₦airaland Forum

Here are 5 objective questions:

1. What scripture is the memory verse for this devotional, which defines God as "our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble"?
A. Psalm 46:11
B. Isaiah 65:24
C. Psalm 46:1
D. Luke 13:11

2. According to the message, what is a key meaning when we say that God is a "very present" help?
A. He is only the God of the past
B. He knows the best way to handle present situations
C. He only helps those who rely on past glory
D. He will only answer hours after you call

3. What must a person do, according to the devotional's Key Point and Message, to access God's very present help?
A. Boast about their past relationship with God
B. Totally surrender their life to Jesus
C. Avoid carrying everything to God in prayer
D. Rely on the advice of medical doctors alone

4. In the story of the student who had a terrible body odor, what was God's final instruction to him after he made the required restitution?
A. To drink only cold water for two weeks
B. To stop lecturing at the university
C. To take a new type of medication
D. To not drink cold water for two weeks

5. Which scripture is quoted in the message to show that God is so present that He provides solutions even before we discover we need help?
A. Isaiah 65:24
B. Psalm 46:7
C. Mark 7:34
D. Psalm 40:17

Prayer Points on "THE LORD IS MY VERY PRESENT HELP"

1. Father, I thank You because You are my refuge and my strength, a Very Present Help in trouble. Thank You for being the God of the present, who is always aware of and knows the best way to handle every situation in my life, in Jesus' name (Psalm 46:1).

2. Lord, I totally surrender my life and all my present circumstances to You. Forgive me for any area where I have been riding on past glory or have not regarded You as my Lord in the present. I renew my commitment to You today; let my life be completely Yours, in Jesus' name (Key Point & Message).

3. Father, because I have surrendered my life to You, I step into the full access of Your "very present help." I decree that I will not forfeit the peace and help available to me by failing to carry everything to You in prayer, in Jesus' name (Hymn 27 & Message).

4. O Lord, search my heart and my past. If there is any restitution I need to make to fully open the door to Your present help, reveal it to me by Your Spirit. Grant me the grace to obey instantly, so I can receive Your accurate and prepared help that overturns every long-standing problem, in Jesus' name (Message).

5. My Very Present Help, because You are with me, I will not fear, though the earth be removed and though the mountains shake. I decree stability and peace over my life, my family, and my nation. Help me to 'Be still, and know that You are God,' in Jesus' name (Psalm 46:2-3, 10).

6. Father, I thank You that You answer before I call. Even before I discover that I need help in the present moment, You have gone ahead to provide the solution. Manifest Your pre-arranged, timely, and early help in my current challenge (mention a specific present need), in Jesus' name (Isaiah 65:24 & Psalm 46:5).

7. Mighty God, You are the God who makes wars cease and breaks every instrument of battle (bow, spear, chariot). Every present trouble, raging storm, or battle confronting my peace (e.g., in my health, finances, marriage, career), I command You to utter Your voice and bring it to an end today, in Jesus' name (Psalm 46:6, 9).

8. I decree and declare that the LORD of hosts is with me; the God of Jacob is my refuge. I claim Your presence in my life; therefore, I shall not be moved by any adversity. Let my life be a dwelling place where Your stream of joy and gladness flows continually, in Jesus' name (Psalm 46:4, 7, 11).

9. My Personal Prayer Point: (Mention a specific, current, and urgent issue where you need God's "very present help" right now, and ask Him to intervene with His ready solution).

10. Father, I pray for Your son, Pastor E. A. Adeboye. Continue to be his refuge and his very present help in every area of his life and ministry. Sustain and empower him to bring Your message of hope and help to all Your people, in Jesus' name.

11. Thank You, Father, for providing Your help even while I was yet speaking. I receive Your accurate and prepared help now. My faith is in You, my Very Present Help, and I declare my testimony shall be glorious, in Jesus' mighty name. Amen!

Lord Jesus, I come to You with a deeply repentant heart, please, forgive me and wash all my sins away with your precious blood shed at Calvary. I surrender my life to you, today, and, I accept You, as my personal Lord and Saviour. Please, come into my life and save my soul from eternal damnation.

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL


DATE: SUNDAY OCTOBER 26TH 2025


THEME: THE LORD IS MY VERY PRESENT HELP


MEMORISE: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1


READ: Psalms 46:1-11
1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.

5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.

6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.

7 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.
9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.

10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

11 The LORD of hosts Is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.


MESSAGE
Today’s memory verse emphasizes the fact that God is our very present help in times of trouble. He is the God of the past, but He is also the God of the present. He can fix anything that is affecting your present as a result of mistakes you made in the past.

One of my students, while I was still a lecturer at the University of Lagos, came to me some years ago. He had a problem -he was always sweating, and his sweat smelled terribly. Nobody could sit close to him because of how bad he smelled. Different doctors had prescribed different soaps and medications for him, but the problem persisted. I was about to pray for him when God said, “No, don’t pray; he needs to make a restitution.” I told him what God said, and He made the required restitution.

After the restitution, he returned to me so l could pray for him, but God said, “There is no need; just tell him not to drink cold water for two weeks.” That was the end of the problem. Medical doctors could never have resolved this problem, but the One who is the Very Present Help went to his past, turned the situation around, and gave him a testimony.

When we say that God is very present, it means that there is nothing happening in the present that He is not aware of. It also means that He knows the best way to handle situations in the present. God’s help is always very present to those who have surrendered their lives to Him.

Isaiah 65:24 says, “And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.” This means that even before you discover that you need help, the Very Present Help has gone ahead of you to provide solutions. I pray that you will experience more of God’s accurate and prepared help from now henceforth, in Jesus’ name.

I must, however, add that if you have not totally surrendered your life to Jesus, you cannot access His very present help. Do not be like people who boast of a past relationship with God and expect Him to help them in the present. If you are riding on past glory, it is time to renew your commitment to God. When you do this, you will then begin to enjoy His very present help.


KEY POINT
God is the very present help to those who regard Him as their Lord in the present.


BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Luke 11-12


AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE


HYMN 27: WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS
What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!

2 Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness
Take it to the Lord in prayer!

3 Are we weak and heavy laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge—
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
Do your friends despise, forsake you?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In his arms he’ll take and shield you
You will find a solace there.

