OPEN HEAVENS FOR 24TH MAY 2026
TOPIC: SPIRITUALLY DISCERNED III
MEMORISE:
And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left. — Isaiah 30:21
READ: Genesis 26:1-6 (KJV)
And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar.
And the Lord appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of:
Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father;
And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;
Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.
And Isaac dwelt in Gerar:
MESSAGE:
Spiritual discernment is crucial for every Christian, especially when making critical life decisions such as choosing a marriage partner, where to live, and who to associate with. Some Christians have married evil people disguised as angels of light because they lacked spiritual discernment. They embraced Jezebels and Nabals – idolatrous and foolish people who can lead them astray and ruin their lives.
Believers need God’s direction to know the right people to marry. For example, when Abraham wanted to choose a wife for Isaac, he gave his servant specific instructions about the type of woman who would be suitable for his son and fit to partake in the covenant God had made with him (Genesis 24:1-8). He told his servant to go to his country and kindred to take a wife for Isaac. This is the first criterion for a Christian’s choice in marriage; he or she must marry a fellow Christian because our country as believers is heaven. Some believers have disregarded this criterion to their detriment.
Apart from a believer ensuring that whoever he or she wants to get married to is a Christian, it is also crucial to ask God to show him or her the right person among His numerous children. Some Christian ladies have been carried away by a suitor’s charisma, so they didn’t ask God if he was a suitable spouse for them or not. Likewise, some Christian men have allowed a lady’s commitment in church to blind them to what God is saying about her character. When it comes to the issue of marriage, a believer cannot afford to be carried away by external things and miss the Holy Spirit’s direction. If you are still single, I pray that you will allow the Lord, and not your emotions, physical preferences, or human calculations, to guide you in your choice of a marriage partner, in Jesus’ name.
Where to live is another crucial decision that requires spiritual discernment. In Genesis 13:10-13, Lot didn’t inquire from God before choosing to pitch his tent towards Sodom. He found himself in the midst of sinners and wicked people, and eventually, he lost his home when God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because of the sins of their inhabitants. Only spiritually discerning people will know whether God wants them to relocate or not, and where to relocate to.
Beloved, don’t make critical life decisions based solely on your judgment and understanding. Seek God’s counsel and remain spiritually discerning to know what He wants you to do.
PRAYER POINT:
Lord, please help me not to be insensitive to Your guidance.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Nehemiah 11-13
HYMN 33: GUIDE ME, O THOU GREAT JEHOVAH!
Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but Thou art mighty;
Hold me with Thy pow’rful hand;
Bread of heaven, bread of heaven,
Feed me till I want no more,
Feed me till I want no more.Open now the crystal fountain,
Whence the healing stream doth flow;
Let the fire and cloudy pillar
Lead me all my journey through;
Strong Deliv’rer, strong Deliv’rer,
Be Thou still my strength and shield,
Be Thou still my strength and shield.When I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears subside;
Death of death, and hell’s Destruction,
Land me safe on Canaan’s side;
Songs of praises, songs of praises,
I will ever give to Thee,
I will ever give to Thee.
About RCCG and Open Heavens
The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) is a global Pentecostal denomination founded in 1952 by Reverend Josiah Akindayomi and now led by Pastor E. A. Adeboye as General Overseer. Headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria, RCCG has spread to over 200 countries with millions of worshippers worldwide.
Open Heavens is the daily devotional of RCCG, written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye. First published in 2003, it has become one of the most widely read daily devotionals in the world. Each edition includes a memory verse, Bible reading, message, prayer point, and hymn. The devotional is known for its practical, Bible-based teachings that address everyday Christian living, spiritual warfare, and faith.
The devotional for 24th May 2026 is the third part of the series on spiritual discernment, applying discernment to critical life decisions: marriage, relocation, and associations.
BRIEF COMMENTARY
Based on Open Heavens 24th May 2026 – “Spiritually Discerned III”
Critical Decisions Require Spiritual Discernment
In today’s devotional, Pastor Adeboye applies the principle of spiritual discernment to the most important decisions of life: choosing a marriage partner, where to live, and who to associate with. These decisions shape your destiny, and they cannot be made on the basis of emotion, appearance, or human logic alone. You need God’s direction.
The memory verse, Isaiah 30:21, is a promise of divine guidance: “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it.” The voice comes from behind because sometimes you are already moving in the wrong direction, and God calls you back. The guidance is specific for every turn you face.
Choosing a Marriage Partner
The devotional begins with the most important life decision after choosing Christ: choosing a spouse. Some Christians have married evil people disguised as angels of light because they lacked spiritual discernment. They embraced Jezebels (idolatrous, controlling women) and Nabals (foolish, harsh men) who led them astray and ruined their lives.
