OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL: SUNDAY JUNE 7TH 2026

TOPIC: PRAY ALWAYS

MEMORISE: 

Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

Romans 12:12

 

READ: Luke 18:1-8

1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:

3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.

4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;

5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.

6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.

7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

 

MESSAGE

In Matthew 21:13, Jesus stated that His house is to be called a house of prayer, not a den of thieves. Although, He was talking about the physical temple at Jerusalem in that passage, you should note that it also applies to you because you are God's temple (1 Corinthians 6:19). This means that God expects you to pray always. Christians who do not pray or who only pray occasionally create avenues for the enemy to attack and defile them.

As a Christian, God wants you to be a house of prayer; He wants you to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). James 5:17-18 tells us that Elijah prayed fervently for rain not to fall in Israel, and God answered his prayer. After 42 months of drought, he prayed fervently again that the rain should fall, and there was a heavy downpour (1 Kings 18:42-45). During the drought, Elijah prayed for a widow's dead son to be restored to life, and God heard him (1 Kings 17:22). He was a man of consistent prayer, and he always received answers to his prayers. Those who prioritize prayer enjoy consistent answers to their prayers.

In today's Bible reading, Jesus told the parable of a widow who persistently disturbed an unrighteous judge until he responded to her. The reason Jesus told this parable was so that men would pray always and not faint (Luke 18:1). This tells us that when a fellow is not praying, he or she is already fainting. The widow's persistence eventually paid off, as the judge responded to her and avenged her of her adversary. When you are consistent in praying, you are assured of answers to your prayers.

When a fellow prays consistently, he or she will not only receive answers to his or her prayers, but the person will be granted greater access to the secrets of God. Psalm 25:14 says, "The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant." Nobody shows a random visitor who visits his or her home the key to a hidden vault, but such a secret is typically revealed to intimate friends.

Every Christian must recognize that intimacy is cultivated in the place of prayer, and they must strive to become intimate with their heavenly Father. This is because the more you pray, the greater access you will have to God's heart and secrets. Beloved, are you an intimate friend of God?

 

KEY POINT

You are God's temple, and you ought to pray without ceasing.

 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalms 9-17

 

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.