Open Heaven 5 November 2020 Thursday

Open Heaven 5 November 2020 Memorise: I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. – John 14:18

Read: Psalm 40:1-5 Open Heaven 5 November 2020

1 I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
2 He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.
4 Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
5 Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.

Open Heaven 5 November 2020

Bible in One Year: Mark 13

MESSAGE: – Open Heaven 5 November 2020 Thursday Daily Devotional

Yesterday, we looked at how a relationship with Christ can drive depression away from a person’s life. However, once in a while, Christians also get depressed. A Christian may get depressed when life’s challenges make them lose sight of how great God is or how much He loves them.

I have experienced this before. I was already the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God then, and the Church was growing, but somehow, I felt the people I was patronizing did not care about me. I felt I was labouring in prayers and fasting for them, but they didn’t care, so I decided that I was going to resign as the General Overseer of the Church. With my decision made, I took a nap and when I woke, there was a young girl who had come to see me. She said God told her to come and give me a cake. I was so touched by the gesture that even though I don’t like cake so much, I ate that one. Then God said “I thought you said no one cared”. I realized that I had paid so much attention to appreciation from the people that I did not remember how much God cares for and loves me.

Now, when as a believer you are feeling depressed, what you need is to go deep into the presence of God because Psalm 16:11 says:

“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”

You cannot be engulfed in the presence of God and not feel His love and care for you; that love you feel will bring joy to your soul. How can you get into the presence of God? Simple. Through praise and worship. David said in Psalm 100:4 that with thanksgiving, you enter into the gates of God and with praises, you enter into His courtyard. When you praise and worship God for a long period of time, you will feel His presence come down greatly and since in His presence there is fulness of joy, you will begin to feel a joy that is beyond understanding. That is why Isaiah 61:3 says a garment of praise will replace a spirit of heaviness:

“To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;…”