Open Heavens Daily Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: MONDAY SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2023.

THEME: CLAIM HIS PEACE

MEMORISE: 

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 

John 14:27 

READ: Isaiah 66:12 -14

12 For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees.

13 As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.

14 And when ye see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb: and the hand of the LORD shall be known toward his servants, and his indignation toward his enemies.

MESSAGE

Since your Daddy is called the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), you must start behaving like a child of the Prince of Peace. In our Bible reading today, He promised you more peace like a river. If you have been finding it difficult to sleep, remember Psalm 127:2, where He said He gives His beloved sleep.

When I became General Overseer, we had 39 parishes but there were so many problems. I was always so worried about the work of God and though l was just 40 years old, my hair had started to turn grey, l asked God, "Lord, why?" and He said, "You are carrying a burden that is not yours. You cannot share My glory. If you cannot share My glory, you cannot share My burden; let me carry My burden". Right there and then, l stopped worrying, and my hair gradually turned black again.

If the devil has seized your peace, you need to claim it back. James 4:7 says you should resist the devil and he will flee from you. At times you need to fight to get that peace. Initially, when you start resisting the devil, he will act as if he wants to fight, but when he realizes that you are not going to back down, he will flee.

When l was young, l was very small in stature and there was a bully in my primary school. He knew l couldn't defeat him in fight, so he always tormented me. He tortured me at every opportunity. One day, something moved inside of me. I just decided, "l'm going to fight this boy. I know l can't beat him because he is too big but we will fight until he kills me, and then the government will kill him, so that it will be a draw". The next time he came to torment me, l said, "Don't touch me". Shocked, he said, "You spoke?" and hit me. I hit him too and He knocked me down. I got up and hit him again. He knocked me down several times but l kept getting up. After a while, he must have thought, "This boy wants to die", so he ran away and l chased after him. The bully was now running from me because l refused to back down. From that day on, l had peace. Your Saviour is the Prince of Peace and He has already given you His peace (John 14:27). Claim it today and it shall be yours in Jesus' name.

KEY POINT 

Sometimes you have to fight for your peace. Resist the devil in prayers and he will  leave you alone. 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Habakkuk 1-3

AUTHOR: PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

Hymn 29: WHEN PEACE LIKE A RIVER ATTENDETH MY WAY

1 When peace like a river attendeth my way,

when sorrows like sea billows roll;

whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,

"It is well, it is well with my soul."

Refrain (may be sung after final stanza only):

It is well with my soul;

it is well, it is well with my soul.

2 Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,

let this blest assurance control:

that Christ has regarded my helpless estate,

and has shed his own blood for my soul. Refrain

3 My sin oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!

my sin, not in part, but the whole,

is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more;

praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! Refrain

4 O Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,

the scroll be rolled back as a scroll

the trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend;

even so, it is well with my soul.