Open Heavens Daily Devotional For Monday, 11th July, 2016

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL..

DATE : MONDAY 11TH JULY 2016

THEME :  HELP FROM ABOVE

Memorise:

My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. Psalms 121:2

Read: Psalms 121:1-8

121:1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

121:2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.

121:3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

121:4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

121:5 The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.

121:6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

121:7 The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.

121:8 The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

MESSAGE

When there was a national of calamity of famine in Samaria, a woman conspired with her friend to take turns to kill their children for food. After the other woman had helped her friend to eat her son, she refused to surrender her own son for food. The foolish woman cried to the king for help but the king's reply is a food for thought in our devotional reading for today. The king said:
"...If the Lord do not help thee, whence shall I help thee? Out of the barn floor, or out of the winepress?" 2 Kings 6:27

The Psalmist was right when he said, in our memory verse, that his help comes from the Maker of Heaven and Earth. Genuine help can only come from above. The strength of man is bound to fail. The Almighty God is the present Help in the time of need; He is ever ready to send help to whoever solicits for it. He said:
"And call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee, and thought shalt glorify me." Psalms 50:15

When five kings United against the Gibeonites because they made peace with the children of Israel, they cried unto Joshua who in turn cried unto God for help. The Lord sent help from above and the five kings perished by the hand of Joshua.
"And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Bethhoron, that the LORD cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword." Joshua 10:11

Many people put their in mortal beings and always end up disappointed. The Bible discourages us from putting our trust in men (Jeremiah 17:5). Whereas, the same chapter says:
"Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is."
Many years ago, someone heard that I was building a house and volunteered to help in the supply of blocks since he was a block manufacturer and that I should pay at my convenient time.
It was a mistake that I never made again. The moment this man realized that I was doing the roofing of the house he began to  pester me for his money. I reminded him that he was the one who volunteered to help but he continued all the same to pester me for his money. I cried to the Lord for help with a promise that I will never make such mistake again. Beloved, I prophesy to your life, the help that will not expose you to ridicule will come your way this season in Jesus' name. However, you must always put your trust in the Lord; you must not choose to have a "Plan B" in your relationship with the Present Help, the Almighty God. More importantly, you must surrender your life to Jesus Christ and abstain from all appearances of evil (1Thessalonians 5:22).

Prayer Point:

Father, please send me help from above today and don't let be put to shame in Jesus' name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : Romans 13:7-16:27 and Psalms 7

AUTHOR : Pst E. A ADEBOYE

HYMN 6: WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS.

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.

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.

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 thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In his arms he'll take and shield thee
thou wilt find a solace there.