12-01-2020, 08:07 AM
OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DATE: TUESDAY 1ST DECEMBER 2020
THEME: COMMIT YOUR PLANS TO GOD.
MEMORISE:
A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps. Proverbs 16:9
READ: Proverbs 19:20-21
20 Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.
21 There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.
MESSAGE:
It is not wise to start planning for something when you are already in it. Some people plan their year in the beginning of the year; no wonder they hardly achieve anything meaningful in that year. You cannot begin to plan for a battle when you are already in the midst of it. Have you ever seen someone planning their own wedding on the wedding day? Or begin to study for an examination in the exam hall when question papers are already being distributed? Why then do you wait until the new year before you begin to plan for it?
Now, if I were to ask to see your plan for the year 2021, would you have something to show me? Note that I said ‘show me’ and not ‘tell me’, because I believe that any serious Christian will live by Habakkuk 2:2 which says:
“ And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.”
If you would not have anything to show me, then you need to go to the drawing board and do a proper plan for the year 2021.
Having established the need for you to plan ahead of the new year, it is important that you commit those plans to the hands of God. Before you were formed in your mother’s womb, God had a plan and agenda for your life. It does not matter how meticulous your plan is, if it is not in line with His agenda for you, you may end up struggling to get your footing in the new year. Let Him know that all you care about is that His will is done and nothing else. Tell Him, just like our memory verse says, that you may have planned your way, but you need Him to direct your steps. God is not responsible for whatever is not committed to his hands; if you say you know exactly what you want to do in the new year and you don’t need His help, He will simply stand back and watch. But if you call on Him to direct your footsteps, He will take you to greater heights and help you far beyond your imaginations.
KEY POINT:
In year 2021, put God’s will above yours, always.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Corinthians 12-14
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 5: DEEPER, DEEPER IN THE LOVE OF JESUS.
1. Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus
Daily let me go;
Higher, higher in the school of wisdom,
More of grace to know.
o Refrain:
Oh, deeper yet, I pray,
And higher every day,
And wiser, blessed Lord,
In Thy precious, holy Word.
2. Deeper, deeper, blessed Holy Spirit,
Take me deeper still,
Till my life is wholly lost in Jesus,
And His perfect will.
3. Deeper, deeper! though it cost hard trials,
Deeper let me go!
Rooted in the holy love of Jesus,
Let me fruitful grow.
4. Deeper, higher, every day in Jesus,
Till all conflict past,
Finds me conqu’ror, and in His own image
Perfected at last.
5. Deeper, deeper in the faith of Jesus,
Holy faith and true;
In His pow’r and soul exulting wisdom
Let me peace pursue.
DATE: TUESDAY 1ST DECEMBER 2020
THEME: COMMIT YOUR PLANS TO GOD.
MEMORISE:
A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps. Proverbs 16:9
READ: Proverbs 19:20-21
20 Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.
21 There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.
MESSAGE:
It is not wise to start planning for something when you are already in it. Some people plan their year in the beginning of the year; no wonder they hardly achieve anything meaningful in that year. You cannot begin to plan for a battle when you are already in the midst of it. Have you ever seen someone planning their own wedding on the wedding day? Or begin to study for an examination in the exam hall when question papers are already being distributed? Why then do you wait until the new year before you begin to plan for it?
Now, if I were to ask to see your plan for the year 2021, would you have something to show me? Note that I said ‘show me’ and not ‘tell me’, because I believe that any serious Christian will live by Habakkuk 2:2 which says:
“ And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.”
If you would not have anything to show me, then you need to go to the drawing board and do a proper plan for the year 2021.
Having established the need for you to plan ahead of the new year, it is important that you commit those plans to the hands of God. Before you were formed in your mother’s womb, God had a plan and agenda for your life. It does not matter how meticulous your plan is, if it is not in line with His agenda for you, you may end up struggling to get your footing in the new year. Let Him know that all you care about is that His will is done and nothing else. Tell Him, just like our memory verse says, that you may have planned your way, but you need Him to direct your steps. God is not responsible for whatever is not committed to his hands; if you say you know exactly what you want to do in the new year and you don’t need His help, He will simply stand back and watch. But if you call on Him to direct your footsteps, He will take you to greater heights and help you far beyond your imaginations.
KEY POINT:
In year 2021, put God’s will above yours, always.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Corinthians 12-14
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 5: DEEPER, DEEPER IN THE LOVE OF JESUS.
1. Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus
Daily let me go;
Higher, higher in the school of wisdom,
More of grace to know.
o Refrain:
Oh, deeper yet, I pray,
And higher every day,
And wiser, blessed Lord,
In Thy precious, holy Word.
2. Deeper, deeper, blessed Holy Spirit,
Take me deeper still,
Till my life is wholly lost in Jesus,
And His perfect will.
3. Deeper, deeper! though it cost hard trials,
Deeper let me go!
Rooted in the holy love of Jesus,
Let me fruitful grow.
4. Deeper, higher, every day in Jesus,
Till all conflict past,
Finds me conqu’ror, and in His own image
Perfected at last.
5. Deeper, deeper in the faith of Jesus,
Holy faith and true;
In His pow’r and soul exulting wisdom
Let me peace pursue.