Thoughts by irene

07/04/2026

07/04/2026

https://youtube.com/shorts/jJKKDBgC68Y?si=Gg1RWknBit-lHYkl

07/04/2026

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: TUESDAY APRIL 7TH 2026

THEME: FIRE CARRIERS II



MEMORISE: Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righ te ousness: for they shalI be filled. Matthew 5:6



READ: Exodus 33:7-11

7 And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which sought the LORD went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp.

8 And it came to pass, when Moses went out unto the tabernacle, that all the people rose up, and stood every man at his tent door, and looked after Moses, until he was gone into the tabernacle.

9 And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the LORD talked with Moses.

10 And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his tent door.

11 And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.



MESSAGE

Yesterday, I stated that serving God wholeheartedly and honoring those whom He has placed over you is a channel through which you can carry His fire. Today, I will discuss another thing that can make you a carrier of God's fire- your level of hunger and thirst for Him.

In today's Bible reading, God spoke face to face with Moses in a pillar of cloud in the Tabernacle of the Congregation, and Joshua was with him. After Moses' conversation with God, he departed from the tabernacle, but Joshua stayed behind because he was so hungry for God's presence. While others were enjoying the comfort of their tents, Joshua remained before the Consuming Fire, and l am sure that he was communing with Him and seeking His face. In Numbers 27:18, God attested to the fact that he was a man “...in whom is the spirit..." and instructed Moses to lay hands on him.

Elisha was another person whose hunger attracted God's fire. The moment Elijah put his mantle on him; he left everything and followed the man of God (1 Kings 19:19- 21). When it was time for Elijah to be taken away from him into heaven, he told him to ask for anything he wanted. At that time, Elisha had become so hungry to see greater manifestations of God's glory that he wanted to do greater works than his master. He didn't care about material things; his only hunger was for God. When Elijah heard his servant's request, he replied, "You have asked a hard thing, but if you see me while l am being taken away, it will be as you have asked" (2 Kings 2:9-10). Being on a long journey would have made many other people tired and sleepy, but Elisha was not. His hunger kept him awake and aware of everything that was happening around him. His heart was fixed on what he wanted, and this was what made him see the chariot of fire as it appeared, and Elijah being taken up into heaven by a whirlwind (2 Kings 2:11-12).

Beloved, no matter who lays hands on you, the fire of God will not come upon you if you are not hungry and thirsty for God's presence and glory. Even though a piece of wood has the potential to catch fire, it will not catch fire if it is not dry. Only those who are hungry and thirsty for God's presence and glory will receive His fire to do exploits in their generation.



PRAYER POINT

Father, please fill my heart, soul, and spirit with great hunger and thirst for Your presence and power.



BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Samuel 20-22



AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE



HYMN 8: I NEED THEE EVERY HOUR

1 I need Thee ev'ry hour,

Most gracious Lord;

No tender voice like Thine

Can peace afford.



Refrain:

I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;

Ev'ry hour I need Thee;

Oh, bless me now, my Savior,

I come to Thee.



2 I need Thee ev'ry hour,

Stay Thou nearby;

Temptations lose their pow’r

When Thou art nigh.



3 I need Thee ev'ry hour,

In joy or pain;

Come quickly and abide,

Or life is vain.



4 I need Thee ev'ry hour,

Teach me Thy will;

And Thy rich promises

In me fulfill.

06/04/2026

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: MONDAY APRIL 6TH 2026

THEME: FIRE CARRIERS I



MEMORISE: But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the Lord, that we may enquire of the Lord by him? And one of the king of Israel's servants answered and said, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah. 2 Kings 3:11

READ: 2 Kings 2:1-14

1 And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.

2 And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said unto him, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel.

3 And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.

4 And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho.

5 And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.

6 And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the LORD hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on.

7 And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan.

8 And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.

9 And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.

10 And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.

11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.

13 He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;

14 And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.



MESSAGE

When a piece of wood is set on fire, it burns. Similarly, a fellow who has given his or her life to Jesus Christ can burn for Him, and the fire that burns in such a believer is the power of the Holy Spirit.

There are two ways by which a believer can catch fire: directly from God, just like Moses and Elijah, or through other people who have caught the fire of God and have become fire carriers. For example, Joshua received his fire from Moses (Deuteronomy 34:9), and Elisha received his from Elijah (1 Kings 19:19). Joshua was called Moses' servant (Joshua 1:1), and wherever Moses went, he was there to serve him. While Joshua served Moses faithfully, the latter laid his hands on him, and he received the spirit of wisdom. If you feel like you are too important to serve those whom God has placed over you, it means that you are not ready to carry the fire of God. Serving Moses could not have been easy, but Joshua willingly paid the price. In Exodus 24:13-18, the Bible says that he went with Moses to Mount Sinai, where they stayed for 40 days and nights. He served Moses wholeheartedly, and when Moses laid his hands upon him, he transferred all the honor and grace he had to him (Numbers 27:18-23). This is why, as a child of God, you must honor those whom God has placed over you.

