**Psalm 23:5 (NIV)**

> **"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows."**

This verse reminds believers that God is not only our Shepherd but also our gracious Host. Even in difficult times, He provides, protects, honors, and blesses those who trust in Him.

### 1. "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies."

A prepared table represents God's provision, peace, and care. David did not say God removed his enemies first. Instead, God gave him peace and blessing while they were still present.

**Encouragement:**
You may be surrounded by problems, criticism, or people who oppose you, but God is able to provide for you right in the middle of your circumstances. Your situation does not limit His faithfulness.

**Supporting verses:**

* **Romans 8:31 (NIV)**

> "If God is for us, who can be against us?"

* **Isaiah 54:17 (NIV)**

> "No weapon forged against you will prevail..."

* **John 16:33 (NIV)**

> "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

These verses remind us that God's presence is greater than any opposition we face.

---

### 2. "You anoint my head with oil."

In biblical times, oil symbolized blessing, honor, healing, refreshment, and God's favor. Shepherds also used oil to protect their sheep from insects and wounds, illustrating God's loving care.

**Encouragement:**
God knows your hurts, your fears, and your struggles. He refreshes weary hearts, heals broken spirits, and gives strength to continue.

**Supporting verses:**

* **Isaiah 61:3 (NIV)**

> "...to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning..."

* **James 1:17 (NIV)**

> "Every good and perfect gift is from above..."

* **2 Corinthians 1:21–22 (NIV)**

> "Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us..."

God's anointing points to His sustaining grace and His work in the lives of His people.

---

### 3. "My cup overflows."

An overflowing cup symbolizes abundant blessing. God's care is not merely enough to survive—it is abundant. His grace, mercy, and love exceed our deepest needs.

**Encouragement:**
Even when life feels empty, God can fill your heart with hope, peace, and joy. His blessings are not always material; they include His presence, forgiveness, strength, and eternal promises.

**Supporting verses:**

* **Ephesians 3:20 (NIV)**

> "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine..."

* **Philippians 4:19 (NIV)**

> "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus."

* **John 10:10 (NIV)**

> "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

God delights in giving His children what they truly need according to His wisdom.

---

## A Message of Encouragement

No matter what you're facing today, remember that God has not forgotten you. He can provide for you in the middle of your trials, strengthen you when you are weak, and fill your life with His peace and grace. Your enemies, difficulties, or fears do not have the final word—God does.

Trust the Good Shepherd. Stay faithful, keep praying, and continue walking with Christ. His presence is your greatest blessing, and His promises never fail.

> **"The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing."** — **Psalm 23:1 (NIV)**

May your heart rest in the assurance that the Shepherd who prepared David's table is the same God who faithfully cares for His people today.

#WordOfGod #encouragement Christian Worship #christianworship

**Psalm 23:5 (NIV)**

> **"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows."**

This verse reminds believers that God is not only our Shepherd but also our gracious Host. Even in difficult times, He provides, protects, honors, and blesses those who trust in Him.

### 1. "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies."

A prepared table represents God's provision, peace, and care. David did not say God removed his enemies first. Instead, God gave him peace and blessing while they were still present.

**Encouragement:**
You may be surrounded by problems, criticism, or people who oppose you, but God is able to provide for you right in the middle of your circumstances. Your situation does not limit His faithfulness.

**Supporting verses:**

* **Romans 8:31 (NIV)**

> "If God is for us, who can be against us?"

* **Isaiah 54:17 (NIV)**

> "No weapon forged against you will prevail..."

* **John 16:33 (NIV)**

> "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

These verses remind us that God's presence is greater than any opposition we face.

---

### 2. "You anoint my head with oil."

In biblical times, oil symbolized blessing, honor, healing, refreshment, and God's favor. Shepherds also used oil to protect their sheep from insects and wounds, illustrating God's loving care.

**Encouragement:**
God knows your hurts, your fears, and your struggles. He refreshes weary hearts, heals broken spirits, and gives strength to continue.

**Supporting verses:**

* **Isaiah 61:3 (NIV)**

> "...to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning..."

* **James 1:17 (NIV)**

> "Every good and perfect gift is from above..."

* **2 Corinthians 1:21–22 (NIV)**

> "Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us..."

God's anointing points to His sustaining grace and His work in the lives of His people.

---

### 3. "My cup overflows."

An overflowing cup symbolizes abundant blessing. God's care is not merely enough to survive—it is abundant. His grace, mercy, and love exceed our deepest needs.

**Encouragement:**
Even when life feels empty, God can fill your heart with hope, peace, and joy. His blessings are not always material; they include His presence, forgiveness, strength, and eternal promises.

**Supporting verses:**

* **Ephesians 3:20 (NIV)**

> "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine..."

* **Philippians 4:19 (NIV)**

> "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus."

* **John 10:10 (NIV)**

> "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

God delights in giving His children what they truly need according to His wisdom.

---

## A Message of Encouragement

No matter what you're facing today, remember that God has not forgotten you. He can provide for you in the middle of your trials, strengthen you when you are weak, and fill your life with His peace and grace. Your enemies, difficulties, or fears do not have the final word—God does.

