season, you shall not lack help anymore! For a user of this devotional, the Lord is releasing your help to locate you in soon. As this is fulfilled in your life, give God praise and testify before His people. Speaking of helpers, th

MANAGING PROVISIONS Friday 11 March

Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye MEMORIZE: “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:” (Eph. 1:11). READ: Ephesians 1:11-12 A ccording to 1 Kings 18:17-18, economic famine can be provoked by ignoring God’s Word and through idolatry. Apart from these, mismanagement of God’s provision can trigger a famine too. It is one thing to receive a provision or blessing and another thing to know the purpose of that provision. Provision without a commensurate understanding of its purpose, will definitely lead to mismanagement. God has a purpose for every provision. If you fail to ask Him for adequate direction on how to spend or distribute a particular provision, its purpose may be defeated. Every windfall that God gives to you has a purpose. Do you know that if you can apprehend the purpose for every provision and you use it accordingly, you may never experience fa

JESUS REVEALS THE GODHEAD Thursday 10 March

Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye MEMORIZE: “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” (Col. 2:9) READ: John 14:8-9 E veryone has a worthy destiny, but not everyone attains that destiny. Although most individuals have set their personal goals, God has a better destiny for each one. Arriving at your personal goal is good but getting to your divinely set destiny is far better. May you not miss Heaven’s destination for your life in Jesus name. Destiny has a link with time. It also has a link with light. When light comes on an individual’s destiny, the fellow’s potential will come to the limelight. “Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen” (1 Tim. 1:17). Just as we need light to reveal our destiny, so also does God embrace light in order to be seen. God is the Almighty who is good, kind, rich, generous, yet, invisible. In spite of His invisibility, He wants to be seen. Romans 1:2

WHAT PICTURE ARE YOU PAINTING? Wednesday 9 March

Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye MEMORIZE: “Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:” (2 Cor. 3:2) READ: Genesis 26:12-14 G od is not a loser, whichever way you look at it. When He uses an honourable vessel, He gains and His Kingdom is positively impacted. When He uses a dishonourable vessel, or vessels that have turned from honour to dishonour like Ananias and Sapphira, He still does not lose. God’s judgement on such unreliable vessels becomes a lesson and strong warning to others, thereby strengthening their hands and commitment. In other words, all things good or bad work to God’s advantage. If you are connected with God and you follow Him every step of the way, He will cause all things –good and bad—to equally work in your favour (Rom. 8:28). Why? He is in charge of every situation. He knows everything, sees every actor in the play, knows their thoughts and the next move they will make long before they take a step. This season, the

TEMPTING SELF? Tuesday 8 March

Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye MEMORIZE: “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.” (James 1:14) READ: 1 Samuel 15:16-19 T he distance a believer keeps from sin shows whether the fellow is wise or not. One who joins the ushering department knowing his or her weakness is stealing and lies, is not wise. Sooner than later, the fellow will start pilfering again. That was the case with Judas Iscariot. He already had a weakness, yet accepted to become Jesus’ treasurer. Not long afterwards, all his thoughts and plans revolved around money. He could not break the habit. Some appointments elevate one, while some demote. Some promotions can take you to Heaven while some are the expressways to hell. Watch those appointments! Some promotions or appointments should be turned down. If you still have itching fingers and you are sent to ushering department or church treasury, turn it down. Humbly tell your pastor, ‘Sir, I do not yet have enou

A DISCIPLE INDEED? Monday 7 March

Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye MEMORIZE: “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;” (John 8:31). READ: John 8:30-32 T he church at Smyrna, which was supposed to be rich, lived in poverty probably out of ignorance. The quality of life made available to you is a function of your knowledge. Speaking of which, there is a link between spiritual knowledge and spiritual accomplishments. In John 8:30-32, while addressing some Jews who newly believed on Him, the Lord Jesus disclosed some truths. The first is that it takes a process to move from being a believer in Christ to being a disciple of Christ. In other words, everyone who believed and received Christ is a believer, but not all of them are disciples. One major difference between a believer and a disciple of Christ is what they know. “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed”

WHEN YOUR FAME SPREADS Sunday 6 March

Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye MEMORIZE: “But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.” (Gen. 39:21). READ: Genesis 39:19-21 T wo people who demonstrated unbelief in the Bible were the Economic Adviser in Samaria and Sarah. While the former died, the latter, however, lived and remained relevant in God’s plan. Why? “And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy” (Exo. 33:19). God is sovereign, over all and above all. He has nobody to report to other than Himself. He is free to do whatsoever He likes with the works of His hands and nobody can query Him. When things go wrong with the design or production of a car, the manufacturer does not commit any sin reconstructing or changing His original design. In the same way, God is free to do wit

HIDING FROM PHARAOH’S DAUGHTER? Saturday 5 March

Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye MEMORIZE: “Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.” (Isaiah 60:5). READ: Exodus 2:5-6 M iriam effectively watched over Moses; hence, the opportunity God brought their way did not slip by them. Beloved leader, pastor or parent, opportunities are coming your way and the way of those God has put in your care. If you sleep off, you may not know when they pass by you. God is looking for effective watchmen and women who will put off sleep from their eyes and prayerfully watch over the flock. Are you one of such people? While Miriam was watching, she was oblivious of what was coming her way—good or bad. Yet, she had great expectations. She expected something good and it came. To be effective, your act of watching must be backed by positive expectations. God regards the expectations o

EXIT ROUTE FROM FAMINE Friday 4 March

Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye MEMORIZE: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” (Ps. 119:105) READ: 1 Kings 17:1-3 E conomy-based famines can be provoked through covenant-breaking and bloodshed. Yet, they can be atoned for. In any way you have brought about a famine upon yourself or your land, the Lord will have mercy as you repent today. Moreover, in 1 Kings 17:1-10, the Bible records a famine in the days of Elijah. “And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, as the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word” (1 Kings 17:1). From this account, another cause of economic famine is idolatry and forsaking the commandment of the living God (1 Kings 18:17-18). Anytime you ignore God’s instructions, you invite the heavens over you to be shut. Putting your trust in other gods can also shut your heavens and bring untold hardship to you. Is

DESTINY AND LIGHT Thursday 3 March

Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye MEMORIZE: “For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.” (John 3:20). READ: John 3:19-21 G od has a timetable which we have to conform with if we are to get to where He is taking us. So, according to Isaiah 60:1, we should arise because there is a link between time and destiny. The preacher also understood this relationship hence, he writes in Ecclesiastes 9:11, “I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all”. This season, the Lord will use the elements of time and chance to favour and push you into your destiny in Jesus name. Apart from having a link with time, there is also a link between destiny and light. Until light appears, destiny remains concealed and buried. In

LONE LOSER Wednesday 2 March

Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye MEMORIZE: “And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.” (Acts 5:11). READ: Acts 5:1-10 G ehazi is an example of someone who was an honourable vessel that later turned into a dishonourable one. May God not stop using you for honourable purposes in Jesus name! Another example of this is recorded of a family in Acts 5:1-4. There was need for fund raising to meet the needs of the church and of her members. The brethren were told to give and they did. A certain couple, after selling their land, decided to declare only a part of the proceeds as the total takings. But it was their property, and they were not forced to sell it. On their own, they offered to sell the land and turn in the cash. It is even possible they sold it for a higher price—probably beyond the true value; yet, greed would still drive them to under-declare. But how can we give the bulk to the church? The man must have protested. ‘True