OPEN HEAVENS 22 APRIL 2026 DEVOTIONAL REVERSING SHAME By Pastor E. A. Adeboye

OPEN HEAVENS 22 APRIL 2026 DEVOTIONAL

Topic: REVERSING SHAME

By Pastor E. A. Adeboye | General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG)

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MEMORISE
“Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame.” – Zephaniah 3:12

READ: John 2:1-11 (KJV)

1 And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:
2 And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.
3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.
4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.
5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.
6 And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.
7 Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.
8 And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.
9 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,
10 And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.
11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.

MESSAGE

Sometime ago, a woman came to the church, saying, “Please, help me, I don’t know what to do. My husband keeps wandering aimlessly at night without being in full control of his senses.” We led her to Christ and prayed with her. Shortly after, she was promoted at her workplace and got a new car.

As she couldn’t drive, she begged her husband to drive her to church so that her pastor could bless the car. He agreed and told her that he would only drive to the church premises, but he wouldn’t enter the building. He did so and sat in the car while his wife entered the church building. As he sat in the car, he could hear the sermon being preached. After some time, an altar call was made, and he went inside the church and gave his life to Christ.

Some weeks later, the devil attacked him while he was driving to work. He lost his senses immediately and began to drive around aimlessly until the Holy Spirit took control and instructed him to drive to the church. When he got to the church and stepped out of the car, people could tell immediately that something was wrong with him. They sprang into action and helped him into the church. We prayed for him, and God took control of the situation. God knew beforehand that trouble was coming for the man, and if he hadn’t become born again, he would have gone mad. Therefore, He arranged for a place where he could turn to in the day of trouble. I pray that every plan of shame the enemy has arranged for you will be cancelled today, in Jesus’ name.

In today’s Bible reading, a couple was getting married, and Jesus was invited to the feast. Everything was going well until they ran out of wine. They had not even started their lives together, but they were already experiencing a crisis and were on the verge of being put to shame. Thankfully, Jesus turned what would have resulted in shame into honour, as they later had more than enough good wine to serve their guests.

Beloved, Romans 10:11 says that whosoever believes in God will not be ashamed. If you are currently in a shameful situation, put your trust in God and cry out to Him. He will heed your cry and turn your shame into a testimony, in Jesus’ name.

KEY POINT
Father, please never let me experience shame in any area of my life, in Jesus’ name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
2 Kings 11-13

OPEN HEAVENS 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.
   Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
   Oh, 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 Saviour, still our refuge,
   Take it to the Lord in prayer.
   Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
   Take it to the Lord in prayer.
   In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
   Thou wilt find a solace there.

COMMENTARY

Introduction: The God Who Reverses Shame

Shame is one of the most painful human experiences. It is not just the feeling of failure; it is the exposure of failure before others. It is the whispered gossip, the pointed finger, the knowing look. It is the moment when your secret is no longer secret, when your failure is public, when your weakness is exposed.

But the God of the Bible specializes in reversing shame. He takes what the enemy meant for your humiliation and turns it into a platform for His glory.

The Testimony: A Man Destined for Madness

The devotional opens with a remarkable testimony of divine intervention. A woman came to church desperate. Her husband was wandering aimlessly at night, not in control of his senses. Something was seriously wrong. The enemy had plans for this man—plans to destroy his mind and bring shame upon his family.

They prayed for her, and she gave her life to Christ. Shortly after, God blessed her with a promotion and a new car. Then the husband, who had refused to enter the church, sat in the car while his wife attended service. But even from the car, he heard the Word. The sermon reached him. When the altar call came, he went inside and gave his life to Christ.

Some weeks later, the devil attacked him while driving to work. He lost his senses and began driving aimlessly. But the Holy Spirit took control and instructed him to drive to the church. When he arrived, people saw something was wrong and helped him inside. They prayed, and God took control.

Daddy Adeboye makes a profound observation: God knew beforehand that trouble was coming for this man. If he hadn’t become born again, he would have gone mad. So God arranged for him to be saved before the attack came. His shame was reversed before it even happened.

The Wedding at Cana: Shame Turned to Honour

The Bible reading gives us another powerful example of shame reversed. A wedding feast was in progress—a celebration of love, family, and community. But halfway through, disaster struck: the wine ran out.

In that culture, this was catastrophic. It wasn’t just an embarrassment; it was a lasting shame. The couple would be remembered as the ones who couldn’t provide properly for their guests. Their marriage would start under a cloud of disgrace.

But Jesus was there. His mother noticed the problem and brought it to Him. She didn’t tell Him what to do; she simply presented the need and told the servants, “Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.”

Jesus instructed them to fill six stone waterpots with water. When they drew it out and took it to the master of the feast, it wasn’t water anymore. It was wine—and not just any wine, the best wine of the feast.

