OPEN HEAVENS FOR 18TH JUNE 2026
TOPIC: ALWAYS THANK GOD
MEMORISE:
It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High. — Psalm 92:1
READ: Matthew 15:30-38 (KJV)
And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them:
Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.
Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.
And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude?
And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes.
And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.
And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.
And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full.
And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children.
MESSAGE:
Years ago, a very wealthy man came to see me and said that he was having trouble sleeping. He also said he was told that if I prayed for him, the problem would be solved. He added that he would give me 14 houses if I prayed for him, and the problem was solved. Of course, he didn't need to offer me his houses for me to pray for him, but his desperation to be able to sleep made him say so.
Being able to sleep is one of the many divine blessings that are often taken for granted until one can no longer sleep or sees people who can't.
Beloved, you have a lot to thank God for, and living a life of thanksgiving makes you quick to recognise God's goodness in your life. Even amid challenges, when you are thankful, you will find many reasons to praise God. You will be quick to acknowledge that God is the reason things are not worse. You will also be confident that God is working things out in your favour (Romans 8:28).
When people thank God, He opens the windows of heaven to pour out His blessings upon them. In today's Bible reading, there were 4,000 hungry men, besides women and children, with Jesus and His disciples. Jesus had compassion on them and wanted to feed them; so, He asked His disciples to tell Him how much food they had. They replied that they had only seven loaves of bread and a few fishes.
Despite the obvious inadequacy of the food to feed thousands of people, Jesus gave thanks, broke the bread, and handed them to His disciples to share among the multitude. His first response to the scarcity of resources was to give thanks. Jesus' heart of gratitude opened the windows of heaven for multiplication, and suddenly, the food that was too little to feed the multitude multiplied so much that everyone was filled, and they were left with seven baskets of leftovers.
Beloved, are you facing any difficult situation? Are you in dire need of resources, help, or a change in the circumstances surrounding your life? Do not despair or complain; rather, give God thanks. Despair or complaints will not multiply the little you have; however, thanksgiving will give you access to the miraculous. I pray that the Lord will open your eyes to see His grace at work in every facet of your life and help you to cultivate a heart of genuine gratitude, in Jesus' name.
KEY POINT:
Giving thanks to God releases the miraculous.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Psalms 73-77
HYMN 17: PRAISE, MY SOUL, THE KING OF HEAVEN
Praise, my soul, the King of heaven;
To His feet thy tribute bring;
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
Who like me His praise should sing?
Praise Him, praise Him, praise Him, praise Him,
Praise the everlasting King.Praise Him for His grace and favour
To our fathers in distress;
Praise Him, still the same forever,
Slow to chide, and swift to bless.
Praise Him, praise Him, praise Him, praise Him,
Glorious in His faithfulness.Fatherlike He tends and spares us;
Well our feeble frame He knows;
In His hands He gently bears us,
Rescues us from all our foes.
Praise Him, praise Him, praise Him, praise Him,
Widely as His mercy flows.Angels, help us to adore Him;
Ye behold Him face to face;
Sun and moon, bow down before Him,
Dwellers all in time and space.
Praise Him, praise Him, praise Him, praise Him,
Praise with us the God of grace.
About RCCG and Open Heavens
The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) is a global Pentecostal denomination founded in 1952 by Reverend Josiah Akindayomi and now led by Pastor E. A. Adeboye as General Overseer. Headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria, RCCG has spread to over 200 countries with millions of worshippers worldwide.
Open Heavens is the daily devotional of RCCG, written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye. First published in 2003, it has become one of the most widely read daily devotionals in the world. Each edition includes a memory verse, Bible reading, message, prayer point, and hymn. The devotional is known for its practical, Bible-based teachings that address everyday Christian living, spiritual warfare, and faith.
The devotional for 18th June 2026 calls believers to a lifestyle of thanksgiving, revealing that gratitude unlocks supernatural provision and multiplication.
BRIEF COMMENTARY
Based on Open Heavens 18th June 2026 – "Always Thank God"
The Blessing of Sleep: A Testimony of Thanksgiving
In today's devotional, Pastor Adeboye shares a revealing testimony about a very wealthy man who came to him unable to sleep. He offered 14 houses in exchange for prayer. His desperation to be able to sleep made him offer such a large reward.
Being able to sleep is one of the many divine blessings that are often taken for granted until one can no longer sleep or sees people who can't. The wealthy man had houses, money, and possessions, but he had forgotten to thank God for the simple gift of sleep. When sleep was withdrawn, all his wealth could not buy it back.
