OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL DATE: FRIDAY, MAY 9TH 2025 TOPIC: YOUR LIFETIME MEMORISE: “This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.” - (Psalm 24:6) READ: ECCLESIASTES 3:1-8 (KJV) 1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. MESSAGE: A person's lifetime is the period between the fellow's birth and death. Today's Bible reading says that there are seasons for everything and a time for every purpose under heaven. Everyone is assigned to a purpose here on earth, and after a while, regardless of whether they fulfil their purpose or not, they die. Once you leave the earth, another generation will come on the scene and play their own part according to God's design (Ecclesiastes 1:4). The question is, during this period when you are playing your own part, will you make a mark in the sands of time? Will you fulfil your destiny or just pursue mundane things? David followed after God so much that He called him "...a man after mine own heart..." (Acts 13:22). Little wonder he lived such an impactful life and is still regarded as Israel's greatest king up until today. Another fellow, Methuselah, was only known for his day of birth and death. He was the oldest man recorded in the Bible, and apart from the fact that he had sons and daughters, nothing else was written about him (Genesis 5:25-27). Enoch, on the other hand, walked with God, and this made his lifetime count (Genesis 5:24). When a fellow walks with God and does His will like Enoch and David did, the person's lifetime will count. The impact of that fellow will be felt long after he or she has crossed over to eternity. God seeks a generation of people who will fear, love, and follow Him wholeheartedly. David called this generation 'the generation that seeks God's face' (Psalm 24:6). When I was younger, people had shops with small peepholes that could only accommodate a person's hand. If someone wanted to buy something, the shop owner would stretch his or her hands through the peephole to collect the person's money and pass the goods out, after which the fellow would leave. However, if the fellow insists on seeing the shop owner, the shop owner would open the door so they can meet face to face. Beloved, God wants you to seek His face and not just the blessings in His hands. If you want your life to matter, don't focus on the things you can get from Him; seek His face so you can have access to Him. Don't only ask God for material things; ask Him to show you His face so that when the world looks at you, they will see His glory (Exodus 34:28-35). ACTION POINT: Seek God's face and live according to His will so your life can make an impact in the world. BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 CHRONICLES 5-7 AUTHOR PASTOR E A ADEBOYE HYMNAL: 7 - I AM THINE O LORD 1 I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice, And it told Thy love to me; But I long to rise in the arms of faith, And be closer drawn to Thee. Refrain: Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, To the cross where Thou hast died; Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, To Thy precious, bleeding side. 2 Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord, By the pow’r of grace divine; Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope, And my will be lost in Thine. [Refrain] 3 Oh, the pure delight of a single hour That before Thy throne I spend, When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God, I commune as friend with friend! [Refrain] 4 There are depths of love that I cannot know Till I cross the narrow sea; There are heights of joy that I may not reach Till I rest in peace with Thee. [Refrain]

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL DATE: TUESDAY, MAY 6TH 2025 TOPIC: LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION III MEMORISE: “The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.” - (Psalm 33:11) READ: GENESIS 50:16-20 (KJV) 16 And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying, 17 So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him. 18 And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants. 19 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? 20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. MESSAGE: As I conclude the teaching I started two days ago, I want you to take special note of today's memory verse. It tells us that God's counsel will stand forever. This implies that no matter what anyone tries, God's plan for your life can never be changed. Isaiah 46:10 says, "...My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:" When things that do not seem to align with God’s plan for your life start happening to you, don't despair; trust God and be confident that He is able to make all things work together for your good. For example, in the Bible, God showed Joseph a glimpse of His plan for his life in two dreams (Genesis 37:5-9). However, instead of keeping his mouth shut, he announced the dreams to his brothers and parents. His brothers got angry and sold him into slavery. They thought they were destroying him, but little did they know that they were helping Him towards his destiny. After he was brought into Potiphar's house, tragedy struck again, and he found himself in prison. I'm sure the devil must have mocked him and asked, "Now, what has become of your big dreams?" However, God never fails to bring His word to pass; He hastens His word to perform it (Jeremiah 1:12). The bigger the challenges, the more He will showcase His mighty power. God had a great destiny prepared for David, but the moment the oil came upon his head and he was anointed as king, it seemed all hell was let loose upon him. He became a fugitive for 13 years, moving from one hideout to another. In his psalms, he recorded how he felt during that season (Psalm 88:15, Psalm 25:16). However, despite all he faced, he still became Israel's king as God ordained. I am sure that was why he said, "Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all" (Psalm 34:19). Beloved, no matter how much the enemy tries to stop you from achieving that glorious destiny that God has prepared for you, I want you to know that all things will work together for your good when you love God, and you are aligned with His purpose (Romans 8:28). Loving God means that you must obey all His commands (John 14:15). Don't lose hope when negative circumstances come your way. Trust in God, obey all His commandments, and He will surely bring you to a glorious end in Him. KEY POINT: No matter the difficulties you may be facing in your life, God is able to make all things work together for your good. BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 CHRONICLES 24-26 AUTHOR: PASTOR E . A ADEBOYE HYMNAL: 30 - WHEN WE WALK WITH THE LORD 1 When we walk with the Lord In the light of His Word, What a glory He sheds on our way; While we do His good will, He abides with us still, And with all who will trust and obey. Trust and obey, For there’s no other way To be happy in Jesus, But to trust and obey. 2 Not a shadow can rise, Not a cloud in the skies, But His smile quickly drives it away; Not a doubt or a fear, Not a sigh or a tear, Can abide while we trust and obey. 3 Not a burden we bear, Not a sorrow we share, But our toil He doth richly repay; Not a grief or a loss, Not a frown or a cross, But is blest if we trust and obey. 4 But we never can prove The delights of His love, Until all on the altar we lay; For the favor He shows, And the joy He bestows, Are for them who will trust and obey. 5 Then in fellowship sweet We will sit at His feet, Or we’ll walk by His side in the way; What He says we will do; Where He sends, we will go, Never fear, only trust and obey.