Trust the Good Shepherd. Stay faithful, keep praying, and continue walking with Christ. His presence is your greatest blessing, and His promises never fail.

> **"The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing."** — **Psalm 23:1 (NIV)**

May your heart rest in the assurance that the Shepherd who prepared David's table is the same God who faithfully cares for His people today.

#WordOfGod #encouragement Christian Worship #christianworship

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: TUESDAY 25TH AUGUST 2026

TOPIC: FEAR GOD, PART 1

MEMORIZE:
"But the Lord your God ye shall fear; and he shall deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies." 2 Kings 17:39 (KJV)

BIBLE READING: PSALM 112:1-9
1 Praise ye the Lord. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.

2 His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.

3 Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever.

4 Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.

5 A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.

6 Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.

7 He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord.

8 His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies.

9 He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.

MESSAGE:
The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom (Psalm 111:10); therefore, anyone who does not fear God is not wise. He is a Consuming Fire (Hebrews 12:29), and those who do not fear Him are truly foolish because even a mad dog fears fire. Psalm 111:10 also means that those who fear God become wise.

Apart from wisdom, however, there are many other benefits to fearing God, and today's Bible reading outlines many of them. One of the benefits is that the seed of a person who fears God will be mighty upon the earth (Psalm 112:2). That same verse also tells us that the generation of the upright shall be blessed. Psalm 112:3 says that you will have access to wealth and riches when you fear God. Also, Psalm 112:7 says that you will not be afraid of evil tidings. People who fear God do not need to be afraid of anything because He will deliver them out of the hands of all their enemies and everything that can harm them.

Those who do not fear God will find it easy to commit sins, and this can bring a curse upon them and their descendants. For example, Gehazi's lack of fear for the Lord caused him and his descendants to become carriers of the leprosy that was previously upon Naaman (2 Kings 5:20-27). Whenever a person acts in a way that shows that he or she does not fear God, such a person robs his or her children of the opportunity to be great and exposes them to curses rather than blessings.

Joab was another person whose lack of fear for the Lord brought curses upon his lineage. In (2 Samuel 3:27-29), the Bible details how he tricked Abner and murdered him in cold blood. When David heard about it, he placed a curse on Joab's lineage that sicknesses, leprosy, poverty, weakness, and untimely death would befall Joab's family and his descendants. People who do not fear God purchase trouble for their children.

Beloved, if you want your future and that of your children to be glorious, you need to have the fear of God in you. If you're going to have peace of mind in your old age, you must fear God. The reason I am sure that my tomorrow and those of my children will be alright is that I fear the Lord. I pray that your life and those of your descendants will be filled with blessings and not curses, in Jesus' name.

KEY POINT:
The fear of the Lord guarantees God's blessings for you and your lineage.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

BIBLE READING IN ONE YEAR:
EZEKIEL 5 - 8

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, blessed Lord,
to the cross where Thou hast died;
draw me 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 O, 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]


PRAYER POINTS ON TODAY'S OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL.
Tuesday 25th August 2026 FEAR GOD, Part 1
‎
‎PRAYER POINTS
1.God of all wisdom and might, the One who made the heavens and earth with no pillars in between; You laid the foundations of the earth that it should not be removed

2.Father, the earth and the fullness thereof is in Your care, and by You we have the fullness of life through Christ Jesus.

3.Father, by Your wisdom You made the sun to rule the day, and the moon and stars to rule the night. The heavens declare Your glory, and the firmament shows Your handywork.

4.Father, please help me to fear You, and to walk in complete obedience to Your word, so I can become wiser, in Jesus' name.

5.Father, please help me to walk in Your fear, so I can be delivered out of the hands of all my enemies, in Jesus' name.

6.Father, please help me to walk in holiness and in Your righteousness so it will become practically impossible for me to commit sin, in Jesus' name.

7.Father, please help me to fear You so I won't miss the opportunity to be great and be exposed to blessings rather than curses, in Jesus' name.

8.Father, please help me not to purchase trouble for my children for lack of fear for You, in Jesus' name.

9.Father, please put Your fear in me so my children and I will have a glorious future, and peace of mind in my old age, and in Jesus' name.

10.Father, please let my life and those of my descendants be filled with blessings and not curses, in Jesus' name.

11.Father, thank You for the life of Your son, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye.
‎
Help him to abide in Your fear for the rest of his life, till You come again in glory, in Jesus' name. Bless his children (biological and spiritual). Help him to continue to produce sons and daughters to Your glory, in Jesus name
‎
‎12.Father, please bless Your son that You have been using to prepare these prayer points, with wisdom and favour. Answer all his prayers beyond measure, and all those who have been broadcasting them, in Jesus' name.
‎
‎13.Father, please let every challenge and temptations, hindrance and obstacles of getting these prayer points across to Your children, timely, and on daily basis be removed, in Jesus name.
‎
‎14.Your personal petitions.
‎(Philippians 4:6)
‎
‎15.In Jesus name I pray.
‎(John 14:13-14; 15:16)
‎
‎#Godblessournation
‎

DON'T BE BROUGHT UNDER THE POWER OF ANYTHING

There is nothing wrong with enjoying good things. The problem begins when good things begin controlling you.

