Devotionals

Memorise: He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it. Proverbs 11:26
Read: Judges 9:16-24
16 Now therefore, if ye have done truly and sincerely, in that ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done unto him according to the deserving of his hands;
17 (For my father fought for you, and adventured his life far, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian:
18 And ye are risen up against my father’s house this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother;)
19 If ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you:
20 But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech.
21 And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.
22 When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel,
23 Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:
24 That the cruelty done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, which slew them; and upon the men of Shechem, which aided him in the killing of his brethren.
Judges 9:45-57
45 And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that was therein, and beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.
46 And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard that, they entered into an hold of the house of the god Berith.
47 And it was told Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.
48 And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people that were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it, and laid it on his shoulder, and said unto the people that were with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done.
49 And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them to the hold, and set the hold on fire upon them; so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.
50 Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.
51 But there was a strong tower within the city, and thither fled all the men and women, and all they of the city, and shut it to them, and gat them up to the top of the tower.
52 And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and went hard unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire.
53 And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech’s head, and all to brake his skull.
54 Then he called hastily unto the young man his armourbearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A women slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.
55 And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his place.
56 Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren:
57 And all the evil of the men of Shechem did God render upon their heads: and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.
Bible in one year: 2nd Chronicles 17-18, Ezekiel 38:1-16

1. From today’s Bible reading, the effects of a curse are glaring and obvious.
2. Jotham was a son of Gideon who escaped the murderous rampage of his brother Abimelech. After Abimelech had killed seventy of his brothers, Jotham stood and placed a cursed on him and the men of Shechem who conspired with Abimelech to carry out this evil act. Three years after this curse was pronounced, God sent an evil spirit to bring about the fulfilment of the curse. In the process of this curse being fulfilled, so many terrible things happened. Land and property were destroyed, a large part of the population was annihilated and ultimately, the cursed Abimelech died. May you never come under a curse! And if you are already under any curse, it is broken today in Jesus’ Name!
3. Let me tell you a story I heard when I was very young. An old man met a bubbling young man on his way to the farm one day. Being advanced in age, the old man was bent, used a walking stick and limped slightly. Seeing this old man, the young man began to laugh at him; so the old man asked him what he did to deserve such ridicule. “Why shouldn’t I laugh? What can you do?” the young man asked, and the old man replied, “I know I am too feeble to run after you or fight you, but the basket is never satisfied with water”, and then he went on his way. Suddenly, a strong thirst gripped the young man. He dashed to the first hut and asked for water. After drinking so much, he continued his journey. Not long after, he became thirsty again. He stopped at the second hut and drank so much water. Thereafter, he returned to the first hut to ask for some more water, and the people there discerned that something was definitely wrong with him. “What is wrong with you?”, they asked. He told them, “One old man said to me, “The basket is never satisfied with water”. “Really, can you describe this old man?” He did, and they accompanied him to search for the old man, until they found him and begged for his forgiveness. This old man gave in, and then pronounced, “Alright, from now on you cease to be the basket, and you will begin to have satisfaction.” That was how the young man was delivered from the strange thirst.
4. Do everything possible to avoid being cursed by God.
5. If a curse from a fellow man can be disastrous, how would a curse from God be?
6. If your biological father curses you, you can run to your spiritual father or pastor, who has spiritual authority over you, and he can cancel it. If your pastor curses you, you can run to the general overseer set over him, and he can cancel it; though he will also demand that you restitute your ways. However, if God curses you, to whom will you run? 

What a great question ended today’s devotional! “If God curses you, to whom will you run?” And the answer is no one. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Hebrews 10:31 Living in peace with all men should be a priority for every believer. It is not just a good thing to do, it also pleases God. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Hebrews 12:14 If we are able to achieve this, it will limit the possibility of hurting others which can therefore attract curse. Also doing God’s will and obeying His word can help keep a believer off the curse route. The Lord will visit us and cleanse us of every existing curse in Jesus name. God bless Pastor E.A Adeboye and equip him with greater wisdom and knowledge to continually be a vessel for the salvation of sinners in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Father, help me to never partake in anything that will attract curses to my life.
HYMN
Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus
Daily let me go;
Higher, higher in the school of wisdom,
More of grace to know.
Refrain:
Oh, deeper yet, I pray,
And higher every day,
And wiser, blessed Lord,
In Thy precious, holy Word.
Deeper, deeper, blessed Holy Spirit,
Take me deeper still,
Till my life is wholly lost in Jesus,
And His perfect will.
Deeper, deeper! though it cost hard trials,
Deeper let me go!
Rooted in the holy love of Jesus,
Let me fruitful grow.
Deeper, higher, every day in Jesus,
Till all conflict past,
Finds me conqu’ror, and in His own image
Perfected at last.
Deeper, deeper in the faith of Jesus,
Holy faith and true;
In His pow’r and soul exulting wisdom
Let me peace pursue.
 

