OPEN HEAVENS FOR 8TH JUNE 2026
TOPIC: DON'T STOP DREAMING
RCCG
MEMORISE:
A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men. — Proverbs 18:16
READ: Psalm 105:17-21 (KJV)
He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant:
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.
The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free.
He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance:
MESSAGE:
Many people grow up dreaming of great things that they want to achieve. However, as they get older, if the circumstances of their lives do not seem to match what they had dreamed about, they tend to start giving up on their dreams.
If someone reminds them about the dreams they once had, some of them might say, "Reality set in." Child of God, there is no reality apart from the one you make for yourself. If you stop dreaming or working towards achieving your dreams, they may just never come to pass. However, with your faith in God, continue to dream, work towards achieving them, and you will eventually see them come to pass.
In Genesis 41:41-44, Joseph's opportunity to rule, as he had seen in his dream, eventually came. Although his brothers tried to kill his dream (Genesis 37:18-20), and Potiphar's wife also tried to destroy him (Genesis 39:1-20), God kept him and made him triumphant. When he was in prison, he could have said, "Reality has set in," and given up on his dreams. Rather, he continued to prepare himself by improving his administrative skills and gift of interpreting dreams. From his story, we can see that preparation is crucial in positioning you to achieve your dreams.
If Joseph had been laid-back and had refused to prepare and develop himself, he would have missed a great opportunity to fulfil his dreams as he stood before Pharaoh. If all he had told Pharaoh was the interpretation of his dreams without the wise counsel on how to administer the resources of Egypt, perhaps he would have been returned to prison as a privileged prisoner.
Beloved, don't just dream; develop the skills that are needed for your dreams to become a reality and also sharpen the skills you will need when they come to pass. You must also use your God-given gifts at every opportunity you get. Proverbs 18:16 says, "A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men." Your gifts will give you the chance for your dreams to become a reality, and your skills will make you qualified to live those dreams. When opportunity meets preparation, destiny is sure to be fulfilled.
Beloved, do not despise your days of preparation because they will develop your character and enable you to achieve your dreams and stay relevant for a very long time. I pray that when that great opportunity you desire is around the corner, you will be prepared for it, in Jesus' name.
KEY POINT:
Your dreams will become a reality if you put your faith in God and keep working on them.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Psalms 18-21
HYMN 33: GUIDE ME, O THOU GREAT JEHOVAH!
Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but Thou art mighty;
Hold me with Thy pow'rful hand;
Bread of heaven, bread of heaven,
Feed me till I want no more,
Feed me till I want no more.Open now the crystal fountain,
Whence the healing stream doth flow;
Let the fire and cloudy pillar
Lead me all my journey through;
Strong Deliv'rer, strong Deliv'rer,
Be Thou still my strength and shield,
Be Thou still my strength and shield.When I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears subside;
Death of death, and hell's Destruction,
Land me safe on Canaan's side;
Songs of praises, songs of praises,
I will ever give to Thee,
I will ever give to Thee.
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 8th June 2026 encourages believers to hold onto their God-given dreams, develop their skills, and prepare diligently for the opportunities that God will bring.
BRIEF COMMENTARY
Based on Open Heavens 8th June 2026 – "Don't Stop Dreaming"
The Gradual Death of Dreams
In today's devotional, Pastor Adeboye addresses a common tragedy. Many people grow up dreaming of great things they want to achieve. But as they get older, if circumstances do not match their dreams, they begin to give up. When reminded of their former dreams, some say, "Reality set in."
Pastor Adeboye rejects this excuse with a bold declaration: "Child of God, there is no reality apart from the one you make for yourself." This is not positive thinking divorced from God. It is faith-based determination. The "reality" that tries to kill your dream is not final reality. God's promise over your life is more real than any obstacle in your path.
If you stop dreaming or working towards your dreams, they may never come to pass. But with your faith in God, continue to dream, work towards them, and you will eventually see them come to pass. Dreams are fulfilled by divine empowerment and human diligence.
Joseph: The Blueprint for Dream Fulfillment
Joseph's story is the classic biblical example of a dream that survived relentless opposition. His brothers tried to kill his dream (Genesis 37:18-20). Potiphar's wife tried to destroy him (Genesis 39:1-20). Yet God kept him and made him triumphant.