Many of us had favourite biscuits when we were younger. Every time you passed the shop, you bought them. Eventually, the excitement disappeared, you moved on. That is how it should be.

Nothing should master you. Whether it is biscuits, soft drinks, noodles or any other habit, learn to stop and ask yourself: "Is this controlling me?"

The issue is not whether something is lawful. The issue is whether it has power over you.

The Bible says: "All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any." (1 Corinthians 6:12)

Many unhealthy habits continue simply because people refuse to discipline themselves.

People choose convenience over stewardship. Then, years later, they suffer the consequences.

Your body is God's gift. Take care of it.

Don't keep doing things simply because they are easy. Learn discipline. Learn restraint. Learn to say no.

Freedom is not the ability to do whatever you want. Freedom is the ability to refuse anything that tries to master you.

If a habit has become your master, break it. Don't negotiate with it. Don't excuse it.

Break it for your health. Break it for your future. Break it because you belong to Christ, and nothing but Christ should rule your life.

Shalom!

One way God cares is through his providence. What is God’s providence? We often think of it in terms of his sovereignty. The Bible says, “Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases” (Ps. 115:3). God has the right and the power to control all things. But that is different from his providence. Providence is the use of that sovereignty for the specific purpose of caring for this world and using his sovereignty for his wise purposes. One definition I found put it this way, “The providence of God is the working of God’s sovereignty to continually uphold, guide, and care for his creation.” [Helm]

One day I was praying to God and it that prayer I asked God to provide food for those that have nothing to eat.
I went outside after the prayer and not up to 5min an hawk swop down and picked a chick out of the chickens I rared. I got so mad at the what just took place. I sat quietly down still and angry when God whispered quietly in my spirit “the birds of the air neither sow nor reap. I feed them! you prayed for food to be provided to those who had nothing to eat, the bird was hungry and I answered your prayer by providing it food. I am the God of all creation and I care for all my creation.”
I praised God and prayed to always trust His answers to my prayers even if it’s not in the way I expect.

Daily Devotion — August 24 | Acts 20:28 (NKJV)

Caring for What Belongs to Christ

As Paul met with the elders from the church at Ephesus, he gave them heartfelt instructions before departing. Knowing that challenges and false teachers would arise, he urged these spiritual leaders to first watch over their own lives and then faithfully shepherd God's people. Paul reminded them that the church does not belong to any individual—it belongs to God, having been purchased through the precious blood of Jesus Christ.

This powerful verse highlights the incredible value God places on His church. Every believer is treasured because Christ willingly gave His life to redeem us. Those entrusted with spiritual leadership have the sacred responsibility of teaching God's Word faithfully, protecting the flock, and leading by godly example.

For believers today, this passage reminds us that whether we lead in a church, serve our family, or encourage fellow Christians, we are called to care for others with humility, love, and faithfulness. Because Christ gave everything for His people, we should also serve one another with grateful hearts.

Reflection Questions

1. Am I caring for my own spiritual life before trying to help others?

2. How can I encourage and support fellow believers?

3. Do I remember the great value Christ places on His church?

Prayer

Lord God, thank You for purchasing Your church through the precious blood of Jesus Christ. Help me to faithfully care for my own walk with You and to lovingly encourage those around me. Give me a servant's heart that reflects the love of Christ in every relationship. In Jesus name Amen.

Practical Application

● Spend time strengthening your own relationship with God.

● Encourage and pray for your church leaders.

● Look for opportunities to care for and support another believer.

Takeaway Thought

The church is precious because it belongs to Christ, who gave His life for it.

#LordsbookDailys #DailyDevotion #August24 #Acts2028 #ShepherdTheFlock #ChurchOfGod #PurchasedByHisBlood #BibleInspiration #GrowInFaith

Daily Devotional
Deal my bread to the hungry.

Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? Isaiah 58:7

What is pure religion? Christ has told us that pure religion is the exercise of pity, sympathy, and love, in the home, in the church, and in the world....

We are to think and care for others who need our love, our tenderness, and care. We should ever remember that we are representatives of Christ, and that we are to share the blessings that He gives, not with those who can recompense us again, but with those who will appreciate the gifts that will supply their temporal and spiritual necessities. Those who give feasts for the purpose of helping those who have but little pleasure, for the purpose of bringing brightness into their dreary lives, for the purpose of relieving their poverty and distress, are acting unselfishly and in harmony with the instruction of Christ.

All around us we see want and suffering. Families are in need of food; little ones are crying for bread. The houses of the poor lack proper furniture and bedding. Many live in mere hovels which are almost destitute of conveniences. The cry of the poor reaches to heaven. God sees; God hears.

The work of gathering in the needy ... is the very work which every church that believes the truth for this time should long since have been doing. We are to show the tender sympathy of the Samaritan in supplying physical necessities, feeding the hungry, bringing the poor that are cast out to our homes, gathering from God every day grace and strength that will enable us to reach to the very depths of human misery and help those who cannot possibly help themselves. In doing this work we have a favorable opportunity to set forth Christ the crucified One. [241]