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Memorise: So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off. Proverbs 24:14
Read: Haggai 1:12-15
12 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the Lord their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the Lord their God had sent him, and the people did fear before the Lord.
13 Then spake Haggai the Lord’s messenger in the Lord’s message unto the people, saying, I am with you, saith the Lord.
14 And the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work in the house of the Lord of hosts, their God,
15 In the four and twentieth day of the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king.
Bible in one year: 2nd Chronicles 14-16, Ezekiel 37:15-28

1. Some people attend big Christian events for the sake of tradition, while some others attend because certain people are coming there.
2. A crowd will often gather whenever there is an assembly where Jesus is present. If you attend such gatherings because of the crowd – just to belong or to show that you are current – you may not receive your desired blessings.
3. In Mark 5:24-34, a crowd gathered around Jesus Christ on His way to Jairus’ house. For many of them, it was enough that they were in the crowd following Jesus, but right there in their midst, there was a woman who was not there because others were there; she was there because she so needed and desired to touch Jesus. She was determined in her heart that if only she could touch the hem of His clothes, she would receive her healing. She touched it and she was healed. That is what a motivated mindset can do. The Bible says she “came in the press behind”. She did not mind if people trampled on her, and she did not mind the pushing and shoving of the crowd; her singular focus was that she just had to touch the hem of the Master’s garment, no matter what it would take. To understand how motivated she was, you try getting to the front of a crowd from behind.
4. Moreover, another person who had a motivated mindset was Zerubbabel. Today’s Bible reading shows that when you have a focused mindset like Zerubbabel did, it will stir you up to take action.
5. A motivated mindset fills your heart with conviction that you are overdue for a breakthrough, thereby ushering you into your desired blessing.
6. For instance, when the man who was paralysed from the neck downwards was brought to Jesus, it was not for flimsy reasons (Mark 2:1-12). His friends felt he was overdue for a breakthrough, and so on their arrival, when the door was blocked off and there was no feasible way in through the window, they created a way through the roof.
7. When you believe you are already overdue for a breakthrough, you will be compelled to take violent steps towards attaining your expectation. You will not care about the crowd, traditions or the need to socialize. You will not care about who is first, second or next to be attended to on a queue. All that fills your mind is that you are the next beneficiary of God’s mercy.
8. Where do you stand now? Are you overdue for promotion, success, breakthrough, deliverance or prosperity? If you are, let your conviction on this drive you into your miracle.
9. Such a belief has a way of motivating you to take actions that will trigger your blessing. It shall be well with you this season!

For every service a believer attends there must be an expectation. We must position ourselves rightly and open our hearts to receive our desired change. Leaving each service better and blessed should be what we look out and thirst for often. Until we do this we may not receive from him. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Matthew 7:7‭-‬8 May God bless and continually strengthen Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Key Point
While the expectations of the righteous are granted, those without expectations shall have nothing.
HYMN
O Jesus, I have promised
  To serve Thee to the end;
Be Thou forever near me,
  My Master and my Friend;
I shall not fear the battle
  If Thou art by my side,
Nor wander from the pathway
  If Thou wilt be my Guide.
  
Oh, let me hear Thee speaking,
  In accents clear and still,
Above the storms of passion,
  The murmurs of self-will;
Oh, speak to reassure me,
  To hasten, or control;
Oh, speak, and make me listen,
  Thou Guardian of my soul.
 
O Jesus, Thou hast promised
  To all who follow Thee
That where Thou art in glory
  There shall Thy servant be;
And Jesus, I have promised
  To serve Thee to the end;
Oh, give me grace to follow,
  My Master and my Friend.
 
Oh, let me see Thy footprints,
  And in them plant mine own;
My hope to follow duly
  Is in Thy strength alone.
Oh, guide me, call me, draw me,
  Uphold me to the end;
And then to rest receive me,
  My Savior and my Friend.
 

