OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL
DATE: SUNDAY APRIL 28 2024
TOPIC: GIVE THANKS
MEMORISE:
O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psalm 136:1
READ:
Psalm 100:1-5
1 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
MESSAGE:
The reason Solomon was extremely grateful to God in 2 Chronicles 1:6-12 is that he realised that he didn’t deserve to be king. His father was an adulterer and his mother an adulteress. His father was also a murderer who murdered his mother’s first husband. How could God pick the fruit of such a union and make him king? Solomon indeed had every reason to be grateful. If you look at your life closely, you will also see that you don’t deserve many of the things that God has given to you, including your life. I think you should really give Him thanks.
When people see me dancing in agbada at least once a year to praise God in my mother tongue, many of them do not understand. The day I asked God how He could choose the product of a sinful relationship like Solomon to be king, He also asked me, “Is your mother the first wife of your father?” I had no more questions because, based on the circumstances surrounding my birth, I don’t deserve to be called to pastor His sheep. I am always grateful to God because to whom much is given, much is required (Luke 12:48). Even the fact that I am here in this world is something to be grateful for. My mom had made up her mind that she wasn’t having any more children because she already had as many girls as she wanted and a boy. However, the boy died, and people begged her to give birth again. She agreed, and I was born. Coming from that background, and also considering all the sins I had committed before giving my life to Christ, it is a privilege that God could save a soul like mine and make me a pastor. So, I know why I dance and sing praises to my God.
When we say, “Let us thank God,” those who feel that they deserve everything they have don’t see the importance. For some of them, they believe God chose them because He had no choice and so, they don’t bother. However, for some of us, we know where we are coming from and the things we survived. I grew up amongst scorpions, snakes, and all sorts of wild animals, and was surrounded by witches, wizards, and the rest. For me to have survived in that kind of environment, I cannot keep quiet when it is time to thank God. Will you do the same?
ACTION POINT:
Throughout today, just keep thanking God for all that He has done for you.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 CHRONICLES 3-4
AUTHOR: PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 18
PRAISE TO THE LORD THE ALMIGHTY
1 Praise to the Lord,
the Almighty, the King of creation;
O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation:
Join the great throng,
Psaltery, organ and song,
Sounding in glad adoration.
2 Praise to the Lord; above all things He wondrously reigneth:
Borne as on eagle-wings, safely His Saints He sustaineth.
Hast thou not seen
How all thou needest hath been
Granted in What He ordaineth?
3 Praise to the Lord,
who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;
Surely His goodness and mercy shall ever attend thee.
Ponder anew
What the Almighty can do,
Who with His love doth befriend thee.
4 Praise to the Lord!
O let all that is in me adore Him!
All that hath breath join with Abraham’s seed to adore Him!
Let the “Amen”
Sum all our praises again
Now as we worship before Him.