Two criteria for choosing a spouse:
Marry a fellow believer. Abraham instructed his servant to go to his own country and kindred to find a wife for Isaac. Your “country” as a believer is heaven. Your “kindred” are fellow citizens of that kingdom. The devotional states plainly: “Some believers have disregarded this criterion to their detriment.”
Ask God for the specific person. Even among believers, not every Christian is the right spouse for you. Some Christian ladies have been carried away by a suitor’s charisma, charm, or wealth and missed the Holy Spirit’s warning. Some Christian men have been blinded by a lady’s church commitment or appearance and ignored what God was saying about her character.
External things cannot be the basis for marriage: charisma fades, beauty fades, church activity can be performed without a transformed heart. You need discernment to see past the surface to the character underneath.
The devotional prays for singles: “If you are still single, I pray that you will allow the Lord, and not your emotions, physical preferences, or human calculations, to guide you in your choice of a marriage partner.”
Choosing Where to Live: The Lesson of Lot
The devotional gives the tragic example of Lot. When Abraham gave him the choice of land, Lot looked with his natural eyes and saw the plain of Jordan—well-watered, lush, prosperous. It looked like the garden of the LORD (Genesis 13:10). He chose based on appearance, not discernment.
What he did not see was the wickedness of the inhabitants. He pitched his tent toward Sodom, then moved into Sodom, then lost everything when God destroyed the city. The result: Lot lost his home, his wife became a pillar of salt, and his daughters committed incest with him.
Only spiritually discerning people will know whether God wants them to relocate, where to relocate to, and when to relocate. The logical choice is not always the right choice. Egypt had food, but God told Isaac not to go there. Sodom looked prosperous, but Lot lost everything.
Choosing Associations
The devotional implies that associations—friends, business partners, close allies—also require discernment. Not everyone who smiles at you is for you. Not everyone who calls you “brother” or “sister” is walking in the same spirit. Some people are agents of the enemy disguised as friends. Discernment allows you to see who is truly for you and who is secretly against you.
Why Your Judgment Is Not Enough
The devotional warns: “Don’t make critical life decisions based solely on your judgment and understanding.”
Your judgment is limited. You see what is visible; God sees what is hidden. You see the present; God sees the future. You see the surface; God sees the heart. What looks logical may be deadly. You cannot afford to rely on your own understanding. You need the voice of God.
How to Make Critical Decisions with Discernment
Seek God before the decision. Abraham’s servant prayed before he left (Genesis 24:12). Do not wait until you are already in motion.
Apply the biblical criteria first. Before asking “Is this person right for me?” ask “Is this person a believer?” The non-negotiables come first.
Listen for the voice behind you. If you feel unsettled or have an uneasy peace, stop and listen. God may be saying, “This is not the way.”
Test the spirit. Test every impression against Scripture, godly counsel, and the character of God.
Be willing to wait. Rushed decisions are rarely discerning decisions. Do not let impatience cost you your future.
Watch for confirmation. God often confirms His guidance through multiple witnesses—scripture, prayer, circumstances, and godly counsel.
The Danger of Ignoring Discernment
The devotional does not sugarcoat the consequences: marriage becomes misery when you marry the wrong person, relocation becomes destruction when you move to the wrong place, and associations become traps when you trust the wrong people.
You can avoid these outcomes. Seek God. Listen for His voice. Test every impression. Apply biblical criteria. Be willing to wait. Do not let emotion, appearance, or human logic override the voice of the Spirit.
Conclusion: This Is the Way
The memory verse promises that when you are sensitive to God, you will hear a voice behind you saying, “This is the way, walk ye in it.” Not a guess, not a hope, not a possibility—this is the way.
God will guide you to the right spouse, the right location, and the right associations. He will not leave you to stumble through critical decisions alone. But you must be willing to listen, obey, and set aside your own judgment to trust His.
Prayer Point from the Devotional:
Lord, please help me not to be insensitive to Your guidance.
Action Steps:
If you are single – write down your “wish list” for a spouse. Then ask God to override every preference that is not from Him. Surrender your list.
If you are considering relocation – before you pack a box, spend a week praying specifically about that location. Ask God for clear confirmation or clear closure.
If you are forming new associations – ask God to reveal the heart of the people you are considering as partners, friends, or allies. Watch their character, not just their charisma.
Practice listening – before any decision this week, even small ones, pause and ask, “Lord, is this the way?” Build the habit of seeking before stepping.
Test your peace – if you have a decision pending and you feel no peace, do not move. Peace is not the only indicator, but the absence of peace is a warning. Wait until clarity comes.
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