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Memorise: Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious. Psalm 66:2
Read: 1st Samuel 2:27-30
27 And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh’s house?
28 And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel?
29 Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people?
30 Wherefore the Lord God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the Lord saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.
Bible in one year: 2nd Chronicles 11:13, Ezekiel 36:33-37:14

1. “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.” Malachi 3:8
2. In the above passage of Scripture, God complained about His children, who had suddenly turned into robbers.
3. How can a worker in the Church of God or a minister of God be a thief? How can you claim to be a born-again Christian and keep on stealing?
4. Those who rob God are no ordinary thieves. Boy, such people are really brave! Their victim is not a fellow human being but God Himself.
5. You can be certain that such people are the worst kind of thieves in the universe!
6. Can you imagine that idolaters fear their idols so much that they do everything possible not to break their rules? If anything is dedicated to an idol, who would dare steal it? Yet, these people throw all caution to the wind and steal what is dedicated to the Most High, and they expect Him to do nothing about it, because He is a God of mercy. This is bravery gone awry!
7. Are you one of such “holy thieves”? Are you defaulting in your tithes and offerings?
8. In the same vain, there are some foolish and ignorant people, particularly in the universities, who insult God and Jesus Christ occasionally. I know this because I used to be one of them before I got saved.
9. The opposite of honour is disrespect. If you are not honouring God, it means you are insulting Him.
10. Everyone who robs God of first fruits dishonours God, and if you dishonour God, you can compel Him to change His promises and plan for your life (Proverb 3:9). This was what happened to the house of Eli. Hear what the Lord told Eli in 1st Samuel 2:30: “… I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.”
11. May the Lord not change His great plan for your life.
12. Do you honour Him? if you refuse to honour God, He will refuse to honour you. If you ignore Him, you will be of no consequences to Him. At the end of the day, you will undo yourself by your refusal to comply with divine instructions.
13. Refusal to honour God can turn the desirable into something detestable. It can push the good things of life that were at a person’s fingertips miles away from him or her.
14. Dishonouring God can separate you temporarily or even permanently from your blessings. Have you been paying your first fruits yearly? How often do you honour God?

We have a divine instruction in today’s devotional to stop dishonouring God. As many believers that would keep at studying the word of God and doing it will remain God’s treasured possession. Our God is faithful to keep His covenant with anyone who obeys and honours Him. Atimes, we pretend not to know the right thing to do when it comes to God’s instruction. We give excuses just to cover up and escape fulfilling a particular requirement expected of us. I implore us to brood over some key revelation in today’s devotional and make amends prayerfully. “Refusal to honour God can turn the desirable into something detestable. It can push the good things of life that were at a person’s fingertips miles away from him or her. Dishonouring God can separate you temporarily or even permanently from your blessings.” may we not become detestable and separated from God in Jesus name. We pray that God will continue to be with Pastor E.A Adeboye and equip him with greater wisdom to impact us more in Jesus name.

Key Point
The instruction to honour the Lord is not a suggestion but a command.
HYMN On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
the emblem of suffering and shame;
and I love that old cross where the dearest and best
for a world of lost sinners was slain.
Refrain:
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
and exchange it some day for a crown.
O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
has a wondrous attraction for me;
for the dear Lamb of God left his glory above
to bear it to dark Calvary. Refrain
In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
a wondrous beauty I see,
for ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
to pardon and sanctify me. Refrain
To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
its shame and reproach gladly bear;
then he’ll call me some day to my home far away,
where his glory forever I’ll share. Refrain

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20

Memorise: And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the LORD. 1st Samuel 2:21
Read: 1st Samuel 1:9-18
9 So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the Lord.
10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore.
11 And she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.
12 And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli marked her mouth.
13 Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.
14 And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.
15 And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord.
16 Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.
17 Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.
18 And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.
Bible in one year: 2nd Chronicles 9-10, Ezekiel 36:16-32

1. If you have a heart desire which you have asked for, but you are yet to receive it after a long time, it might just be that you are either not yet desperate or you are not desperate enough.
2. The truth is, desperate people break all barriers, respect no decorum and refuse to take ‘no’ or ‘wait’ for an answer.
3. In the end, desperate people often even get more than they bargained for, while the non-desperate sometimes barely receive the minimum desire they crave.
4. Hannah’s experience serves as an example of what desperation can produce in the life of a person. She was barren and she prayed for the fruit of the womb for several years but nothing happened. Instead, her mate mocked her even more; she then became desperate. In her desperation, she made a vow which provoked her miracle. Although she only asked for one child, her desperation gave her an additional five. She experienced an overflow! If you can take your desperation to the limits. You can get beyond your request today.
5. Moreover, desperation can cause you to ask for the impossible. When you are desperate, you are not bothered about processes or possible means. You could ask for what most people will consider difficult, and you will get it.
6. Elisha is a case in point. Elisha was desperate for the power of God, and so when he tendered his request, his master told him he had asked for a hard thing. What did he ask for? He requested a double portion of the Spirit upon his master. Elijah said that was a difficult request, but Elisha got it because he was desperate (2nd Kings 2:9-15).
7. How desperate are you? Do you believe God can do all things? Do you really believe that your request will not be difficult for God? Are you sick and trusting God for healing? My God has enough power to heal a whole nation in just one night.
8. When the Israelites were leaving Egypt, none of them was feeble. Speaking about this, the Holy Spirit in Psalm 105:37 said: “He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes.”
9. Can you imagine that? These people had been beaten, tortured and bruised; yet, in one single night, all of them were healed! If He can heal a nation in one night, can’t He heal your whole family at a go? Yes He can!
10. However, how desperate is your desire for Him to do this? Are you ready to hold on to Him today and say, “Father, if you do not heal me, I won’t let You go?” The Lord will visit you today, and your story will change for the best.