The Correct Answers:

1. B: Psalm 40
2. B: Deaf and had an impediment in his speech
3. C: Eighteen years
4. C: Everything he had lost in the past.
5. C: The Lord Mighty in Battle

QUIZ

1. The memory verse for the devotional, "The Lord Is My Deliverer," is taken from which book of the Bible?
A: Psalm 18
B: Psalm 40
C: Isaiah 43
D: Luke 13

2. In the Bible reading (Mark 7:32-37), the man brought to Jesus had two specific afflictions. What were they?
A: Blind and lame
B: Deaf and had an impediment in his speech
C: Leper and paralyzed
D: Possessed by a demon and mute

3. According to the message, how long had the woman mentioned in Luke 13:11-13 been bent and unable to walk uprightly?
A: Seven years
B: Twelve years
C: Eighteen years
D: Twenty-one years

4. The devotional states that when the Mighty Deliverer cleansed the ten lepers, the one who returned to give thanks was "made whole." The message interprets this to mean he recovered what?
A: His right to re-enter the temple.
B: All the family members who had abandoned him.
C: Everything he had lost in the past.
D: A new career and place of residence.

5. The devotional references Psalm 24:8 to call the Deliverer by which title?
A: The Lord of Hosts
B: The Mighty One of Jacob
C: The Lord Mighty in Battle
D: The Great Physician

Prayer Points on "THE LORD IS MY DELIVERER"

1. Father, I thank You because You are my rock, my fortress, and my Deliverer. Thank You for the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross, which secured my eternal freedom and salvation. I acknowledge that apart from You, I can do nothing, in Jesus' name (Psalm 18:2-3).

2. Lord, I sincerely repent for every sin, known and unknown, that may have given the enemy a legal ground to afflict, oppress, or keep me in any form of bondage. Forgive me for relying on my own strength or looking to man for help instead of to You. Wash me in the blood of Jesus and purify my heart, in Jesus' name (Psalm 40:17).

3. My Great Deliverer, Jesus Christ, I look up to You today. Put Your finger into every deaf ear in my life and say "Ephphatha!" (Be Opened). Let my spiritual ears, my physical ears, and the ears of my understanding be supernaturally opened to hear Your voice, Your instruction, and Your purpose for my life, in Jesus' name (Mark 7:34).

4. O Lord, You are the Mighty Deliverer! Every tongue that has been tied by the enemy, causing me to have an impediment in my speech—whether in preaching, testifying, praying, or declaring Your word—be loosed now! I receive the power to speak clearly and plainly, proclaiming Your goodness and power without measure, in Jesus' name (Mark 7:35).

5. Every stubborn, lingering sickness and infirmity in my body (mention any specific one you are facing) that doctors or human effort cannot treat, I receive Your healing touch right now! Just as the woman bent for eighteen years was set free, I command every evil spirit behind this affliction to loose its hold on my life, be broken, and let me go, in Jesus' name (Luke 13:11-13).

6. I command total restoration! Every good thing the enemy (the devil/affliction/oppression) has stolen from me—my joy, my peace, my health, my finances, my relationships, my opportunities—I command them to be fully restored, as if the enemy never came near me at all. I receive the whole and complete blessing just like the delivered leper who returned to give thanks, in Jesus' name (Luke 17:19).

7. Lord Mighty in Battle, every stronghold of the enemy, every form of physical, spiritual, financial, or marital bondage holding me captive, I call on You, the Lord of Hosts (Psalm 24:10). Arise and fight on my behalf, destroy every chain, and set me free completely today, in Jesus' name (Psalm 24:8 ).

8. I decree and declare that I am a child of God, and no one can pluck me out of Your mighty hand! I pray for everyone I know who is facing affliction or oppression; appear to them as their Deliverer. Grant them a supernatural encounter that completely overturns their situation, in Jesus' name (Isaiah 43:13 ).

9. My personal prayer point: (Mention a specific area of oppression, fear, addiction, or challenge you want the Lord to deliver you from, and pray for complete, irreversible freedom and restoration).

10. Father, I pray for Your son, Pastor E. A. Adeboye. Continue to be his help and his Deliverer. Protect him from every form of affliction and oppression. Strengthen him daily and use him mightily to deliver Your people, in Jesus' name.

11. Thank You, Father, for answering my prayers. I declare that I am delivered, I am whole, and my testimony shall be a perpetual song of praise to my Great Deliverer, in Jesus' mighty name. Amen!

Lord Jesus, I come to You with a deeply repentant heart, please, forgive me and wash all my sins away with your precious blood shed at Calvary. I surrender my life to you, today, and, I accept You, as my personal Lord and Saviour. Please, come into my life and save my soul from eternal damnation.

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL


DATE: SATURDAY OCTOBER 25TH 2025


THEME: THE LORD IS MY DELIVERER


MEMORISE: But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God. Psalm 40:17


READ: Mark 7:32-37

32 And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him.

33 And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue;

34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.

35 And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.

36 And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it;

37 And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.


MESSAGE
Luke 13:11-13 tells us of a woman who was bent for eighteen years and couldn’t walk uprightly. She must have visited many doctors and used different medications, all to no avail. However, when she encountered Jesus, she was set free immediately. There are some sicknesses that even the best doctors cannot treat. If you are experiencing any lingering sickness, you need just one touch from the Great Deliverer to make you whole.

When the devil afflicts a fellow with an infirmity, he adds a lot of sorrowful things to the person’s life. For example, besides suffering from leprosy, lepers also suffer isolation, which might lead to depression, especially if they are abandoned by their relatives and friends. If they had thriving businesses, the businesses might automatically shut down because some people might not want to do business with them. In Luke 17:12-19, there were ten lepers who needed to be delivered from leprosy.

When the Mighty Deliverer came on the scene, they were cleansed, and one of them, who returned to give thanks, was made whole. I believe this meant that he recovered everything he had lost in the past. This is what the Lord can do for you when He is your deliverer. He can restore everything the enemy might have stolen from you as if he never came near you at all. I pray that God will show Himself mighty on your behalf, deliver you from every affliction and oppression you might be experiencing, and make you whole, in Jesus’ name.

We have a deliverer; He is called the Lord of Hosts (Psalm 24:10) and the Lord Mighty in Battle (Psalm 24:8 ). He can deliver anyone, and nobody can pluck His children from His hands.

