07-22-2021, 06:00 AM
OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DATE: THURSDAY 22ND JULY 2021.
THEME: ASPIRING TO HIGHER LEVELS?
MEMORISE:
And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. Matthew 23:12
READ: Psalm 61:2
2 From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
MESSAGE:
There are various levels in life. When we talk about health, we have those who are sick; even among the sick, there are levels of sickness- some are sick, some are very sick while some have terminal sickness. Some may even be dying. When we talk about wealth, there are destitute. The poor, the comfortable, the rich, the very rich, the wealthy and the flourishing. The flourishing are those who, according to the Bible lend to nations. There are also those who have so much abundance that it is difficult to imagine. In 2 Chronicles 9:20 we read:
“And all the drinking vessels of king Solomon were of gold…”
There are also various levels of joy. There are those who are sad, there are sympathizers, there are those who have joy and those with great joy. The Bible in Psalm 16:11 talks about the fulness of joy that is available in the presence of God. The Bible also talks about “joy unspeakable” in 1 Peter 1:8.
There are also varying levels of victory. There is victory after a fight, victory without a fight and victory when the enemy miraculously disappears. There is also a kind of victory recorded in Psalm 23:5:
“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.” There is nothing as glorious as rejoicing in the presence of our enemies.
In any aspect of life, everyone is at one level or the other. It doesn’t matter where you are, there is a higher level you can get to. Moving from one level to the other involves three possibilities: One, you want to move to the next level unassisted. Two, you want to move to the next level with assistance. Three and lastly, you are trying to move to the next level, but facing resistance.
It is easier to move to the next level of your life when you have the Lord Jesus as your ally. The Bible says the blessing of the Lord maketh rich and addeth no sorrow with it (Proverbs 10:22). Surrender your life to Christ now so that He can take you to the next level. No one can resist or stop Jesus from doing whatever He is determined to do, according to Psalm 24. The plan of God is to take you to the next level according to Jeremiah 29:11 which says:
“ For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
ACTION POINT:
Think of the level you should attain that would make stagnation history in your life, then call on the name of Jesus for divine assistance.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalm 66-68.
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 10: I’M PRESSING ON THE UPWARD WAY.
1. I’m pressing on the upward way,
New heights I’m gaining every day;
Still praying as I’m onward bound,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”
o Refrain:
Lord, lift me up and let me stand,
By faith, on Heaven’s tableland,
A higher plane than I have found;
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.
2. My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay;
Though some may dwell where those abound,
My prayer, my aim, is higher ground.
3. I want to live above the world,
Though Satan’s darts at me are hurled;
For faith has caught the joyful sound,
The song of saints on higher ground.
4. I want to scale the utmost height
And catch a gleam of glory bright;
But still I’ll pray till heav’n I’ve found,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”
DATE: THURSDAY 22ND JULY 2021.
THEME: ASPIRING TO HIGHER LEVELS?
MEMORISE:
And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. Matthew 23:12
READ: Psalm 61:2
2 From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
MESSAGE:
There are various levels in life. When we talk about health, we have those who are sick; even among the sick, there are levels of sickness- some are sick, some are very sick while some have terminal sickness. Some may even be dying. When we talk about wealth, there are destitute. The poor, the comfortable, the rich, the very rich, the wealthy and the flourishing. The flourishing are those who, according to the Bible lend to nations. There are also those who have so much abundance that it is difficult to imagine. In 2 Chronicles 9:20 we read:
“And all the drinking vessels of king Solomon were of gold…”
There are also various levels of joy. There are those who are sad, there are sympathizers, there are those who have joy and those with great joy. The Bible in Psalm 16:11 talks about the fulness of joy that is available in the presence of God. The Bible also talks about “joy unspeakable” in 1 Peter 1:8.
There are also varying levels of victory. There is victory after a fight, victory without a fight and victory when the enemy miraculously disappears. There is also a kind of victory recorded in Psalm 23:5:
“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.” There is nothing as glorious as rejoicing in the presence of our enemies.
In any aspect of life, everyone is at one level or the other. It doesn’t matter where you are, there is a higher level you can get to. Moving from one level to the other involves three possibilities: One, you want to move to the next level unassisted. Two, you want to move to the next level with assistance. Three and lastly, you are trying to move to the next level, but facing resistance.
It is easier to move to the next level of your life when you have the Lord Jesus as your ally. The Bible says the blessing of the Lord maketh rich and addeth no sorrow with it (Proverbs 10:22). Surrender your life to Christ now so that He can take you to the next level. No one can resist or stop Jesus from doing whatever He is determined to do, according to Psalm 24. The plan of God is to take you to the next level according to Jeremiah 29:11 which says:
“ For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
ACTION POINT:
Think of the level you should attain that would make stagnation history in your life, then call on the name of Jesus for divine assistance.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalm 66-68.
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 10: I’M PRESSING ON THE UPWARD WAY.
1. I’m pressing on the upward way,
New heights I’m gaining every day;
Still praying as I’m onward bound,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”
o Refrain:
Lord, lift me up and let me stand,
By faith, on Heaven’s tableland,
A higher plane than I have found;
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.
2. My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay;
Though some may dwell where those abound,
My prayer, my aim, is higher ground.
3. I want to live above the world,
Though Satan’s darts at me are hurled;
For faith has caught the joyful sound,
The song of saints on higher ground.
4. I want to scale the utmost height
And catch a gleam of glory bright;
But still I’ll pray till heav’n I’ve found,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”