Staying firm and strong on the word of truth and its power and potency results into great testimony. Today’s devotional showed us various situation that shows God can do anything. All we need is a strong faith that can move mountains. God is faithful and will always honour His word to the glory of His name. Nothing is too big for Him to make happen for you. Dream big enough such that God will be involved in it. God be praised for Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Key Point
Desperate people are too hot to handle; even the devil gets out of their way.
HYMN
The great Physician now is near,
The sympathizing Jesus;
He speaks the drooping heart to cheer,
Oh, hear the voice of Jesus.
Refrain:
Sweetest note in seraph song,
Sweetest name on mortal tongue;
Sweetest carol ever sung,
Jesus, blessed Jesus.
Your many sins are all forgiv’n,
Oh, hear the voice of Jesus;
Go on your way in peace to heav’n,
And wear a crown with Jesus.
All glory to the dying Lamb!
I now believe in Jesus;
I love the blessed Savior’s name,
I love the name of Jesus.
His name dispels my guilt and fear,
No other name but Jesus;
Oh, how my soul delights to hear
The charming name of Jesus.
 

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20

Memorise: To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood. Galatians 1:16
Read: Acts 9:1-6
1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
Bible in one year: 2nd Chronicles 7-8, Ezekiel 36:1-15

1. Salvation is great, but you must ensure you are genuinely saved.
2. After having a definite encounter with the Lord that leads to salvation, there are some signs that will confirm to you that your salvation is genuine. One of these signs is that your emphasis would no longer be on what Jesus can do for you, but what you can do for the Lord.
3. The realisation of how close you were to Hell before God’s mercy reached out to save you will birth a heart of gratitude in you the moment you are genuinely saved. You will then feel the urge to serve God wholeheartedly in order to reciprocate His love.
4. Genuine salvation births heartfelt service.
5. If you say you are born again and nothing ever prompts you on the need to work for Jesus, that salvation is questionable.
6. In Acts 9:6, as soon as Saul had an encounter with Jesus on his way to Damascus, he asked the Lord, “What do you want me to do?”
7. Today, after people say they are saved, they only bombard heaven with their petitions and prayer requests. God will definitely meet your needs, but have you ever said, “Lord, thank You for the salvation of my soul. How can I show my gratitude for Your love? What can I do for the One who loved me and died for me?
8. “If you ask the Lord these questions, He would most probably tell you the same thing He said in Mark 5:19b to the erstwhile mad man of Gadara: “Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.”
9. Genuine salvation makes you more responsible and responsive to God.
10. After I was saved, I wanted to know what I could do for Jesus, because God had opened my eyes to see how close I was to Hell, and He made me realise I was now on my way to Heaven. This is why I find it distasteful to hear that some people who have been saved for three years have never witnessed Jesus Christ to anyone. After I was saved, I could not keep it to myself. I was ready to tell all who cared to listen that I was saved. I was also ready to serve. On one of such occasions, one of my ex-students drove by me and saw me carrying a big basket of sawdust on my head, and he screamed in surprise that his lecturer could be doing that in a church at Ebute Metta, Lagos. The location of our church at this time was like a slum. However, that did not change anything about my desire to serve my Saviour and Redeemer.
11. Does the realisation of the great things God has done for you motivate you to go the extra mile for Him in witnessing and giving? How committed are you to the expansion of God’s Kingdom on earth?
12. I urge you to become a responsible member of God’s Kingdom today. 

