OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL DATE SATURDAY APRIL 15TH 2023

DATE: SATURDAY APRIL 15TH 2023

MEMORISE: All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. 1 Corinthians 6:12

READ: 1 Corinthians 6:12 -13

12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

13 Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.

Philippians 3:18-19

(For many walk, of whom l have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

When you see some people cutting corners and you ask them, “Why are you doing those?”, they say, “l must eat”. Today’s Bible reading says we must not be brought under the power of anything in this world then went further to show that food is temporary. Don’t let something temporary send you to permanent destruction in hell. How often do you fast? Jesus Christ Himself said in Matthew 17:21, “Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting”. There are problems and demons around you that will not leave except by fasting and prayer. One day in my village, just as l was about to have my favorite dish of pounded yam with combination okra soup, God said to me, “Don’t eat, you are to fast today”. I argued with Him and ate the food. Just as l finished eating, someone came to call me to pray for my sister who had gotten small pox. You don’t face small pox with a belly full of pounded yam. I had to go stick my finger down my throat to throw up the food. Only then was l able to pray for my sister and she was healed.

When God asks you to fast, don’t disobey because He has His reasons and it is always for your good. I was never one to fast before. The first time somebody told me that l was to fast for three days and nights without food, l called him a murderer. However, God gave me victory over my belly. I started fasting and little by little, l went from three days to five days and on and on until l started fasting for over forty days and nights. Whenever l am about to start a fast, l mark the days from when the fast is to start to when it ends, point to my stomach and say, “Belly, as from that day, no more food for you until so and so day”. When you are on a fast, you’ll suddenly be more aware of food around you, but you must resist the temptation to eat and stay focused on your goal.

Father, help me to consecrate myself unto You in fasting on a regular basis.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1King 16-18

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE

HYMN 23: TAKE MY LIFE AND LET IT BE

1. Take my life and let it

Consecrated Lord to Thee

Take my moment and my days

Let them flow ceaseless praise.

2. Take my hands and let them move

At the impulse of Thy love

Take my feet and let them be

Swift and beautiful for thee

3. Take my voice and let me sing

Always only for my king;

Take my lips and let them be

Filled with messages from Thee.

4. Take my sliver and my gold

Not a mite would I withhold

Take my intellect, and use

Every power as thou shalt choose.

5. Take my will and make it Thine,

It shall no longer mine:

Take my heart, it is Thine own;

It shall be Thy royal throne,

6. Take my love, my Lord, I pour

At Thy feet its treasure store;

Take myself, and I will be

Ever, only, all for thee.