Elisha was another person who received God's fire through honor and service. People knew him as the man who poured water on Elijah's hands (2 Kings 3:11). Despite his wealthy background, he was willing to stoop very low to honor and serve God's prophet, Elijah. While the other sons of the prophets were busy predicting what would happen to Elijah (2 Kings 2:3), Elisha was busy following the man of God and serving him. Eventually, he received a double portion of the anointing that was upon Elijah.

Beloved, if you want to be a carrier of the fire of God, you must serve Him wholeheartedly and be willing to also serve and honor the anointed people He has placed over your life. I pray for you today: may you never become too proud to honor and serve those whom God has placed over your life. In the name above every other name, you will carry the fire of God upon your life and do mighty exploits in His kingdom.



KEY POINT

Serving and honoring the people whom God has placed over you is a channel through which you can receive His fire.



BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Samuel 17-19



AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE



HYMN 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, 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.



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!



4 There are depths of love that I yet may know

Ere Thee face to face I see;

There are heights of joy that I yet may reach

Ere I rest in peace with Thee.

05/04/2026

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: SUNDAY APRIL 5TH 2026



THEME: SHARE THE GOOD NEWS II



MEMORISE: I have preached righteousness in the great congrega tion: lo, I have not refrained my lips, 0 LORD, thou knowest. Psalm 40:9



READ: 2 Kings 7:3-16

3 And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?

4 If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.

5 And they rose up in the twilight, to go unto the camp of the Syrians: and when they were come to the uttermost part of the camp of Syria, behold, there was no man there.

6 For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us.

7 Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life.

8 And when these l***rs came to the uttermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it; and came again, and entered into another tent, and carried thence also, and went and hid it.

9 Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king's household.

10 So they came and called unto the porter of the city: and they told them, saying, We came to the camp of the Syrians, and, behold, there was no man there, neither voice of man, but horses tied, and asses tied, and the tents as they were.

11 And he called the porters; and they told it to the king's house within.

12 And the king arose in the night, and said unto his servants, I will now shew you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we be hungry; therefore are they gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the field, saying, When they come out of the city, we shall catch them alive, and get into the city.

13 And one of his servants answered and said, Let some take, I pray thee, five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city, (behold, they are as all the multitude of Israel that are left in it: behold, I say, they are even as all the multitude of the Israelites that are consumed:) and let us send and see.

14 They took therefore two chariot horses; and the king sent after the host of the Syrians, saying, Go and see.

15 And they went after them unto Jordan: and, lo, all the way was full of garments and vessels, which the Syrians had cast away in their haste. And the messengers returned, and told the king.

16 And the people went out, and spoiled the tents of the Syrians. So a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the LORD.



MESSAGE

Today's Bible reading tells us about how four leprous men rescued an entire city from its terrible economic situation. Before then, there had been a severe famine in Samaria for a prolonged time, and things got so bad that mothers began to eat their children (2 Kings 6:26-29). After a while, Elisha, God's servant, proclaimed God's word that things would change for good the very next day. Unaware of the prophetic word from the mouth of God's servant, the four l***rs, who lived outside the city gates, decided to take a bold step to go into the enemy's camp. Their action paid off because God had caused the enemy soldiers to flee from their camp because they heard what sounded like a mighty army marching towards them. When the l***rs entered the enemy's camp, they found out that all the soldiers had fled and had left behind all their food and other supplies. They were amazed, and they ate, drank, gathered silver, gold, and other precious items. However, after a while, they stopped and questioned their selfishness:

Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king's household.

2 Kings 7:9

The l***rs knew that it was a day of good tiding, so they refused to keep the good news to themselves. They reported their discovery to the king's household, and that was how God's word about a miraculous turnaround in the economic situation of the city came to pass the very next day. If you are a Christian, then you know that today is a day of good tidings. Jesus died and resurrected to bring us into a new day. Jeremiah 31:31 tells us about the days when God will make a new covenant with His people. These are the days of that new covenant, the days of God's grace and victory over the nature of sin. If you are not sharing this good news and telling others about the wonderful works of God, you are denying them the opportunity of enjoying God's blessings.

Beloved, God has saved you from Satan’s bo***ge and freed you from his burdens. One way to appreciate Him for this is to become a habitual testifier of His goodness. Don't keep the good news of Christ's redemption to yourself.

Happy Easter!



ACTION POINT

Tell at least one person about how Jesus saved you today.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Samuel 14-16



AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE



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.

04/04/2026

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: SATURDAY APRIL 4TH 2026



THEME: SHARE THE GOOD NEWS I



MEMORISE: | have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: | have not concealed thy loving-kindness and thy truth from the great congregation. Psalm 40:10



READ: Mark 5:1-20

1 And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.

2 And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,

3 Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:

4 Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.

5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.

6 But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him,

7 And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.

8 For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.

9 And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.

10 And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country.

11 Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding.

12 And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.

13 And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea.

14 And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done.

15 And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.

16 And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine.

17 And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts.

18 And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him.

19 Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.