The passion to reach out to the unsaved like we used to be doesn’t exist in most believers. The zeal to replicate what happened to us in terms of salvation is not there in many. A preacher once said success is not in the number of cars you have or the amount you have in your account but in the ability to replicate yourself in others positively. We have the mandate to go into the world and bring many to Christ. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Matthew 28:19 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! Romans 10:14‭-‬15. They need us to tell them before they know. May the zeal and passion for the master’s work consume us in Jesus name. God bless Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Action Point
As a mark of genuine appreciation for your salvation, lead some souls to Jesus today!
HYMN
1 Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days;
let them flow in endless praise,
let them flow in endless praise.
2 Take my hands and let them move
at the impulse of thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
swift and beautiful for thee,
swift and beautiful for thee.
3 Take my voice and let me sing
always, only, for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
filled with messages from thee,
filled with messages from thee.
4 Take my silver and my gold;
not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
every power as thou shalt choose,
every power as thou shalt choose.
5 Take my will and make it thine;
it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart it is thine own;
it shall be thy royal throne,
it shall be thy royal throne.
6 Take my love; my Lord, I pour
at thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be
ever, only, all for thee,
ever, only, all for thee. 

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20

Memorise; Let all things be done decently and in order. 1st Corinthians 14:40
Read: 2nd Thessalonians 3:6-12
6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.
7 For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
8 Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:
9 Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.
10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.
12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
Bible in one year: 2nd Chronicles 5-6, Ezekiel 34:25-35:15

1. Through the Lord’s Prayer, we understand that everything that happens in Heaven is nothing short of God’s will. Matthew 6:10 says, “Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”
2. This implies that Heaven is not a place where you go and sin, disobey or do anything that God does not approve of.
3. Heaven is not for haters of God but for those who truly love Him. For this reason, anyone who cannot fit into God’s will on earth would not be allowed to pass through the gates of Heaven. (Revelation 22:15).
4. To enter into God’s place of abode, God expects you to start living the life of Heaven right here on earth. It is possible to achieve this when you give your life to Jesus Christ and allow Him to live His life through you (Galatians 2:20).
5. Therefore, if there is one thing you must do in order to make Heaven, it is to fit into God’s plan for your life and pursue nothing short of His will, just as Jesus Christ did (John 4:34).
6. If you cannot walk in His will throughout your lifetime on earth, there is no way for you to get into Heaven.
7. In the same vein, it is very important to do things in order.
8. God is a God of order.
9. To do things in order means to follow the format, principles and protocols laid down by a higher authority. There is order and protocol in Heaven.
10. To do well in your race to Heaven, you need to understand and follow this divine order and protocol (1st Chronicles 15:12-13). Although the Bible says there is only one God, it further reveals that this God is in three persons: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
11. In John 10:30, Jesus declared that He and His Father are one, and yet while referring to the persons of the Trinity, in Matthew 28:19, He followed a certain order; He said: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”
12. When we therefore baptize believers in Christ, it must be done following the order declared by the Lord Himself. We do not say because Jesus Christ has a Name that is above every other name, that the order should be changed to read: God the Son, God the Holy Spirit and God the Father.
13. When you violate the law of order, you violate the will of God. Nothing is done just for fun in Heaven; everything there is done to reflect God’s will, law or order.
14. There is a divine arrangement in place in Heaven: God is on His throne, the four living beings come next, and then the 24 elders (Revelation 4:2-6). That is divine order.
15. In serving God, you must do everything decently and in order. How compliant are you in this?

God is the God of order and everyone who wants to journey with Him must follow suit. Living by the principles of God is a must for every believer that wants to make Heaven. If your destination is Heaven, its better to start practicing orderliness here on earth. Brethren, let us be cautious of every of His command and know that exhibiting the will of the Father while here on earth is not optional, as the bible says thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Matt 6 10. I pray for such Grace that will enable me to abide by God’s principles in Jesus name. We bless God for Pastor E.A Adeboye and pray that God will equip him for greater works in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Father, grant me grace to live by Your principles in this world and to follow Your guidelines in all that I do.
HYMN
1 Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days;
let them flow in endless praise,
let them flow in endless praise.
2 Take my hands and let them move
at the impulse of thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
swift and beautiful for thee,
swift and beautiful for thee.
3 Take my voice and let me sing
always, only, for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
filled with messages from thee,
filled with messages from thee.
4 Take my silver and my gold;
not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
every power as thou shalt choose,
every power as thou shalt choose.
5 Take my will and make it thine;
it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart it is thine own;
it shall be thy royal throne,
it shall be thy royal throne.
6 Take my love; my Lord, I pour
at thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be
ever, only, all for thee,
ever, only, all for thee. 
 