The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so, shall I be saved from mine enemies. Psalm 18:2-3

Beloved, if you haven’t surrendered your life to Jesus Christ, you are His enemy, and it is a fearful thing to fall into His hands (Hebrews 10:31) because no one can deliver anyone from Him (Isaiah 43:13). Surrender your life to Him today so He can become your Great Deliverer. If you are already a child of God and are still in any form of bondage, I pray that the Great Deliverer will deliver you completely, in Jesus’ name.


KEY POINT
God can deliver anyone, and nobody can deliver out of His hands.


BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Luke 9-10


AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE


HYMN 10: IN CHRIST ALONE
1 In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My comforter, my all in all
Here in the love of Christ I stand

2 In Christ alone who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
Till on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live
There in the ground His body lay

3 Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

4 No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
Life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand

Here are the correct answers to the quiz questions:

1. C. He will become your song, laughter, and the source of your joy.
2. D. Sarah
3. B. When the devil thinks he has the final say, God is about to bring forth a song of victory.
4. C. The destruction of the wall of Jericho.
5. C. Strength, Song, and Salvation.

Quiz:

1. According to the devotional, what is the primary benefit of making Jesus your Lord, in addition to receiving a new song?
A. He will give you great financial wealth.
B. He will make you famous among men.
C. He will become your song, laughter, and the source of your joy.
D. He will eliminate all trials and challenges from your life.

2. What Old Testament figure is cited as an example of God filling a mouth with laughter after God became her song?
A. Miriam
B. Hannah
C. Deborah
D. Sarah

3. The devotional uses the story of Job to illustrate which specific point about God becoming one's song?
A. God will always prevent the devil from attacking a believer.
B. When the devil thinks he has the final say, God is about to bring forth a song of victory.
C. Christians should never lose anything they possess.
D. God always gives a warning before a spiritual attack.

4. Which significant event from the book of Joshua is used as an example of God putting a loud shout of victory in the mouth of His people?
A. The crossing of the Jordan River.
B. The defeat of the Amalekites.
C. The destruction of the wall of Jericho.
D. The victory over the five kings.

5. The memory verse for the devotional, Psalm 118:14, identifies the Lord as what three things for the believer?
A. Hope, Redeemer, and Peace.
B. King, Father, and Healer.
C. Strength, Song, and Salvation.
D. Shield, Fortress, and Deliverer.

Prayer Points on "THE LORD IS MY SONG"

1. Father, I thank You because You are my strength, my song, and my salvation. Thank You for making me a child of the Most High God, granting me access to continuous joy and a new song, even in the midst of life's challenges, in Jesus' name (Psalm 118:14).

2. Lord, I sincerely repent for every time I have allowed sorrow, worry, or complaint to be my song. Forgive me for focusing on my problems rather than on Your wondrous deeds. Wash me in the blood of Jesus, silence the songs of the enemy in my heart, and fill my mouth with songs of praise and victory (Psalm 40:3, Romans 15:13).

3. My Father and my God, I surrender my life completely to Your Lordship today. Take pre-eminence in every area of my life—my family, career, finances, and health. I declare that You are not just a part of my life, but You are my life's song and the source of all my joy, in Jesus' name (Key Point).

4. O Lord, turn my captivity as the streams in the south! Every long-standing challenge, every form of bondage, affliction, or limitation that has held me or my loved ones bound, I command it to be broken now! Turn my tears into a river of joy and my mourning into dancing, in Jesus' name (Psalm 126:1, 4).

5. I decree a supernatural outpouring of laughter into my life! Father, make me an undeniable testimony. Just as You did for Sarah, let my laughter be so profound that those who have mocked me will be forced to laugh with me and acknowledge that You have done a great thing in my life, in Jesus' name (Genesis 21:6, Psalm 126:2).

6. Every wall of Jericho standing before my destiny, fall down flat now! By the shout of the Lord's victory and the sound of Your praise, I command every impossible barrier, stronghold of the enemy, and obstacle to my next level to collapse, in Jesus' mighty name (Joshua 6:20). I receive my city and my inheritance!

7. Father, restore unto me the joy of Your salvation, and give me a new song of victory over every battle. I receive the grace to sow in tears knowing I shall surely reap in joy. I decree that I will go forth bearing the precious seed of faith and obedience, and I shall return with rejoicing, bringing my sheaves with him, in Jesus' name (Psalm 51:12, Psalm 126:5-6).

8. Lord, because You are my song, I receive double restoration for every loss I have suffered. Every damage the enemy has done—in my health, finances, relationships, or career—I receive the Job 42:12 blessing. Let my latter end be more glorious than my beginning, in Jesus' name.

9. I pray for all Your children who are currently without a song. O God, manifest Yourself to them as their strength, their help, and their source of joy. Fill their mouths with laughter and a new song of redemption, confirming Your word that You are about to become their song, in Jesus' name.

10. Father, I pray for Your son, Pastor E. A. Adeboye. Continue to uphold him and his family. Let every day of his life be filled with new songs of victory, joy, and profound testimonies. Be his strength, his song, and his salvation continually, in Jesus' name.

11. My personal prayer point: (Mention a specific situation or area where you want God to intervene and turn your situation around, making it a powerful testimony that will become a song of praise to Him.)

12. Thank You, Father, for answering my prayers. I declare that the season of weeping is over. My mouth shall be continually filled with singing, because The Lord is my Song, and my life is a testimony of Your great works, in Jesus' mighty name. Amen!

Lord Jesus, I come to You with a deeply repentant heart, please, forgive me and wash all my sins away with your precious blood shed at Calvary. I surrender my life to you, today, and, I accept You, as my personal Lord and Saviour. Please, come into my life and save my soul from eternal damnation.

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL


DATE: FRIDAY OCTOBER 24TH 2025


THEME: THE LORD IS MY SONG


MEMORISE: The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation. Psalm 118:14


READ: Psalms 126:1-6
1 When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.

2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.

3 The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.

4 Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south.

5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.