20 And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.



MESSAGE

When the Almighty God set the madman of Gadara free in today's Bible reading, He told him to tell other people about what God had done for him. As a result, the man began to go around, telling others about what Jesus Christ had done for him.

One of the things God told me at one time was that I should tell His people that the more they testify, the more miracles they would get from Him. When God does something in your life, you should tell others about what He has done; do not keep the good news of His love and forgiveness to yourself. When the Samaritan woman who met Jesus by a well in Sychar encountered Jesus, she ran to tell everyone who would listen about her experience. She said, "Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?" John 4:29).

A long time ago, I was going through a difficult time, and things were really tough for me. However, whenever people asked me how I was doing, I always told them that God was working overtime in taking care of me. I never stopped testifying of His goodness, and today, I am even bolder to say that God is working extra overtime to take care of me. I am never ashamed to share the good things that God has done for me.

But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

2 Corinthians 4:3-4

People who worship idols invite others to join their cults by telling and showing them what they have received from the devil. They do not hide what they get from satan, even though his gifts always come with hidden and terrible consequences. The Scripture above tells us that if we hide the good news of the things that God has done for us, the people who are on the path of destruction will not receive salvation. When God does something in your life, you must not hide it; rather, share the testimony with other people unless He tells you otherwise. Tell your friends, co-workers, and neighbors about the goodness of the Lord this Easter season. Encourage them to taste and see that the Lord is good indeed (Psalm 34:8).



KEY POINT

If we do not share the good things that God has done for us, many people will remain under the devil's bo***ge.



BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Samuel 12-13



AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE



HYMN 13: JESUS LOVES ME THIS I KNOW

1 Jesus loves me, this I know,

for the Bible tells me so.

Little ones to him belong;

they are weak, but he is strong.



Refrain:

Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me!

Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.



2 Jesus loves me he who died

heaven's gate to open wide.

He will wash away my sin,

let his little child come in.



3 Jesus loves me, this I know,

as he loved so long ago,

taking children on his knee,

saying, "Let them come to me."

04/04/2026

Jesus we appreciate you 🎉

03/04/2026

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: FRIDAY APRIL 3RD 2026

TOPIC: THE BURDEN BEARER

MEMORISE:

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. - (Matthew 11:28)

BIBLE READING: ISAIAH 53:4-5 (KJV)

4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

MESSAGE:

In today's memory verse, Jesus invited us to lay our burdens on Him. A burden, in this context, refers to a difficult situation that a person must deal with. Often, burdens attach themselves to people against their will, and they cannot remove them on their own. In (1 Kings 17:10-12), the widow of Zarephath had little food left because Elijah had prophesied that there would be no rain or dew until he decreed otherwise (1 Kings 17:1). God pronounced the judgment through the prophet because of the king's idolatry; therefore, the widow was suffering, not because she committed any offence, but because of the sins of the head of her nation, and there was nothing she could do to get rid of the situation.

In (2 Kings 5:1), the Bible tells us that Naaman was rich and famous; however, he was a l***r. Leprosy was incurable in those days, and if money or fame could have solved his problem, he would not be in the situation he was in. If leprosy were something he could cut away with a sword, he would have destroyed it because he was a military general. However, he couldn't do anything about it despite his wealth and influence. Beloved, have you been carrying a burden for a long time? Do you have problems that you cannot do anything about? If your answer is yes, I rejoice with you today because there is someone called the Burden Bearer; His name is Jesus Christ. I join my faith with yours that as you cry to Him for help today, He will answer you.

Sin is a heavy burden that crushes those under it. When the burden of sin is upon a fellow, the fellow will remain under the devil's heavy yoke until he or she meets a stronger person who can remove the yoke. Mark 3:27 says that no one can enter a strong man's house and steal from him without first tying him up. Jesus is the only One who can deliver those who are weighed down by the burden of sin (Matthew 1:21, Acts 4:12). Are you burdened by sin? Jesus is calling you today. He wants to deliver you and give you rest from the burden of sin if you surrender your life to Him. If you have not yet given your life to Christ, acknowledge Him as Lord and Saviour over your life. Once you do this, He will bear your burden and give you a new life in Him.

ACTION POINT:

Jesus is waiting for you to cast all your burdens on Him, and He will give you rest.

AUTHOR PASTOR E A ADEBOYE

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 SAMUEL 8-11

HYMNAL: 27 WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS

1 What a friend we have in Jesus,

all our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry

everything to God in prayer!

O what peace we often forfeit,

O what needless pain we bear,

all because we do not carry

everything to God in prayer!

2 Have we trials and temptations?

Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged;

take it to the Lord in prayer!

Can we find a friend so faithful

who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness;

take it to the Lord in prayer!

3 Are we weak and heavy laden,

cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Savior, still our refuge--

take it to the Lord in prayer!

Do your friends despise, forsake you?

Take it to the Lord in prayer!

In his arms he'll take and shield you;

you will find a solace there