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Memorise: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. 1st Peter 3:16
Read: 2nd Samuel 12:7-14
7 And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;
8 And I gave thee thy master’s house, and thy master’s wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.
9 Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.
10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.
11 Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.
12 For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.
13 And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.
14 Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.
Bible in one year: 2nd Chronicles 1-4, Ezekiel 34:11-24

1. A true representative of a good family will do everything possible to protect name of the family. For this reason, Proverbs 22:1 says, “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches and loving favour rather than silver and gold.”
2. If you are a worthy child of God, you will do all you can to honour God’s Name, and you will never bring it into disrepute.
3. Honouring God’s Name goes beyond lip service; God expects you to prove that you honour Him through your actions.
4. In 1st Samuel 17:1-51, David was angry that an uncircumcised Philistine could boldly insult the God of Israel, and yet nobody could do anything about it. He therefore took up the challenge of defending God’s Name. What have you done to defend or honour God’s Name?
5. In what way has your nation, state, community or even your workplace recognised the Lordship and greatness of God above all other gods because of your presence there? The patriarchs of old were not ashamed to stand for this same God, even at the cost of their lives (Hebrews 11:36-37). But how is it with you today? Are you even ashamed to publicly associate yourself with Jesus Christ, so that your peers and superiors will not look down on you?
6. If you truly hallow God’s Name, then under no circumstance would you defile that Name.
7. When someone looks at you and say, “How could you do this? And you call yourself a child of God!” Those words will go through you like a hot iron if your conscience is alive. If those words were spoken to you because you truly did err from the faith, you would feel pain in your heart, become miserable and feel ashamed of yourself. If indeed your conscience is alive, in such a moment, you would see yourself as a wretched sinner and immediately run to the cross of Calvary for mercy and forgiveness.
8. If your conscience is however dead, you may not feel a thing and just move on as if nothing ever happened.
9. Is your conscience still alive? Does it warn you before you do any evil? Does it prick you when you sin?
10. In 2nd Samuel 11, David and Bathsheba fell into the sin of adultery. By the time Nathan confronted David over this evil act, he felt horrible. He was broken and in pain. God told him that his actions had brought shame and disgrace to His Name (2nd Samuel 12:14). David genuinely repented, and God forgave him.
11. At what stage do you realise you have sinned, and what is your response to this realisation?

Sin has become a norm to many believers. They intentionally ignore the voice of the holyspirit calling their attention to a wrong act and attitude. They gradually allow their conscience die off because of lust, love of the world and temporary benefits. How sad! however, the good news is that there is always room in Christ for forgiveness for every sinner who will go to Him for salvation. If anyone falls in the category of those whose conscience is dead either knowingly or unknowingly, going back to our Saviour is the best thing to do. It is a great privilege to study the Open Heavens devotional daily. May God strengthen Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Father, from now on, may I never bring shame to Your Name by my deeds.
HYMN
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
the emblem of suffering and shame;
and I love that old cross where the dearest and best
for a world of lost sinners was slain.
Refrain:
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
and exchange it some day for a crown.
O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
has a wondrous attraction for me;
for the dear Lamb of God left his glory above
to bear it to dark Calvary. Refrain
In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
a wondrous beauty I see,
for ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
to pardon and sanctify me. Refrain
To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
its shame and reproach gladly bear;
then he’ll call me some day to my home far away,
where his glory forever I’ll share. Refrain

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Memorise: Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth; thou art taken with the words of thy mouth. Proverbs 6:2
Read: Genesis 35:16-19
16 And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour.
17 And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also.
18 And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.
19 And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem.
Bible in one year: 1st Chronicles 28-29, Ezekiel 33:30-34:10

1. Blessings and curses are two of the most powerful forces on earth, even though they function in opposite ways.
2. When present in any life, either of them can seriously affect the destiny of their recipient. Psalm 37:22 says, “For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.”
3. What does this mean? It means that if God blesses you, there is nothing you desire that you cannot get. This is why I am amazed whenever I come across some of my children and they say to me, “Daddy, please pray for me”, and when I respond saying “God bless you”, they still ask me to further pray for them. I tell such people that I have already prayed the greatest prayer anyone can pray for them, because if God blesses someone, all his or her problems will be over. As a user of this devotional, I say to you, God bless you!
4. Proverbs 10:22 reveals the power of the blessings that God gives; it says, “The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.”
5. If you are blessed of the Lord, you will definitely inherit the earth. You will have all you want. However, if you are cursed by God, you will find out that when God curses a person, that fellow will sooner or later become desolate.
6. What is a curse? A curse is an invitation to all the forces in heaven, on earth and underneath the earth to combine forces and resources to work against a person, until he or she is completely destroyed. So when an individual is cursed, demons, men, animals and even the elements will work against that fellow.
7. Let us consider the example of Rachael in Genesis 31:31-35. After Jacob served Laban, he finally left to return home. Then came Laban in hot pursuit after Jacob, and he caught up with him. Laban then said to him, “You have taken my two daughters and my cattle, and now you have equally stolen my idols.” Jacob denied stealing the idols and said whoever stole them should die. Unknown to him, his beloved wife Rachel had stolen these idols and sat on them. They checked everywhere but the idols were not found. Jacob thereafter left Laban in annoyance. Later on, in Genesis 35:16-19, shortly after delivering her next child, Rachel died. The curse her husband had pronounced eventually worked against her.
8. May you not use your own mouth to undo yourself or members of your family in Jesus’ Name!