MESSAGE
It is wonderful to know Jesus and trust in Him. Over the past few days, I have been discussing the benefits of having Jesus as your Lord. Those who are still yet to totally surrender to His Lordship are depriving themselves of the tremendous blessings of being children of the Most High God. People love good songs and love to sing new songs. When you make Jesus your Lord, He will not only give you a new song, but He will also become your song. He will not just fill your mouth with laughter; He will become your laughter and the source of your joy. After God brought the children of Israel out of Egypt and led them through the Red Sea, they began to sing a new song to the Lord:

The LORD is my strength and song and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him. Exodus 15:2

When God becomes your song, He will fill your mouth with joy and laughter. When He became Sarah’s song, He filled her mouth with laughter, and people laughed along with her (Genesis 21:6). I pray that everyone who has mocked you will laugh with you, in Jesus’ name.
When the devil thinks he has the upper hand or when he thinks he has done too much damage for things to ever become good in a Christian’s life again, such a Christian should know that God is about to become his or her song. When the devil attacked Job and his family, he thought he had the final say. However, God came through for Job and gave him double of all he had lost (Job 42:12).
When God becomes your song, He will fill your mouth with songs of victory. When He wanted to destroy the wall of Jericho, He put a loud shout of victory in the mouth of His people.

So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city. Joshua 6:20

Beloved, God wants to become your song. He wants to continually give you new songs of joy and victory. Surrender your life completely to him, and your days will be full of laughter and singing.


KEY POINT
When you surrender your life completely to Jesus, He will become your song.


BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Luke 7-8


AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE


HYMN 17: PRAISE MY SOUL THE KING OF HEAVEN
1. Praise, my soul, the King of heaven;
To his feet your tribute bring.
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
Evermore his praises sing.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Praise the everlasting King!

2. Praise him for his grace and favor
To his people in distress.
Praise him, still the same as ever,
Slow to chide, and swift to bless.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Glorious in his faithfulness!

3. Fatherlike he tends and spares us;
Well our feeble frame he knows.
In his hand he gently bears us,
Rescues us from all our foes.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Widely yet his mercy flows

Correct Answers

1. (c) Because innocency was found in him.
2. (b) Making Jesus your Lord.
3. (b) They will not be moved by the situation.
4. (d) Unseen hands picked her up from the vehicle through the window and sat her down by the highway.
5. (c) They were thrown into the den the next day and the lions ate them up.

Quiz

1. According to the MEMORISE verse (Daniel 6:22), what was the stated reason Daniel gave for why the angel shut the lions' mouths?
(a) Because he had confessed his sins the night before.
(b) Because he was a king's advisor.
(c) Because innocency was found in him.
(d) Because he was physically stronger than the lions.

2. According to the MESSAGE, the enjoyment of divine preservation is directly linked to what foundational action?
(a) Memorizing daily Bible verses.
(b) Making Jesus your Lord.
(c) Sitting at the back of a public vehicle while traveling.
(d) Having a quiet time that neither sleeps nor slumbers.

3. What benefit, highlighted by Psalm 121:3 in the MESSAGE, is promised to the Christian whose Lord is their keeper when people are complaining about the state of the economy?
(a) They will receive immediate financial prosperity.
(b) They will not be moved by the situation.
(c) They will receive a new, smooth highway to travel on.
(d) They will be able to shut the mouths of the complainers.

4. In the testimony about the somersaulting car, what was the mechanism God used to rescue the daughter from the accident?
(a) The car's driver managed to stop the vehicle just before the last somersault.
(b) She jumped out of the car through the front window before it somersaulted.
(c) Her shouting "Jesus!" caused the car to immediately slow down.
(d) Unseen hands picked her up from the vehicle through the window and sat her down by the highway.

5. What was the fate of the people who threw Daniel into the lion's den, as described at the end of the MESSAGE?
(a) They were forgiven after they repented of their actions.
(b) They were protected by God's angel like Daniel was.
(c) They were thrown into the den the next day and the lions ate them up.
(d) They were exiled from the kingdom and lost their political power.

Prayer points

1. Father, I thank You because You are my Keeper, the One who neither slumbers nor sleeps (Psalm 121:3-4). Thank You for Your unceasing, round-the-clock watch over my life, in Jesus' name.

2. Lord Jesus, I sincerely repent of every area where I have operated as the lord of my own life, trusting my own strength, wisdom, or resources. I re-surrender the totality of my being to You. Be my absolute Lord from today forward, in Jesus' name.

3. Heavenly Father, according to the Key Point, I declare that Jesus is my Lord! Therefore, I pray for the enjoyment of divine protection. Let my life be hidden with Christ in God, so that no evil arrow or attack can locate me, in Jesus' name (Colossians 3:3).

4. Father, let the testimonies of Your keeping power manifest in my life! I pray for Your angels to be put on charge over me to keep me in all my ways. Deliver me from sudden calamity, accidents, and every work of the enemy, just as You preserved the daughter in the somersaulting car, in Jesus' name (Psalm 91:11).

5. Lord, because You are my Keeper, I decree and declare that my foot shall not be moved (Psalm 121:3). When others are worried about the state of the economy, health crisis, or global affairs, grant me the stability, faith, and peace that comes from knowing You are in control, in Jesus' name.

6. My God, just as You shut the lions' mouths for Daniel because of his innocence and submission to Your Lordship, I pray that You will silence every roaring lion (the devil, accusers, and adversities) sent against my destiny and family, in Jesus' name.

7. Father, expose and frustrate the plans of those who speak vanity, flatter with their lips, and speak with a double heart against me. Cut off the tongue that speaks proud things, saying, "With our tongue will we prevail," in Jesus' name.

8. Holy Spirit, give me the grace to walk in innocency and integrity before God and man, just like Daniel. Help me to live a life of unwavering obedience and holiness, as this fortifies the hedge of Your divine protection around me, in Jesus' name.

9. Mention a specific fear, worry, or area of vulnerability (like health, finances, or a relationship) and pray: Father, I bring [mention the area] under Your Lordship today. Be my Keeper over this situation. I refuse to worry and choose to rest in Your guarantee of safety, in Jesus' name.

10. Thank You, Father, for answering my prayers. I declare that I am God’s responsibility, and because of this, I walk without fear, knowing that You preserve my going out and my coming in from this time forth and even forevermore, in Jesus' mighty name. Amen!

