Open Heavens Daily Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: FRIDAY APRIL 29TH, 2022.

THEME: WHY DO YOU EAT?

MEMORISE:  

Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness! 

Ecclesiastes 10:17

READ: Ecclesiastes 10:16 -17

16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!

17 Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!

MESSAGE

The Bible says that the main purpose for eating should be to gain strength, not for indulging the flesh, as many people do. Food gives strength; however, it can also make a fellow weak spiritually and  physically. When you see people who have become obese because they eat whatever the like and whenever they like, you will notice that they are usually weak. For example, such people will begin to pant heavily after minimal physical exercise. That is a case of overindulgence in food, causing physical weakness. So, if you have noticed that getting up from your seat takes longer and more effort than it should, you need to check your diet.

Those who eat for strength don't just eat anything; they eat what will make them strong. Fruits and vegetables will provide you with strength; eat a lot of them. Avoid eating foods with much sugar; they usually cause physical exhaustion. Some people say they have a sweet tooth, and so they are always eating sugary things. May your eating habit not land you in the hospital. If you ask any doctor, they will tell you that sugar weakens the immune system and allows bacteria and virus to multiply within the body.

If you eat for strength, then almost invariably, you would only eat enough food to give you strength. You would not only eat so much as to become weak at the end of the day. Some people like to eat much until their stomach protrudes; this is dangerous to your well-being. You should eat just enough to give you strength. When you are maybe 80% full, you should stop. When you load your body with too much food, you give it the task of digesting all that food at the same time and all that will definitely cause some weakness.

Anyone who does not eat primarily for strength will also be weak spiritually. How can you pray for long when your tummy is filled with pounded yam? How can you pray when you are  always feeling lethargic due to the kind of food you consume? It is for your own physical and spiritual good that you should eat, in moderate quantities, only foods that will give you strength. 

ACTION POINT

Assess your regular diet and remove all forms of junk food, replacing them with healthy substitutes.

Click here for TODAY'S OPEN HEAVENS PRAYER POINTS.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1Chronicle 9-11

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE 

HYMN 28: WHEN WE WALK WITH THE LORD

1 When we walk with the Lord 

in the light of his word, 

what a glory he sheds on our way! 

While we do his good will, 

he abides with us still, 

and with all who will trust and obey. 

Refrain:

Trust and obey, for there's no other way 

to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey. 

2 Not a burden we bear, 

not a sorrow we share, 

but our toil he doth richly repay; 

not a grief or a loss, 

not a frown or a cross, 

but is blest if we trust and obey.

3 But we never can prove 

the delights of his love 

until all on the altar we lay; 

for the favor he shows, 

for the joy he bestows, 

are for them who will trust and obey.

4 Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at his feet, 

or we'll walk by his side in the way; 

what he says we will do, 

where he sends we will go; 

never fear, only trust and obey.