OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL DATE: THURSDAY JULY 30TH 2026 THEME: AVOIDING TEMPTATION MEMORISE: Abstain from all appearance of evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:22 READ: James 1:12-16 12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. 13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. 16 Do not err, my beloved brethren. MESSAGE All human beings will face temptations at different points in their lives. Even the Lord Jesus Christ was tempted in all points while he was on the earth (Hebrews 4:15). If the devil could tempt Jesus, then no one is above temptation. Despite this, however, certain temptations can be avoided. James 1:13-15 says, "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." This means that if there is any lust in your life, you must confront and overcome it; otherwise, it can be used to draw you into sin, and sin brings death. To choose life, you must mortify the works of the flesh by the help of the Holy Spirit (Colossians 3:5). However, even as you're mortifying your flesh through the help of the Holy Spirit, you must avoid people, places, and things that may tempt you. For example, if a man knows that he struggles to be faithful with money, he should not accept responsibilities that would put him in charge of other people's money until he has successfully mortified the lust for money through the help of the Holy Spirit. Beloved, temptation is like a bird; it can fly over your head, and you may be unable to stop it from doing so. However, you can prevent it from building a nest on your head. If you let it build a nest on your head, then it is only a matter of time before your head is filled with its poop. This is why it is better to walk away from situations or things that can tempt you, because when you give in to temptation, you might soon realize that it has taken over your life. At a time when some pastors under my watch had motorcycles, I forbade them from carrying ladies on their bikes. This is because the close physical contact that occurs during such motorcycle rides might sow a seed in both of their hearts that may germinate into something dangerous in the future. Today's memory verse instructs us to flee every appearance of evil. Child of God, immediately you sense any form of temptation around you, flee! KEY POINT Flee every appearance of evil! BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Isaiah 53-56 AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE HYMN 31: YIELD NOT TO TEMPTATION 1 Yield not to temptation, For yielding is sin; Each vict’ry will help you, Some other to win; Fight valiantly onward, Evil passions subdue; Look ever to Jesus, He will carry you through. Refrain: Ask the Savior to help you, Comfort, strengthen and keep you; He is willing to aid you, He will carry you through. 2 Shun evil companions, Bad language disdain; God’s name hold in rev’rence, Nor take it in vain; Be thoughtful and earnest, Kindhearted and true; Look ever to Jesus, He will carry you through. 3 To him that o’ercometh, God giveth a crown; Through faith we will conquer, Though often cast down; He who is our Savior, Our strength will renew; Look ever to Jesus, He will carry you through. PRAYER POINTS ON TODAY'S OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL THURSDAY, 30TH JULY, 2026 *AVOID TEMPTATION* ‎ ✓Father, I praise and worship You because You were able to overcome the temptations from the devil in the wilderness, and all through Your ministry while on earth. ✓Father, thank You for Your promise to make a way of escape for me when I am being tempted of the devil. ✓Father, when I'm being faced with temptation at any point in my life, please help me to endure it and to overcome it, in Jesus' name. ✓Father, while I am living, please help me to avoid being tempted at all points. Strengthen me to resist the devil and to flee from every appearance of evil, in Jesus' name. ✓Father, please help me to confront the lust of my eyes and the lust of my flesh, and to overcome it so I won't be drawn into sin, in Jesus' name. ✓Father, by the help of the Holy Spirit please, help me to mortify the works of the flesh in my body. Help me to avoid people, places and anything that may tempt me, in Jesus' name. ✓Father, please help me to admit my weaknesses and never to rely on my own strength but in the help of the Holy Spirit to prevent any situation that may lead me into falling to temptation, in Jesus' name. ✓Father, please help me to walk away from situations and anything that may tempt me. Help me not to feel overconfident, but to take heed at all times, in Jesus' name. ✓Father, please help me to be sensitive to any form of temptation around me, and to flee every appearance of evil, in Jesus' name. ✓Father, please help me not to be drawn away by my own lust, and never to conceive any form of lust in my heart again, in Jesus' name. ✓Father, thank You for the life of Your son, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye. ‎ Help him to overcome all temptations, in Jesus' name. Bless his children (biological and spiritual). Help him to continue to produce sons and daughters to Your glory, in Jesus name ‎ ‎✓Father, please bless Your son that You have been using to prepare these prayer points, beyond measure, and all those who have been broadcasting them, in Jesus' name. ‎ ‎✓Father, please let every challenge, hindrance and obstacles of getting these prayer points across to Your children, timely, and on daily basis be removed, in Jesus name. ‎ ‎✓Your personal petitions. ‎(Philippians 4:6) ‎ ‎✓In Jesus name I pray. ‎(John 14:13-14; 15:16) ‎ #GodBlessOurNation *These prayers have no expiry date! Please join us in prayer, irrespective of the time they get to you. Remain blessed, in Jesus’ name.