Lord Jesus, I come to You with a deeply repentant heart, please, forgive me and wash all my sins away with your precious blood shed at Calvary. I surrender my life to you, today, and, I accept You, as my personal Lord and Saviour. Please, come into my life and save my soul from eternal damnation.

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL


DATE: THURSDAY OCTOBER 23RD 2025


THEME: THE LORD IS MY KEEPER


MEMORISE: My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt. Daniel 6:22


READ: Psalms 12:1-8
1 Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.

2 They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.

3 The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:

4 Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?

5 For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.

6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

8 The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.


MESSAGE
When you make Jesus your Lord, you will enjoy divine preservation. Today’s Bible reading says that He who keeps Israel neither sleeps nor slumbers. When God keeps a fellow, nothing and nobody can harm him or her (Romans 8:31).

Years ago, one of my daughters was serving the Nigerian government in Port Harcourt, a state capital in Southern Nigeria, as part of the mandatory national youth service programme for graduates of tertiary institutions. At that time, a new highway had just been constructed along the route leading to Port Harcourt from Lagos, and vehicles would drive on it at breakneck speeds because the road was really smooth.

One day, she was travelling from Lagos to Port Harcourt, and she sat at the back of a public vehicle. Suddenly, the car’s front tyre ruptured, and the car began to somersault due to its speed. She shouted, “Jesus!” as the car somersaulted the first time, and unseen hands picked her up from the vehicle through the window and sat her down by the highway. She watched the car somersault five more times before it stopped. People rushed to the scene and saw her sitting by the highway. When they asked her how she got there and she told them she was in the car that had just had an accident, they couldn’t believe her. This is what happens when the Lord puts His angels on guard over your life at all times (Psalm 91:11).

When the Lord is your keeper, He will keep your foot from being moved (Psalm 121:3). When people are complaining about the state of the economy, for instance, you won’t be moved because the Lord is your keeper. Only Christians who have made Jesus their Lord and Savior will have no worries in the midst of dangerous situations, like Daniel in the den of hungry lions. God sent His angel to shut the mouths of the lions and prevented them from harming Daniel because he had made God his Lord, and he was God’s responsibility. The next day, those who had made political power their lord were thrown into the same den, and the lions ate them up (Daniel 6:16-24).

People who don’t have Jesus as their Lord are open to the Devil’s attacks. Have you genuinely surrendered your life to the Lord? If you haven’t, please do so today. I pray that the Lord will keep you in all your ways with His mighty hands, in Jesus’ name.


KEY POINT
When you make Jesus your Lord, you will enjoy divine protection.


BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Luke 5-6


AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE


HYMN 19: ROCK OF AGES CLEFT FOR ME
1. Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood
From Thy riven side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure,
Save me from its guilt and power.

2. Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All could never sin erase,
Thou must save, and save by grace.

3. Nothing in my hands I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress,
Helpless, look to Thee for grace:
Foul, I to the fountain fly,
Wash me, Savior, or I die.

4. While I draw this fleeting breath,
When mine eyes shall close in death,
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.

Correct Answers to the Quiz Questions

1. Correct Answer: B. Psalm 84:5
The verse is: "Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them."

2. Correct Answer: B. They shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles.
Isaiah 40:31 states the full promise for those who wait upon the LORD.

3. Correct Answer: B. By sending good news their way so that their hearts will be filled with joy.
The message explicitly mentions this as a method God uses to strengthen His children.

4. Correct Answer: C. Nehemiah 8
The full quote is from Nehemiah 8:10: "...for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength."

5. Correct Answer: C. He gives them a greater dose of strength than the one they had before.
The message says: "If you are a child of God, every time you come before Him, He gives you a greater dose of strength than the one you had before."

Questions on "THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH"

1. According to the message, which Psalm verse states, "Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them"?
A. Psalm 20:1
B. Psalm 84:5
C. Psalm 84:7
D. Exodus 15:2

2. What is the specific promise made in Isaiah 40:31 to "they that wait upon the LORD"?
A. They shall inherit the earth and delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
B. They shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles.
C. They shall be strong and do exploits.
D. They shall be heard and defended in the day of trouble.

3. According to the devotional's message, what is one way God strengthens His children, apart from their coming into His presence?
A. By granting them wealth and prosperity in all their endeavors.
B. By sending good news their way so that their hearts will be filled with joy.
C. By directly transferring physical power from the sanctuary to them.
D. By constantly remembering all their previous offerings and sacrifices.

4. Which book and chapter is quoted in the devotional to state that "the joy of the LORD is your strength"?
A. Luke 3
B. Psalms 20
C. Nehemiah 8
D. Exodus 15

5. The devotional suggests that when believers appear before God, they never leave weak and weary. What does the text say happens every time a child of God comes before Him?
A. He sends them help and remembers all their offerings.
B. He grants them according to their own heart and fulfills all their counsel.
C. He gives them a greater dose of strength than the one they had before.
D. He prepares for them an habitation and exalts them.

Prayer Points on "THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH"

1. Father, I thank You because You are my Strength and Song; You have become my Salvation. I worship You, O God, for Your promise to be my inexhaustible source of power, my joy, and my never-failing help in times of need, in Jesus' name (Exodus 15:2).

2. Lord, I sincerely repent of every time I have relied on my own strength, intellect, or material resources, causing me to become weary and faint. Forgive me for not waiting on You and for carrying burdens I should have cast upon You. Wash me in the blood of Jesus and restore my faith in Your all-sufficient grace (Isaiah 40:30, Psalm 55:22).

3. My God, I pray that I may be a blessed person whose strength is always found in You. I ask for the grace to continually set my heart on the pilgrimage and the ways of the Lord, making You my foundation and energy source in all I do, in Jesus' name (Psalm 84:5).

4. I pray for a fresh and constant experience of the strengthening power of Your presence. Father, as I come into Your presence—in prayer, worship, or fellowship—let me never leave weak or weary. Let me always be encouraged, renewed, and go from strength to strength until I appear before You in Zion, in Jesus' name (Psalm 84:7).

5. I decree a supernatural infusion of power and might right now! In every area where I am weak, O Lord, let Your strength be made perfect. Pour Your power upon me, Your faint servant, and increase my might to overcome every obstacle and limitation (2 Corinthians 12:9, Isaiah 40:29).