Beloved, you have a lot to thank God for. Living a life of thanksgiving makes you quick to recognise God's goodness in your life.
The Power of a Thankful Heart
Even amid challenges, when you are thankful, you will find many reasons to praise God. You will be quick to acknowledge that God is the reason things are not worse. You will also be confident that God is working things out in your favour (Romans 8:28).
Thanksgiving shifts your posture. Without thanksgiving, you focus on what you lack, complain about problems, miss daily blessings, and become bitter and entitled. With thanksgiving, you notice what you have, recognize how much worse things could be, see God's hand in small things, and become joyful and grateful.
Even in difficulty, thanksgiving says: "Lord, it could be worse, but You have held it back. Thank You." Even in failure, thanksgiving says: "Lord, I could have been destroyed, but You preserved me. Thank You."
Thanksgiving Opens Heaven's Windows
When people thank God, He opens the windows of heaven to pour out His blessings upon them. This is not a mechanical formula—thanksgiving in, blessings out. It is a relational reality. Thanksgiving shifts your posture from entitlement to humility, from complaint to faith, from lack-awareness to abundance-awareness. And God responds to that posture.
Jesus' Example: Thanksgiving Before Multiplication
In today's Bible reading, there were 4,000 hungry men, besides women and children, with Jesus and His disciples. They had only seven loaves of bread and a few fishes. The resources were clearly inadequate for the need. Humanly speaking, it was impossible.
Despite the obvious inadequacy, Jesus gave thanks. His first response to the scarcity of resources was to give thanks. He did not complain about the shortage. He did not despair about the impossibility. He thanked the Father for what was present.
Jesus' heart of gratitude opened the windows of heaven for multiplication. Suddenly, the food that was too little to feed the multitude multiplied so much that everyone was filled, and they were left with seven baskets of leftovers—more than they started with.
The pattern is clear: Jesus acknowledged the need, assessed the resources (seven loaves, a few fish), gave thanks, broke and distributed the food, and everyone ate and was filled. Thanksgiving was not an afterthought. It was the turning point.
How to Cultivate a Heart of Genuine Gratitude
First, start with what you have, not what you lack. Instead of complaining "I don't have enough money," give thanks for the money you do have. Instead of complaining "My health is not perfect," give thanks that you are alive and functional. Jesus gave thanks for seven loaves—inadequate for the need but present. He did not apologize for the shortage. He thanked the Father for the supply.
Second, give thanks before the miracle. Thanksgiving is not a response to the miracle; it is the key that unlocks the miracle. Do not despair or complain; rather, give God thanks. Complaints before a miracle delay it or prevent it. Despair before a miracle causes paralysis. Giving thanks before a miracle opens heaven and multiplication follows.
Third, give thanks even amid challenges. Even when things are difficult, you can find reasons to praise God. Thank Him for preservation: "I am alive. Things are not worse." Thank Him for past faithfulness: "God has brought me through before." Thank Him for His promises: "God has promised to work this for good." Thank Him for His presence: "God is with me in this fire." Thank Him for small mercies: "I still have breath, food, shelter, a friend."
Fourth, make thanksgiving a daily habit. Give thanks in the morning before you check your phone. Give thanks before meals, recognizing food as a blessing. Give thanks in the evening, reviewing the day and naming three things you are grateful for. In crisis, before you complain or panic, stop and thank God for what is still good.
Warning: Complaining Closes Heaven; Thanksgiving Opens It
Despair or complaints will not multiply the little you have; however, thanksgiving will give you access to the miraculous. The Israelites in the wilderness complained constantly. Their complaints closed their access to the Promised Land. Thanksgiving opens access. Complaining closes it.
Conclusion
Pastor Adeboye closes with a prayer that the Lord will open your eyes to see His grace at work in every facet of your life and help you to cultivate a heart of genuine gratitude.
Key Point from the Devotional:
Giving thanks to God releases the miraculous.
Action Steps
The sleep testimony reminder – tonight, before you close your eyes to sleep, thank God for the ability to rest. If you sleep and wake, thank Him again. Never take sleep for granted again.
The thanksgiving before the miracle practice – identify one area of lack or struggle in your life. Every day for the next seven days, thank God specifically for that situation—not for the pain, but for what God is doing, for His presence with you, and for the miracle you believe is coming.
The daily gratitude journal – every evening, write down three specific things you thanked God for that day. At the end of the week, review the list. You will be amazed at how much you have to be grateful for.
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