OPEN HEAVENS 13 JULY 2026 TODAY DEVOTIONAL RCCG

 

OPEN HEAVENS 13 JULY 2026 TODAY DEVOTIONAL & COMMENTARY

TOPIC: SPEND QUALITY TIME WITH YOUR SPOUSE

OPEN HEAVENS FOR 16TH MAY 2026

MEMORISE:

Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.
— Ecclesiastes 9:9 (KJV)

READ: Proverbs 5:15-19 (KJV)

15 Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well.
16 Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets.
17 Let them be only thine own, and not strangers' with thee.
18 Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.
19 Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.

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OPEN HEAVENS 13 JULY 2026 TODAY MESSAGE

I am always concerned when I see married couples who don't spend quality time together. Many of such couples spend the whole day away from each other at work and only come home to sleep at night, then they are off again in the morning. Even on weekends, they either go to work again or attend other engagements without their spouses.

This ought not to be so because when you truly love someone, you will always find a way to spend quality time with him or her, and the more time you spend together, the more your love will blossom.

Years ago, a woman who was sick confessed to me that she actually didn't want to be healed because when she was hale and hearty, her husband wasn't spending quality time with her. However, now that she was sick, he always returned home immediately after work. Husbands and wives should not abandon their spouses because of work or any other commitment. They must spend quality time with them to build strong bonds.

Married couples must also pray together. It is unfortunate that some married couples hardly ever pray together. They may attend prayer meetings, where they spend hours praying with others, but when they return home, they are often too tired to pray together. One way that married couples can maintain strong, loving relationships with one another is by praying together regularly. Prayer strengthens marriage bonds and solidifies the love between a man and his wife.

My wife and I have been married for 59 years, and we regularly create time to laugh and have fun together. We are lovers, not just a man and a woman who are living together under one roof.

Husbands and wives should play with one another. They shouldn't be so serious that they cannot spend time laughing with their spouses or making them laugh. When laughter is always heard in a home, there will be fewer reasons for friction.

Husbands and wives must be intentional about creating time for fun activities with one another that will lighten the atmosphere in their homes and fill it with joy.

Lastly, married people should take time to shower their spouses with compliments. They must not take them for granted; instead, they should seek ways to express how special they are and thank them for everything they do. I pray that God will strengthen the relationships between all men and women who are joined in holy matrimony, in Jesus' name.

PRAYER POINT:
Today is my lover's birthday. Please join me in asking God to continually strengthen her and multiply His grace and peace in her life.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Song of Solomon 1-4

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HYMN 33: GUIDE ME, O THOU GREAT JEHOVAH!

Verse 1:
Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but Thou art mighty,
Hold me with Thy powerful hand;
Bread of heaven, Bread of heaven,
Feed me till I want no more.

Verse 2:
Open now the crystal fountain,
Whence the healing stream doth flow;
Let the fire and cloudy pillar
Lead me all my journey through;
Strong Deliverer, strong Deliverer,
Be Thou still my strength and shield.

Verse 3:
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.

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OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL 13 JULY 2026 COMMENTARY

MEMORISE: Ecclesiastes 9:9
This verse is God's command for marital joy. The phrase "live joyfully" implies active, intentional pursuit of happiness together, and "all the days" means a lifelong commitment. Solomon says joyful companionship with your spouse is your "portion"—your allotted gift from God. To neglect this is to miss one of the few pleasures God gives.

BIBLE READING: Proverbs 5:15-19
This passage celebrates marital love and fidelity, using vivid imagery: drink water from your own cistern, rejoice with the wife of your youth, be ravished always with her love. It commands satisfaction and delight within the covenant of marriage.

The Concern: Married Couples Who Don't Spend Time Together

1. The Modern Epidemic of Separation
Many couples spend weekdays apart at work, only coming home to sleep, and weekends filled with separate engagements. This ought not to be. When you truly love someone, you will always find a way to spend quality time with them, and the more time you spend together, the more your love will blossom. If you never spend time with your spouse, you are not loving them well. Love requires presence, attention, and the investment of time.

2. The Shocking Confession of a Sick Woman
A sick woman confessed she didn't want to be healed because when she was healthy, her husband ignored her, but when she was sick, he came home immediately. This is a devastating testimony. Husbands and wives should not abandon their spouses because of work. Do not wait for a crisis to be present. Do not force your spouse to choose between illness with your attention and health without it. Be present now.

The Power of Praying Together
Married couples must also pray together. It is unfortunate that some pray for hours at church but cannot pray five minutes together at home. Prayer strengthens marriage bonds, invites God into the center of the marriage, creates vulnerability and intimacy, aligns hearts, and builds a spiritual hedge of protection. A threefold cord is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:12).

Daddy Adeboye's Testimony: 59 Years of Love
After 59 years, Daddy Adeboye still calls his wife his lover, creates time for fun, and laughs with her. This is intentional. He is a lover, not just a roommate.

The Role of Laughter and Play
Husbands and wives should play, laugh, and not be so serious. When laughter fills a home, there will be fewer reasons for friction. Schedule date nights, watch comedies, take walks, cook together—be intentional about fun.

The Power of Compliments and Gratitude
Do not take your spouse for granted. Shower them with compliments. Say "thank you" often and specifically. Look for what to praise. Treat each day as a gift.

Practical Steps for Strengthening Your Marriage

1. Prioritize Quality Time: Set a time to leave work. Block out time for your spouse first, then schedule other things. Be present, not just in the same room.

2. Pray Together Daily: Not just at meals. Pray before bed or in the morning. Share requests. Let prayer be the glue.

3. Laugh Together Often: Find what makes your spouse laugh and do more of that.

4. Compliment Generously: Each day, find at least one specific thing to praise or thank your spouse for.

5. Date Your Spouse: Never stop courting or pursuing. Keep the romance alive.

Warning: Do Not Let Work Destroy Your Marriage
Work is a good servant but a terrible master. It provides for the family but destroys the family when over-prioritized. The sick woman preferred her illness because it brought her husband home. That is an indictment. Do not let your spouse feel they must compete with your job for your attention.

Conclusion: Your Prayer for a Joyful Marriage
Daddy Adeboye closes with a prayer for strengthened marriages. Whether you have been married 59 years or 59 days, commit to living joyfully with your spouse.

Pray this:
"Lord Jesus, I thank You for the gift of my spouse. Forgive me for times I have taken my marriage for granted. Help me to live joyfully with my spouse all the days of my life. Give me discipline to pray with them, intention to play with them, and grace to compliment them generously. Let laughter fill our home and love grow deeper. I will be present, intentional, and love as Christ loves the church. In Jesus' mighty name."

Action Steps:

1. The Time Audit: Track how much quality time you actually spend with your spouse this week. If less than 5 hours, make a plan to increase it.

2. The Prayer Commitment: Commit to praying together daily for the next 30 days, at least 5 minutes.

3. The Compliment Challenge: Give your spouse at least one specific compliment or expression of gratitude each day for the next week.