6. I activate the prophetic promise of renewal! Father, I commit to waiting upon You. As I wait on the Lord, I declare that my strength is renewed. I shall mount up with wings as eagles; I shall run, and not be weary; and I shall walk, and not faint, in Jesus’ name (Isaiah 40:31).

7. Father, please send good news that will strengthen my heart and fill it with joy today. I reject discouragement and anxiety! Let the testimony of Your goodness become my daily experience, making the joy of the Lord my strength in all situations, in Jesus’ name (Nehemiah 8:10).

8. Lord, grant me the ability to do everything You have placed in my heart to do for Your glory. Release to me the supernatural, tireless energy and strength needed to build Your kingdom, serve humanity, and fulfill my destiny without burning out or giving up, in Jesus' name.

9. I pray for every child of God who is currently discouraged, burnt out, or facing a challenge that seems too heavy to bear. O Lord, manifest Yourself as their Strength! Lift them from weariness, fill their hearts with Your joy, and grant them a supernatural renewal of body, soul, and spirit, in Jesus’ name.

10. Father, I pray for Your son, Pastor E. A. Adeboye. Continue to uphold him with Your right hand. Let the joy of the Lord be his constant strength. Grant him divine energy, health, and a continuous flow of good news that keeps his heart strong and his vision clear, in Jesus’ name.

11. My personal prayer point: (Mention a specific task, challenge, or area of your life where you currently feel weak or weary, and pray that the Lord's strength and joy will make you triumphant).

12. Thank You, Father, for answering my prayers. I declare that I am strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. I will not faint, I will not fail, and I will fulfill my destiny by Your strength alone, in Jesus' mighty name. Amen!

Lord Jesus, I come to You with a deeply repentant heart, please, forgive me and wash all my sins away with your precious blood shed at Calvary. I surrender my life to you, today, and, I accept You, as my personal Lord and Saviour. Please, come into my life and save my soul from eternal damnation.

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL


DATE: WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 22ND 2025


THEME: THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH


MEMORISE: The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare Him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him. Exodus 15:2


READ: Psalms 20:1-4
1 The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee;

2 Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion;

3 Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah.

4 Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel.


MESSAGE
When you make Jesus your Lord, you will never lack strength. Psalm 84:5 says, “Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.” When people are complaining of tiredness and weakness, a fellow who has made Jesus Christ his or her Lord will keep going from strength to strength.

They go from strength to strength, every one of hem in Zion appeareth before God. Psalm 84:7

If you are a child of God, every time you come before Him, He gives you a greater dose of strength than the one you had before. Nobody appears before God and leaves weak and weary. If you come before God discouraged, you will leave encouraged. If you come tired, you will leave strengthened. God’s presence supplies endless strength to weary hearts. In areas where you are weak, your Lord will make His strength available to you if you wait on Him. Isaiah 40:29-31 says:

He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Another way God strengthens His children is by sending good news their way so that their hearts will be filled with joy. I pray that God will send you good news that will strengthen your heart, in Jesus’ name.

Remember when we were building the Redemption Camp (now Redemption City), we built a house from its foundation and completed it in just seven days. I was constantly supervising the construction, but I didn’t feel tired in any way. This was because I was excited about what God was doing, and the Bible says that the joy of the Lord is our strength.

…for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10

The joy of the Lord supplies abundant strength, and strength is the ability to do whatever you want to do. When you have strength, you will be able to do everything your heart desires to do for God. I pray for you today that the Lord will strengthen you and fill your heart with joy, in Jesus’ name.


PRAYER POINT
Father, please let me hear good news that will strengthen my heart in You today, in Jesus’ name.


BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Luke 3-4


AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE


HYMN 27: WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS
1. What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!

2. Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer!

3. Are we weak and heavy laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge—
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
Do your friends despise, forsake you?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In his arms he’ll take and shield you;
You will find a solace there.

Answers to the quiz

1. According to the devotional's memorise verse (Philippians 4:7), what is the primary function of the peace of God?
c. It shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

2. Why did the Centurion and the Master of the ship initially disregard Paul's counsel about the voyage being dangerous?
b. The captain had a special degree in sailing, which made him trust his own experience more than Paul's words. (The devotional message states the Captain had 'experience or a special degree in sailing ships' and ignored Paul because of this, though the centurion chose to believe the master and owner more than Paul (Acts 27:11). The devotional highlights trusting expertise over the unexpected source of God's counsel.)

3. What was the name of the tempestuous wind that arose against the ship, according to the Bible reading in Acts 27:14?
c. Euroclydon

4. When Paul assured the people on the ship that their lives would be saved, what did he reveal would be the extent of their physical loss?
d. The ship, but not a single life. (Acts 27:22: "for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship."

5. The main lesson the message draws from Paul's experience in the storm is:
b. God often sends instructions that bring peace through people one least expects. (The message notes Paul was ignored because he wasn't expected to have such counsel, and that people often miss God because He chooses to express Himself with simplicity.)

Quiz on the devotional "THE LORD IS MY PEACE":

1. According to the devotional's memorise verse (Philippians 4:7), what is the primary function of the peace of God?
a. It shall attract earthly riches and prosperity.
b. It will empower you to calm the seas physically.
c. It shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
d. It will guarantee a life free from all storms.

2. Why did the Centurion and the Master of the ship initially disregard Paul's counsel about the voyage being dangerous?
a. The haven they were in was not commodious to winter in, so they sought a better port.
b. The captain had a special degree in sailing, which made him trust his own experience more than Paul's words.
c. Paul was a prisoner and his words were considered unreliable by the Centurion.
d. The south wind was blowing softly, leading them to suppose they had obtained their purpose.

3. What was the name of the tempestuous wind that arose against the ship, according to the Bible reading in Acts 27:14?
a. Zephyrus
b. Boreas
c. Euroclydon
d. Notus

4. When Paul assured the people on the ship that their lives would be saved, what did he reveal would be the extent of their physical loss?
a. Only a portion of the cargo.
b. The ship and the lading.
c. The rudder bands and the foreship.
d. The ship, but not a single life.

5. The main lesson the message draws from Paul's experience in the storm is:
a. God promises a storm-free life to those who make Jesus their Lord.
b. God often sends instructions that bring peace through people one least expects.
c. It is always wise to follow the advice of professionals over spiritual counsel.
d. Believers must always expect God to manifest Himself in a spectacular manner.

