Open Heavens Daily Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: SUNDAY JULY 17TH, 2022.

THEME: WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE OF PRAISE

MEMORISE: 

I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 

Psalms 34:1 

READ: Philippians 4:8 

8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Psalms 34:1 -5 

1 I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

2 My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.

3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.

4 I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

5 They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.

MESSAGE      

Probably the greatest thoughts any man can have are those of praise to God - when you just sit and begin to think of this great God and how marvelous He is. It is such thoughts that yielded names like “Greater than the greatest, Stronger than the strongest, Richer than the richest, Wiser than the wisest, Older than the oldest” which I call God today. It is such thoughts that results in some wonderful songs of praise that musicians sing. Like one of my daughters who sang about how big God is in Yoruba and said, "Gbangba Gbangba". Such are the kinds of thoughts that every child of God should have. 

Some people are angry with God because they feel He did not show up for them when they needed Him, but how can you be angry with your Maker? Isaiah 45:9 says:

Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?

I laugh most times when I hear people give God ultimatums to do their bidding. If He doesn’t do what you want, what can you do? Will you charge Him to court? Who will rule against the King of kings? In our memory verse for today, David said he would bless the Lord at ALL times. This means that, whether in sorrow or happiness, plenty or lack, life or death, he would continue to bless the Lord. He also said in Psalm 71:20 that even though he had been through many sorrows, he knew that God would raise him again.

Today, I want you to put aside all your troubles and just think of how great God is. Look for a notebook and write down some of your thoughts of praise for Him. You can even share some of these thoughts with other people around you and discuss the greatness of our God. Let thoughts of praise to this Mighty God fill your heart all the time.

KEY POINT 

You can't fight the maker of heaven and earth; praise Him instead.

Click here for TODAY'S OPEN HEAVENS PRAYER POINTS.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalm 119: 121-176

AUTHOR: PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE 

HYMN 19: O WORSHIP THE KING ALL GLORIOUS ABOVE

1 O worship the King all-glorious above,

O gratefully sing his power and his love:

our shield and defender, the Ancient of Days,

pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise.

2 O tell of his might and sing of his grace,

whose robe is the light, whose canopy space.

His chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form,

and dark is his path on the wings of the storm.

3 Your bountiful care, what tongue can recite?

It breathes in the air, it shines in the light;

it streams from the hills, it descends to the plain,

and sweetly distills in the dew and the rain.

4 Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail,

in you do we trust, nor find you to fail.

Your mercies, how tender, how firm to the end,

our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend!

5 O measureless Might, unchangeable Love,

whom angels delight to worship above!

Your ransomed creation, with glory ablaze,

in true adoration shall sing to your praise!