Think about what happened here. The couple’s shame was not just covered; it was completely reversed. What should have been their greatest embarrassment became the moment the glory of Jesus was revealed. Their potential shame became their lasting honour.

The Nature of Shame

Shame can take many forms:

Marital shame – Relationships failing, secrets being exposed
Financial shame – Debt, bankruptcy, inability to provide
Family shame – Children gone astray, scandals, disgrace
Personal shame – Addictions, failures, secret sins coming to light
Professional shame – Demotion, firing, public failure
Health shame – Conditions that humiliate, bodies that betray

Whatever form of shame is threatening you, the God of the wedding at Cana is your God.

How God Reverses Shame

He Arranges Preemptive Protection
The man was born again before the attack came. God knew what was coming and positioned him in a place of safety. Sometimes God’s preparation looks like ordinary obedience—attending church, responding to altar calls, joining prayer groups. But these seemingly small steps become lifelines when trouble strikes.

He Uses the Humble to Confound the Mighty
The man sat in the car, refusing to enter church, but the Word still reached him. God can use any means to draw His children. He doesn’t need perfect circumstances to work.

He Provides a Place of Refuge
The church became a sanctuary when the attack came. When the enemy struck, there was a place to run to. God’s house is not just a building—it’s a shelter in the time of storm.

He Turns Crisis into Testimony
The man who was supposed to go mad became a testimony of deliverance. The couple who ran out of wine became the showcase of Jesus’ glory. Your greatest crisis can become your greatest testimony.

The Promise: No Shame for Those Who Trust

Romans 10:11 declares, “Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.” This is not just a nice sentiment; it is a divine guarantee.

You shall not be ashamed for trusting Him when others said you were foolish.
You shall not be ashamed when your situation seems hopeless.
You shall not be ashamed when the enemy plans your downfall.
You shall not be ashamed when everything around you is collapsing.

God Himself guarantees your honour. He will not let His child be put to shame.

How to Position Yourself for Honour

Invite Jesus to Your Feast
The couple invited Jesus to their wedding. Is He invited to your life? Your home? Your marriage? Your business? His presence is essential for turning shame into honour.

Bring Your Problem to Him
Mary didn’t hide the wine shortage. She brought it to Jesus. Don’t cover your shame—bring it to the One who can reverse it.

Do Whatever He Says
The servants filled waterpots even though it seemed pointless. They drew water even though wine was needed. Obedience to His instructions, no matter how illogical, is the path to miracle.

Trust in His Name
The memory verse from Zephaniah says the afflicted and poor will trust in the name of the LORD. When you have nothing else, trust His name. His name is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe.

Stay in the Refuge
The man drove to the church when attacked. He knew where to go. Make sure you have a spiritual home, a place of refuge, before trouble comes.

The Enemy’s Plans Cancelled

The devotional declares: “I pray that every plan of shame the enemy has arranged for you will be cancelled today.”

The enemy is a planner. He arranges scenarios designed to humiliate you. He sets traps to expose you. He prepares stages for your public disgrace.

But God is the Canceller. He cancels the enemy’s plans. He overturns the verdict. He shuts down the prosecution. He turns the stage of shame into a platform for testimony.

The Key Point

The key point of the devotional is a prayer: “Father, please never let me experience shame in any area of my life, in Jesus’ name.”

This is not a prayer for a life without problems; it is a prayer for a life where problems do not lead to disgrace. It is a prayer that when challenges come, God will intervene before shame can take root.

DECLARATIONS BASED ON THE DEVOTIONAL

I DECLARE that every plan of shame the enemy has arranged for me is cancelled today!

I DECLARE that God knew my troubles beforehand and has already arranged my rescue!

I DECLARE that the same Jesus who turned water into wine is turning my shame into honour!

I DECLARE that I will not be ashamed for trusting in God!

I DECLARE that my greatest crisis is becoming my greatest testimony!

I DECLARE that the enemy’s plans against me are nullified by the power of God!

I DECLARE that I have a place of refuge in the day of trouble!

I DECLARE that whosoever believes in Him shall not be ashamed – and I believe!

I DECLARE that God is turning my potential shame into a display of His glory!

PRAYER

Father, I bring my shame to You today. The things that threaten to disgrace me. The situations that seem destined for humiliation. The enemy’s plans against me. I cancel them in Jesus’ name.

Turn my shame into honour. Make the best wine come last in my life. Let me not be ashamed for trusting You.

Just as You rescued the man destined for madness, rescue me. Just as You turned the wedding crisis into a miracle, turn my crisis into testimony.

Father, please never let me experience shame in any area of my life, in Jesus’ name.

In Jesus’ mighty name. Amen.

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