OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL
 
DATE: WEDNESDAY AUGUST 12TH 2026
 
THEME: INPUT DETERMINES OUTPUT II
 
MEMORISE: But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
Luke 12:48

READ: Matthew 25:14-30 

14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.

17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.

18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.

19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.

21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.

23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:

25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.

26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:

27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.

28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.

29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

MESSAGE

Referencing the example I gave in the first paragraph of yesterday’s teaching, if God gives you an assignment, He will provide you with the resources you need to execute it. Some of those resources will be around you, and others will be within you. As we see in today’s memory verse, to whom much is given, much is expected, so the more resources God gives you, the more results He expects from you.

People who feel that God has not given them enough resources must be careful that they do not become like the servant who despised the talent his master gave him, as we read in today’s Bible reading. Some people feel that the resources they have are insufficient and try to wait for God to give them something better or more before they can start being faithful with the little they have.
Beloved, this is a wrong mindset. A person who cannot be faithful with what he or she has received should not expect to receive more. God only gives more to those who have proven themselves faithful in little things.

I hail from a village that was not on the map. My father was so poor that people who were also poor called him poor. Even though my parents were poor and I did not have many resources growing up, God gave me one talent, and that is my brain. I used the talent God gave me very effectively by studying diligently, and gradually, I acquired many more resources with it. The Lord gave me salvation in 1973, and from that point onward, I became a very useful vessel in His hands. When I reflect on the great things God has enabled me to achieve despite the limited resources I started out with, always praise the Lord for His faithfulness. Indeed, when a fellow is faithful with little, more will be committed to him or her.

Child of God, look around and within you, and you will see all the great gifts that God has given to you. Don’t fail Him; please, use those gifts to win more souls to the Kingdom of God. Use them to gain so much influence that when you speak, people will be willing to listen and serve the same God that you serve.I pray that the Almighty God will use you to accomplish mighty things in His Kingdom as you serve Him faithfully with the gifts He has given you, in Jesus’ name.

REFLECTION

Are you serving God faithfully with the gifts He has given you?

HYMN 12: ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS

1. Onward, Christian soldiers!
Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before.
Christ, the royal Master,
Leads against the foe;
Forward into battle,
See his banners go!
 
[Chorus]
Onward, Christian soldiers!Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before.
 
2. At the sign of triumph
Satan’s host doth flee;
On, then, Christian soldiers,
On to victory.
Hell’s foundations quiver
At the shout of praise;
Brothers, lift your voices,
Loud your anthems raise.
 
3. Like a mighty army
Moves the Church of God;
Brothers, we are treading
Where the Saints have trod.
We are not divided;
All one body we:
One in hope and doctrine,
One in charity.
 
4. Onward, then, ye people;
Join our happy throng.
Blend with ours your voices
In the triumph song:
Glory, laud, and honor
Unto Christ, the King.
This through countless ages
Men and angels sing.

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL
 
DATE: TUESDAY AUGUST 11TH 2026
 
THEME: INPUT DETERMINES OUTPUT I
 
MEMORISE: Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
1 Corinthians 9:24
 
READ: Proverbs 31:1-9

1  The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.

2 What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?

3 Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.

4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:

5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.

6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.

7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

8 Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.

9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
 
MESSAGE

The farther you want to go in life, the more you must invest in yourself. For example, if you are driving a Car with a tank full of petrol from Lagos, which is in South West Nigeria, to somewhere in Northern Nigeria, you will need to refuel your car at some point during the course of your journey. However, if you were only going to Ibadan, which is also a city in the South West of Nigeria, you wouldn't need to stop on your way to buy more petrol.

Anyone who wants to go far in life must invest resources that include holiness, hard work, knowledge, and good interpersonal skills in his or her life, while avoiding unproductive habits such as binge-watching movies, scrolling aimlessly on social media, wild partying, and the like. Discipline is required to go far in life. I recall when I was a child, my mother would compel me to stay indoors and study while my friends were outdoors playing football. I used to complain a lot about it, but she insisted until it became a part of me. One time, I was at my uncle's place, where a masquerade show was taking place on the street, and everyone was outside watching the show except me. My uncle came to me and asked why I didn't go outside to watch the show, and I responded, "The fellow everyone will watch someday does not sit around watching shows." Many years later, when God had lifted me, he reminded me of that day and said, "Today, the whole world is watching you."

Beloved, what you invest in yourself is what will determine your height in life. While the other captives in the king of Babylon's palace were busy dining and feasting on the king's delicacies, Daniel and his three counterparts focused on consecrating themselves to the Lord (Daniel 1:3-12). I believe that they were not the only Jews in the king's palace at that time, but they were the only ones who went on to do exploits because they invested the right resources in themselves.

Child of God, if you have big dreams that you want to see come to pass, then you must pay the price to invest in yourself. You must also let go of unnecessary weights, Such as laziness and a lack of self-control, as well as impurities like sin, which can hinder you from fulfilling God's plans for your life. I pray that you will fulfil God's plans for your life, in Jesus' name.
 
PRAYER POINT

Father, please help me to invest the right resources in my life so I can fulfil Your plans for me, in Jesus' name.
 
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Jeremiah 25-27
 
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE
 
HYMN 20: 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 onward bound,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”

Chorus:
Lord, lift me up, and let me stand
By faith on Canaan’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 these 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 rest I’ve found,
“Lord, lead me on to higher ground.”

Col.1.27 For it has pleased God to tell his people that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. For this is the secret: Christ lives in you, and this is your assurance that you will share in his glory. (NLT)

Christ Jesus is My Hope