OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DATE: THURSDAY 19TH NOVEMBER 2015

THEME: LOOK UPWARDS!

Memorise:
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
Psalm 121:1

Read: Psalm 121:1-2
1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.

Message
In the course of our walk with God, we encounter challenges of life that test the level and quality of our faith; but praise God that we have the assurance of the Lord that there is no mountain our faith cannot surmount (Matthew 17:20). For those who are in Christ, problems arise in order to generate testimonies. The size of the problem you encounter will determine the size of your testimony. If you ask God for a big testimony, then you must be ready to face a big challenge. What made the testimony of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego most outstanding was not just the fact that they went through the fiery furnace, but the fact that the furnace, heated to its most intense level, could not harm them (Daniel 3:19-24). Are you going through fire at the moment? Fear not! Look up to God and He will see you through.

Are you confronted with any issue of life? In what direction are you looking for solution? If looking forward, backward and sideways has not helped you, then it is time to look up. Looking ahead, behind or sideways simply suggests dependence on self or on people. Depending on a fellow man operating at the same level as you is a foolish thing to do; you cannot access true help that way. Jeremiah 17:5 says:
"Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD."

Furthermore, looking down implies looking at the devil and his forces of darkness, because they are under your feet. Of course you can't go to the architect of a problem for its solution. You need to know that until you look upwards for God's intervention, you may never get your blessing.

There was a particular nice woman who had an epileptic son. Whenever he had a seizure, it was so bad. Wherever she rented an apartment, people loved her for her good nature, but after they realise her son was epileptic, they would show her the exit door with some apology. This made her move houses so often. Then one day, while going with the boy to the market, at the very heart of town, the boy experienced a seizure and everyone fled. She grabbed the boy, stood him on his feet, lifted her eyes to God and said, "O God, I am here without anyone to help me, but I know you are there, please help me." From that day, her son was healed of that condition. Has an unpleasant situation brought you to a most disgraceful place? Look up to God today, hold unto Him and He will make a way for you. The Lord will terminate your shame and turn it into honour.

Prayer Point:
Father, give me the grace to always focus my gaze on You.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: JOB 36:1-40:2 and 1 TIMOTHY 6:3-21
AUTHOR: Pst. E. A. ADEBOYE

Prayer Points On Today's Open Heavens (Thursday November 19th 2015)
-LOOK UPWARDS!
1.Thank you Father because you are the helper of the helpless.
2.I worship you Father because you are the present help in times of trouble.
3.I bow before you Father, because all powers belong to you and you are able to save and to deliver me, from every affliction.
4.Father, forgive and have mercy upon me, for all the times I have looked unto the arm of flesh for help, rather than heaven.
5.Father, let every curse upon my life as a result of seeking help in "Egypt" be broken by your mercy.
6.Father, as from today, grant unto me the grace to always focus my gaze upon you and to look unto you, only, for help.
7.Father, empower me by your grace to pass every test and trial of faith, that may come my way.
8.Father, give me a faith that can move mountain and overcome every challenge of life, no matter, how fomidable.
9.Father, turn all my tests and trials into big testimonies.
10.Father, let every spirit of fear and doubts in my life be consumed by your fire, in Jesus' name.
11.Father, take over every battle in my life, fight for me and turn the tide against my enemies.
12.Father, reveal all my enemies to me, that I may avoid looking unto the architects of my problems for solution.
13.Father, let everyone, who has an input in the problems of my life be exposed and openly disgraced, today, in Jesus' name.
14.Father, let every difficult and stubborn challenge in my life, receive divine intervention and solution today, in Jesus' name.
15.Father, remove my filthy garments, today, and give me a change of raiment.
16.Your Personal. petitions. (Phil 4:6)
17. In Jesus' name I pray.(Jn 15:16)
18.Thank you Father for answered prayers.(1 Thes 5:18).