OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DATE: MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2026.
TOPIC: REVERSING OPPORTUNITIES
MEMORISE
That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee. - (Deuteronomy 30:3)
READ: John 21:15-19 (KJV)
15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.
19 This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
MESSAGE
It is popularly said that an opportunity lost can never be regained. However, this can only be true when God decides to be silent about such opportunities. The moment God gets involved, lost opportunities can be regained.
In the 1960s, I was a games master at a school called Okeigbo/lfetedo Grammar School. The school received an invitation to participate in a competition in Akure, one of the state capitals in Western Nigeria, and I got talking with the host school's games master during the competition. Sometime later, I was admitted into the University of Lagos for my Master's degree, and I applied to the Federal Government for a scholarship. When a year passed without a response from the Federal Government, I assumed that I didn't get the scholarship, and I continued paying the fees myself. One day, while walking on the university campus, I saw the games master I had met in Akure over a year earlier. We got talking again, and he told me that he was now working with the Federal Ministry of Education. Then I said to him, "I applied for a scholarship with your ministry, and I did not get any response." He then told me that he remembered my application because I was the only one who applied for a postgraduate scholarship in mathematics. He said it was a unanimous decision to grant me the scholarship, and that the interview would have been a formality. To cut the story short, he said that he would see what he could do about it, and we parted ways. Two weeks later, I got a letter from the Federal Ministry of Education granting me a full scholarship that was backdated to the day I started my Master's programme. I decree that any good opportunity that you thought had been lost forever will be restored by the Almighty God, in Jesus' name.
In Matthew 26:69-75, Peter had the opportunity to stand for Christ; however, he lost it when he denied the Lord thrice. He was so heartbroken that he decided to return to fishing (John 21:3). However, Jesus stepped in and gave him another opportunity, as we see in today's Bible reading. After the Lord's intervention, the same man, who denied Jesus three times, boldly faced the rulers who killed the Lord and told them that he would not stop speaking about Him (Acts 4:8-13).
Beloved, have you lost valuable opportunities in the past? Ask God for mercy, and He will restore you and help you regain such opportunities.
PRAYER POINT
Father, please give me a second chance and restore every good opportunity I have lost, in Jesus' name.
AUTHOR: Pastor E. A. Adeboye
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
1 Kings 10 - 12
HYMN 2 - AMAZING GRACE
1. Amazing grace! how sweet the sound! That saved a wretch like me; I once was lost, but now am found; Was blind, but now I see.
2. 'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear And grace my fears relieved; How precious did that grace appear The hour I first believed!
3. Through many dangers, toils,
and snares, I have already come; 'Tis grace that brought me safe thus far, And grace will lead me home.
4. Yes, when this heart and flesh shall fail, And mortal life shall cease, I shall possess within the vail, A life of joy and peace.
God bless you as you share.
RCCG 74th Annual Convention!
Theme: MOUNTAIN MOVERS
Date: August 2026 at Redemption City
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