There is power in our tongues and we should know this. We should also know the fact that we are blessed by God and cannot be cursed. He has also made us a blessing and we should indeed be a blessing to others and not curse them. Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought! Numbers 23:23 The Lord’s blessing was on Isreal and this is why in the face of different storms they faced they triumphed. Even when Balak hired to curse them he ended up blessing them. (Number 23) We are the seed of Abraham, joint heirs with Christ and heirs according to the promise. We are blessed and should live in this consciousness therefore every curse over any believer should not stand. We are blessed and this shall be evident in our lives. May God continually bless and increase Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Key Point
A curse makes a person the target of negative forces.
HYMN
Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus
Daily let me go;
Higher, higher in the school of wisdom,
More of grace to know.
Refrain:
Oh, deeper yet, I pray,
And higher every day,
And wiser, blessed Lord,
In Thy precious, holy Word.
Deeper, deeper, blessed Holy Spirit,
Take me deeper still,
Till my life is wholly lost in Jesus,
And His perfect will.
Deeper, deeper! though it cost hard trials,
Deeper let me go!
Rooted in the holy love of Jesus,
Let me fruitful grow.
Deeper, higher, every day in Jesus,
Till all conflict past,
Finds me conqu’ror, and in His own image
Perfected at last.
Deeper, deeper in the faith of Jesus,
Holy faith and true;
In His pow’r and soul exulting wisdom
Let me peace pursue.
 

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Memorize: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraifeth not; and it shall be given him. James 1:5
Read: Daniel 1:18-20
18 Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.
19 And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.
20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.
Bible in one year: 1st Chronicles 25:27, Ezekiel 33:21-29

1. Wisdom is the quality of discerning what is true, what is ethically right, and what should be done in different situations.
2. Wisdom is fundamentally practical in nature.
3. Although God alone possesses wisdom in the absolute sense, as benevolent God, He is willing to give His wisdom to all those who seek it in humble reverence (James 1:5). We see the wisdom of God manifested in the work of creation and in the provision of redemption from sin through Jesus Christ.
4. Divine wisdom refers to the abilities given by God in every area of life including recognising and applying the provision of salvation through Christ Jesus, craftsmanship, knowledge and insight for right decisions in life, and several others.
5. Divine wisdom cannot be received by those who put their confidence in worldly wisdom, which is based on human cleverness and insight without God’s revelation.
6. God considers this human kind of wisdom to be foolishness. It may produce temporary success in life, but this will come to nothing in the long run. 1st Corinthians 3:19-20 says, “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.”
7. Worldly wisdom builds pride and false hope in people, so much so that it makes them arrogate success to themselves to the exclusion of the Almighty God (Proverbs 26:12, Isaiah 47:10). In Isaiah 29:14, God has declared that worldly wisdom shall perish.
8. Wisdom has its roots in knowledge.
9. Wisdom is the ability to correctly make use of acquired knowledge.
10. Divine wisdom leads to proper conduct because it is built on the fear of God (Job 28:28).
11. One of the dimensions that the Holy Spirit operates in is wisdom (Isaiah 11:2).
12. Those who desire to possess divine wisdom will therefore need to cultivate an intimate relationship with Him (Proverbs 1:20-26).
13. The Holy Spirit can fill a man’s heart with divine wisdom through the diligent study of God’s word (Psalms 19:7).
14. He can also give divine wisdom through revelation. This revelation can come in the place of observing how others live their lives, or through the study of nature.
15. Wisdom may also be received as a result of practical experiences of life and from parental guidance.
16. Divine wisdom can only be received by those who are willing to give up all reliance on their own human insight and understanding.
17. As you seek for divine wisdom by one or a combination of ways mentioned here, God will answer you and fill you up with His divine wisdom in Jesus’ Name.

