OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL: TUESDAY, JULY 07, 2026

TOPIC: TOPIC: HIS REFINING PROCESS

MEMORISE

Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron: Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him. - (Psalm 105:18-19)

READ: Exodus 13:17-18 (KJV)

17 And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt:

18 But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.

MESSAGE

In His wisdom, God often takes His children through different paths on their journey to greatness. He uses each step to refine their character and to separate them from anything that could hinder or destroy them after attaining greatness. For example, before Joseph became great, God took him through a pit, Potiphar's house, and prison, so as to build his character in preparation for the role of a ruler in Egypt. Today's memory verse says that he was laid in irons until God's word came. God's word tried him as gold is tried in fire until he was certified fit for greatness. David also had to go through God's process on his way to becoming a king. His path to becoming a king was marked by numerous challenges, including a period of exile in the wilderness.

The path to greatness is often paved with many challenges. The process of attaining true greatness is never easy, but it is always worth it. Apostle Paul described the process as 'our light affliction' in (2 Corinthians 4:17). However, no matter how tough the process gets, it is nothing compared to the far exceeding and eternal weight of glory that God has prepared for us.

People who want to become great without going through God's process do not usually last if they eventually become great. Like King Saul, they often end up losing their place because of habits and weaknesses that should have been addressed. Those who choose to follow God's process, however, always emerge purified like precious gold. They become men and women whom God can trust with great resources and other people. Even our Lord Jesus Christ followed God's process, and when the time came for Him to fulfil God's assignment, He was baptised, and God's Spirit came upon Him (Matthew 3:16-17). He didn't start performing miracles the moment He was born, because God never raises a fellow without first 'trying' and preparing him or her.

As we see in today's Bible reading, God guided the Israelites through His process by making them take a longer route on their journey to the Promised Land. He didn't want them to run back to Egypt at the first hint of war, He wanted to help them become a strong and resilient nation. Beloved, is God currently taking you through a refining process that you find difficult? I implore you to endure the process, as it is part of His plan in preparing you for true and lasting greatness. 

PRAYER POINT

Lord, please help me to go through Your refining process successfully. 

AUTHOR: Pastor E. A. Adeboye 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Proverbs 24 - 26

HYMN 30 - WHEN WE WALK WITH THE LORD

1. When we walk with the Lord, 

In the light of His word, What a glory He sheds on our way! While we do His good will He abides with us still, And with all who will trust and obey. 

CHORUS 

Trust and obey! 

For there's no other way 

To be happy in Jesus, 

But to trust and obey. 

2. Not a shadow can rise, 

Not a cloud in the skies, But His smile quickly drives it 

away; Not a doubt nor a fear, 

Not a sigh nor a tear, Can abide while we trust and obey. 

3. Not a burden we bear, 

Not a sorrow we share 

But our toil He doth richly 

repay; . Not a grief nor a loss, 

Not a frown nor a cross, But is blest if we trust and obey.

4. But we never can prove the delights of His love, until all on the altar we lay, For the favour He shows And the joy He bestows Are for them who will trust and obey. 

5. Then in fellowship sweet We will sit at His feet, Or we'll walk by His side in the way, What He says we will do, Where He sends we will go, Never fear, only trust and obey.