Prayer Points on "THE LORD IS MY PEACE"

1. Father, I thank You because You are the LORD, my Peace (Jehovah Shalom). Thank You for the promise that Your peace, which surpasses all understanding, shall guard my heart and mind through Christ Jesus, no matter the storm I face, in Jesus' name (Philippians 4:7 ).

2. Lord, I sincerely repent of every time I have allowed worry, anxiety, and fear to rob me of Your peace. Forgive me for taking matters into my own hands, for seeking earthly anchors instead of You, and for losing hope in the midst of trials. Wash me in the blood of Jesus and restore my soul's rest (Psalm 42:5, Romans 15:13 ).

3. My God, the giver of divine warning and perception, sharpen my spiritual discernment. I reject deafness and blindness to Your instructions. Just as You warned Paul of the impending danger, let Your Holy Spirit give me a clear, inner witness and sound counsel before I embark on any dangerous path or make a critical decision, in Jesus' name (Acts 27:10, Proverbs 19:20 ).

4. I pray for the grace to heed Your quiet voice, even when it comes through unexpected sources. Father, help me to overcome pride and intellectual arrogance that makes me dismiss Your wisdom, especially when it is simple or comes through someone I least expect. Give me a humble and obedient heart, in Jesus' name (Proverbs 3:5-6, 1 Corinthians 1:27-29 ).

5. I decree the calming of every tempest in my life! Lord, let the storm called 'Euroclydon'—the tempestuous wind of life, debt, sickness, marital chaos, or professional crisis—be stilled! I take authority over every destructive force that has stripped me of my joy and hope. I receive the calmness of Christ in the midst of the sea, in Jesus' name (Acts 27:14-20, Mark 4:39 ).

6. I receive supernatural assurance and a heart of 'good cheer.' Father, send Your angel, Your Word, or a messenger to stand by me in the darkest, most hopeless night. Let me hear Your voice saying, "Fear not!" and fill me with Paul's unshakable faith that it shall be exactly as You have told me, in Jesus' name (Acts 27:23-25 ).

7. Lord, I ask for divine preservation and safety for myself and all connected to me. According to Your Word to Paul, God has given me all those who sail with me. I declare that no life shall be lost, and every soul connected to my destiny is saved. I pray for the safety of my family, friends, colleagues, and church members, in Jesus' name (Psalm 121:7-8 ).

8. I command the failure of every evil counsel against me. Father, frustrate the counsel of those who plot my harm and destruction. Just as the centurion prevented the soldiers from killing the prisoners, let there be an appointed person or circumstance to overrule every malicious and wicked agenda against my life and destiny, in Jesus' name (Acts 27:42-43, Isaiah 54:17 ).

9. I pray for all Your children currently facing a life-threatening storm or feeling hopeless. O Lord, manifest Yourself as their Peace and their Hope. Send an angel to them, restore their hope, and grant them a supernatural safe passage to their destined shore (safe harbor), in Jesus' name.

10. Father, I pray for Your son, Pastor E. A. Adeboye. Uphold him with Your right hand. Continue to be his Peace and his Shield. Guard his heart and mind, and grant him deep, divine rest in the midst of his immense responsibilities, in Jesus’ name.

11. My personal prayer point: (Mention a specific area of your life where you need the calmness and assurance of God’s peace to take over worry or anxiety, and pray for His supernatural calm to prevail).

12. Thank You, Father, for answering my prayers. I declare that the storm is over. I shall not be broken, and nothing shall be missing in my life. I have escaped safely to the shore because The Lord is my Peace, in Jesus' mighty name. Amen!

Lord Jesus, I come to You with a deeply repentant heart, please, forgive me and wash all my sins away with your precious blood shed at Calvary. I surrender my life to you, today, and, I accept You, as my personal Lord and Saviour. Please, come into my life and save my soul from eternal damnation.

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL


DATE: TUESDAY OCTOBER 21ST


THEME: THE LORD IS MY PEACE


MEMORISE: And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7


READ: Acts 27:7-44
7 And when we had sailed slowly many days, and scarce were come over against Cnidus, the wind not suffering us, we sailed under Crete, over against Salmone;

8 And, hardly passing it, came unto a place which is called The fair havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea.

9 Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them,

10 And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives.

11 Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.

12 And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to depart thence also, if by any means they might attain to Phenice, and there to winter; which is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the south west and north west.

13 And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete.

14 But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.

15 And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive.

16 And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat:

17 Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven.

18 And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship;

19 And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship.

20And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.

21 But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.

22 And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship.

23 For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,

24 Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.

25 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.

26 Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island.

27 But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country;

28 And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms.

29 Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.

30 And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship,

31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.

32 Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off.

33 And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing.

34 Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you.

35 And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat.

36 Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat.

37 And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.
38 And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea.

39 And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they discovered a certain creek with a shore, into the which they were minded, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship.

40 And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoised up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore.

41 And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves.

42 And the soldiers’ counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape.

43 But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land:

44 And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land.


MESSAGE
God has not promised us a storm-free life. In John 16:33, Jesus said, “..In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” When we make Jesus our Lord, we are assured of peace and safety amidst terrible storms.

In our Bible reading for today, Paul was on his way to Rome on a ship with two hundred and seventy-six passengers. When they got to a place called The Fair Havens, Paul perceived there would be danger on the way and told the people on the ship:

…Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives. Acts 27:10

When you make Jesus your Lord, He will warn you beforehand of some storms. Whenever you sense something wrong about a particular move you are about to make or a decision you are about to take, that might be Jesus trying to shield you from a storm.

Since Paul did not have experience or a special degree in sailing ships, the captain decided to ignore his words of caution. Sometimes, God will send the instruction that will bring you peace through people you least expect such from. people who always expect God to manifest Himself to them in a spectacular manner often miss Him because He often chooses to express Himself with simplicity. Because the Captain refused to listen to Paul, he sailed the ship straight into a terrible storm that almost claimed the lives of everyone on board. They lost many possessions and couldn’t eat for many days because they lost hope. However, Paul, who knew the Lord as His peace, encouraged them even though they had earlier disregarded his counsel.