When Joseph was in prison, he could have said, "Reality has set in," and given up. Instead, he continued to prepare himself by improving his administrative skills and his gift of interpreting dreams. Preparation is crucial in positioning you to achieve your dreams.
Joseph lost his family, his freedom, his reputation, and his comfort. Every circumstance screamed that his dream was dead. But he did not waste his prison years in self-pity. He used them as a classroom.
The Danger of Being Unprepared
Pastor Adeboye issues a sobering warning: if Joseph had been laid-back and refused to prepare and develop himself, he would have missed the opportunity to fulfil his dreams before Pharaoh. If he had only given the interpretation of Pharaoh's dreams without the wise counsel on how to administer Egypt's resources, perhaps he would have been returned to prison as a privileged prisoner.
This is a chilling thought: Joseph could have been released from prison, given a reward, and then sent back to obscurity because he had the gift but not the skill. Gift opens the door; skill keeps you in the room.
Don't just dream. Develop the skills needed for your dreams to become a reality. Sharpen the skills you will need when they come to pass. Use your God-given gifts at every opportunity you get.
Your Gift Will Make Room for You
Proverbs 18:16 reveals a divine principle: a man's gift maketh room for him and bringeth him before great men. Your gift is not just for personal satisfaction—it is a key that unlocks doors and grants access to influence.
The gift does four things: it creates visibility (distinguishing you from the crowd), opens doors (people who need what you have will seek you out), grants access (you stand before people you could never approach on your own), and provides influence (your gift makes you valuable to others).
Joseph was a prisoner. Prisoners do not stand before Pharaoh. But his gift of interpretation was so exceptional that the butler remembered, Pharaoh summoned, and Joseph was elevated. The gift did what Joseph's connections, wealth, or position could never do.
Gift and Skill Working Together
Pastor Adeboye balances two truths. Your gifts will give you the chance for your dreams to become a reality, and your skills will make you qualified to live those dreams.
If you have gift but no skill: you get the opportunity but fail to sustain it.
If you have skill but no gift: you work hard but lack the divine edge that opens doors.
If you have gift and skill: opportunity meets preparation; destiny is fulfilled.
When opportunity meets preparation, destiny is sure to be fulfilled.
Don't Despise the Days of Preparation
The memory verse says of Joseph: "Until the time that his word came: the word of the Lord tried him" (Psalm 105:19). The delay was not denial. The delay was development. God was not punishing Joseph; He was preparing him.
Do not despise your days of preparation because they will develop your character and enable you to achieve your dreams and stay relevant for a very long time. A person who is promoted without character becomes dangerous. God prepares you in secret before He promotes you in public.
How to Keep Your Dream Alive and Prepare for It
Refuse to say "reality set in." That phrase is a dream-killer. Replace it with: "My dream is from God, and God is not a liar. It will come to pass."
Continue to work toward your dream. Every day, do something that moves you closer to your goal.
Develop your skills while you wait. Like Joseph in prison, use every season to get better. Take a class. Read a book. Master a tool.
Use your gift at every opportunity. Joseph interpreted the butler's dream even though he was just a fellow prisoner. He did not despise small beginnings. Your next open door may come from a "small" assignment.
Stay ready so you don't have to get ready. The opportunity will come suddenly. If you are prepared, you will rise. If not, you will be passed by.
Conclusion
The devotional prays that when that great opportunity you desire is around the corner, you will be prepared for it. Keep dreaming. Keep preparing. Keep working. Your gift is making room for you even now, and when the opportunity comes, you will be ready.
Key Point from the Devotional:
Your dreams will become a reality if you put your faith in God and keep working on them.
Prayer Point (implied from the message):
Father, give me the determination to prepare even in seasons of delay, and let my gift make room for me at the appointed time.
Action Steps:
The dream resurrection exercise – write down the dreams you had as a child, teenager, or young adult that you have abandoned. Next to each one, write: "God has not forgotten this. What is one step I can take this week to move toward it?"
The skill audit – list the skills required for your dream to become a reality. Rate yourself 1-10 for each skill. Commit to improving one skill by one point over the next 90 days.
The Joseph principle – identify your current "prison" (the place or season that feels like delay, obscurity, or limitation). Ask: "What can I learn here? What skill can I develop? How can I serve faithfully in this place?" Then do it.
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