As rightly defined by Pastor E.A ADEBOYE in today’s devotional “Wisdom has its roots in knowledge. Wisdom is the ability to correctly make use of acquired knowledge” . However, divine wisdom is greatly beyond human wisdom and the only source of acquisition of such wisdom is from the Almighty God. Also if we genuinely engage with the person of the Holy Spirit, having divine revelation will not be a challenge to us. Believers can’t accomplish much without divine wisdom as the Bible says Ecclesiastes 10:10 “Wisdom is profitable to direct. Hence, being able to consistently inquire and acquire from God is greatly profitable for decision making. God bless Pastor E.A Adeboye for blessing us with the word of God daily in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Father, please teach me Your ways and lead me through the path of wisdom in Jesus’ Name.
HYMN
1 God give us Christian homes! 
Homes where the Bible is loved and taught, 
Homes where the Master’s will is sought, 
Homes crowned with beauty Your love has wrought; 
God give us Christian homes; 
God give us Christian homes! 
2 God give us Christian homes! 
Homes where the father is true and strong, 
Homes that are free from the blight of wrong, 
Homes that are joyous with love and song; 
God give us Christian homes; 
God give us Christian homes! 
3 God give us Christian homes! 
Homes where the mother, in caring quest, 
Strives to show others Your way is best, 
Homes where the Lord is an honored guest; 
God give us Christian homes; 
God give us Christian homes! 
4 God give us Christian homes! 
Homes where the children are led to know 
Christ in His beauty who loves them so, 
Homes where the altar fires burn and glow; 
God give us Christian homes; 
God give us Christian homes!
 

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Memorise: For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Romans 15:4
Read: Romans 15:4-5
4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
Bible in one year: 1st Chronicles 22-24, Ezekiel 33:10-20

1. We are blessed to have a God that does not desert those who belong to Him.
2. In Hebrews 13:5, God promised never to leave nor forsake His own.
3. The divine presence of the Great Shepherd strengthens His sheep, so much so that they entertain no fear.
4. If you are His sheep, He is always with you; even when you cannot feel Him.
5. Do you know that in those moments when it appears as if God has gone on a journey, He is much more around you than you can imagine? When He promised to be with us always, He was not joking (Matthew 28:20).
6. Are you a sheep of the Great Shepherd? Are you feeling lonely or does it appear that God has forsaken you? He has not. He is right there by your side. He can hear your voice and your whisper. He can even hear your unvoiced wishes, and He will answer you. However, do everything to remain His sheep. Remain within His fold and shun every temptation to stray to the left or to the right.
7. If Jesus is the Shepherd of your soul, you will not lack comfort because He has promised to comfort you through His rod and staff (Psalm 23:4).
8. No one can make it through this pilgrim’s way without the comfort of the Great Shepherd.
9. One way we receive comfort today, as followers of Jesus Christ, is through the Holy Spirit. Hence, John 14:16 says, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever.”
10. When you go through loss or experience some very painful situations, you need the comfort of the Spirit to restore you to a state of peace. The Holy Spirit is so good at this. If however you create a gulf between yourself and the Holy Spirit, how would you then be comforted in the time of need?
11. From experience, the comfort you get from fellow human beings is grossly inadequate. Why? At best, man’s attempt at comforting you may satisfy mainly physical needs, but the comfort of the Holy Spirit can reach out to all areas of need, particularly the realm of the soul.
12. Another way of accessing real soothing comfort is from the word of God. Romans 15:4 says that this kind of comfort does not only deal with the unrest in your heart, but it also gives you hope. This is one reason why you should never be far from the Bible.
13. The word of God inspires hope.
14. If you feel hopeless, check yourself; you may find out that God’s word is scarce in your heart.
15. Are you feeling hopeless or in need of comfort? Reach out for God’s word today.

The Holyspirit is our great comforter. However, when we shun his leading or ignore his love, voice and comfort he goes mute. Many times when grieving, the Holy Spirit leads us to certain scripture that lifts our burden instantly once we yield to the leading. This is a pointer to total submission to the Lord through obedience to His word and His Spirit. It’s well with us as we yield to His word and spirit in Jesus name. We are daily refreshed as we study the Open Heavens devotional. May God continually increase Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Key Point
One crucial time you need the comfort of the Holy Spirit is when you are passing through a wilderness experience.
HYMN
1 God give us Christian homes! 
Homes where the Bible is loved and taught, 
Homes where the Master’s will is sought, 
Homes crowned with beauty Your love has wrought; 
God give us Christian homes; 
God give us Christian homes! 
2 God give us Christian homes! 
Homes where the father is true and strong, 
Homes that are free from the blight of wrong, 
Homes that are joyous with love and song; 
God give us Christian homes; 
God give us Christian homes! 
3 God give us Christian homes! 
Homes where the mother, in caring quest, 
Strives to show others Your way is best, 
Homes where the Lord is an honored guest; 
God give us Christian homes; 
God give us Christian homes! 
4 God give us Christian homes! 
Homes where the children are led to know 
Christ in His beauty who loves them so, 
Homes where the altar fires burn and glow; 
God give us Christian homes; 
God give us Christian homes!
 

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