For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me. Acts 27:23-25

Beloved, when the Lord is your peace, He will rescue you from every storm and ensure that nothing is missing or broken in your life. When you make the Lord your peace, He will calm your heart, even in the midst of the trials and challenges of life.


KEY POINT
When the Lord is your peace, no matter the storms you face, you will emerge victorious.


BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Luke 1-2


AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE


HYMN 29: WHEN PEACE LIKE A RIVER ATTENDETH
1 When peace like a river attended my way
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say

Refrain:
It is well, it is well, with my soul
It is well (it is well)
With my soul (with my soul)
It is well, it is well with my soul

2 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, oh, my soul

3 And Lord haste the day when my faith shall be sight
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll
The trumpet shall sound and the Lord shall descend
Even so, it is well with my soul

Here are the correct answers to the quiz

1. According to the MEMORISE verse, Psalm 27:1, what two things are declared concerning the Lord?
C. He is my Light and my salvation.

2. In the MESSAGE, what key action did Isaac take that allowed him to enjoy the light and blessing of the Lord during the famine?
C. He stayed in the land where the Lord told him to dwell.

3. What is the consequence of walking in the "light of your own fire," according to Isaiah 50:11 as quoted in the MESSAGE?
B. You will have to lie down in sorrow.

4. The MESSAGE states that when the Lord is your light, you will not remain in the dark about the enemy's plans. Which Bible character's experience is given as an example of God exposing a murder plot?
C. Paul

5. What specific agricultural blessing did Isaac receive in the same year he sowed in the land of Gerar, as recorded in Genesis 26:12?
C. A hundredfold return on his sowing.

QUIZ
1. According to the MEMORISE verse, Psalm 27:1, what two things are declared concerning the Lord?
A. He is my Shepherd and my strength.
B. He is my Provider and my Protector.
C. He is my Light and my salvation.
D. He is my Rock and my Redeemer.

2. In the MESSAGE, what key action did Isaac take that allowed him to enjoy the light and blessing of the Lord during the famine?
A. He traveled to Egypt to find fertile land.
B. He successfully hid his wife from Abimelech.
C. He stayed in the land where the Lord told him to dwell.
D. He purchased a large tract of land for cultivation.

3. What is the consequence of walking in the "light of your own fire," according to Isaiah 50:11 as quoted in the MESSAGE?
A. You will be denied access to hidden mysteries.
B. You will have to lie down in sorrow.
C. Your enemies will overcome your plans.
D. You will eventually have to relocate to a better land.

4. The MESSAGE states that when the Lord is your light, you will not remain in the dark about the enemy's plans. Which Bible character's experience is given as an example of God exposing a murder plot?
A. Abraham
B. Isaac
C. Paul
D. Abimelech

5. What specific agricultural blessing did Isaac receive in the same year he sowed in the land of Gerar, as recorded in Genesis 26:12?
A. A tenfold increase on his seed.
B. A harvest that was sufficient to feed his household.
C. A hundredfold return on his sowing.
D. A yield so great that the Philistines became jealous.

Prayer Points on "THE LORD IS MY LIGHT"

1. Father, I thank You because You are the LORD, my Light and my Salvation. Thank You for the assurance in Your Word that because You are my Light, I shall not walk in darkness, and because You are my strength, I shall not be afraid of any terror, in Jesus' name (Psalm 27:1, John 8:12).

2. Lord, I sincerely repent of every time I have walked in the "light of my own fire," leaning on my own understanding, pursuing my own plans, and arguing with Your instructions like Isaac could have done. Forgive me for trying to do things my way instead of Your way. Cleanse me from all self-reliance, in Jesus' name (Isaiah 50:11, Proverbs 3:5).

3. My God, who gives divine direction, illuminate my path today! I reject confusion and wandering. Just as You appeared to Isaac and directed him, speak clearly to me and show me the land where I must dwell (physically, spiritually, professionally). Order my steps in Your Word, in Jesus' name (Genesis 26:2, Psalm 119:105).

4. I pray for the grace of total obedience. Father, help me to submit to Your Lordship and to walk in the way that is right, not the way that seems right. Give me the faith and courage to obey Your instructions immediately, even when they make no sense to my human mind, in Jesus' name (Genesis 26:5, Proverbs 14:12).

5. I declare a lifting up! Lord, let Your light shine on me and expose the mysteries of abundance. When others are crying, "A casting down," I receive the wisdom, insight, and strategy to say, "There is a lifting up," leading to unprecedented prosperity like Isaac's hundredfold blessing, in Jesus' name (Job 22:28-29, Genesis 26:12).

6. I command the exposure of every dark plot against me. Father, You are my Light; unmask every hidden conspiracy, evil agenda, and secret plot of my enemies. Arrange circumstances for me to overhear and escape the enemy’s traps, just as You did for Paul, in Jesus' name (Acts 23:12-22, Psalm 32:8 ).

7. Lord, I ask for divine guidance and guardianship. Guide me with Your eye in all my life decisions. Take full responsibility for my journey and lead me in the paths of righteousness, never letting me stumble or stray into error, in Jesus' name (Psalm 32:8, Psalm 23:3).

8. I receive supernatural favour and protection. Father, because I am operating under Your light, charge all the people around me, both known and unknown, that they shall not touch me or my family. Let the fear of God fall upon those who intend to harm me, in Jesus' name (Genesis 26:11).

9. I pray for all Your children who are currently facing famine, darkness, or confusion. O Lord, manifest Yourself as their Light. Show them the hidden mystery, the specific instruction, and the path to their hundredfold blessing, in Jesus' name.

10. Father, I pray for your son, Pastor E. A. Adeboye. Uphold him and let the light of Your face continually shine upon him. Expose every enemy plan against him and his family, and grant him deeper access to the hidden mysteries of the Kingdom, in Jesus’ name.

11. My personal prayer point: (Mention a specific area of your life where you need divine clarity, guidance, or revelation, and pray that the Lord, your Light, will shine on it and show you the precise steps to take).

12. Thank You, Father, for answering my prayers. I declare that You are my Light, and my tomorrow is clear, secure, and prosperous. I shall not lie down in sorrow, but I will walk in Your joy and righteousness, in Jesus' mighty name. Amen!