Today’s Open Heaven devotional from Pastor E.A. Adeboye is a gentle but firm nudge for every believer who has ever thought, ‘I think my prayer life is good enough.’ Whether you are just finding your rhythm in prayer or you have been interceding for decades, this word meets you right where you are. It is a timely reminder that intimacy with God through prayer is not a destination to arrive at but a journey to press deeper into, and today is a fresh invitation to go further.
Open Heaven for July 8, 2026
Topic: Exceed In Prayer
Devotional: Open Heaven (RCCG)
Date: 2026-07-08
Bible reading: Genesis 32:24-30 (KJV)
Memory verse: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; – Ephesians 6:18 (KJV)
Sometime in 1975, my Father in the Lord, Pa Josiah Akindayomi, came to stay with me in my little house in Ilesha, a city in South West Nigeria. Even though it was a mud house that was plastered with cement, I was happy to host my Father in the Lord. When it was nighttime, we prayed together, and I prepared to go to bed. As I went into my room to sleep, I saw that he was still on his knees, praying, and when I woke up to use the toilet in the middle of the night and again around 5am, the old man was surprisingly still on his knees, praying. I was worried, so l asked if there was a problem, and he said I would soon understand. I have followed in his footsteps since then, and I truly now understand that, as believers, we ought to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
Beloved, God has called all His children to a life of prayer. Unfortunately, however, many believers don’t see any reason to pray when things are going well for them. They feel that there is no need to pray because they are not experiencing any challenges. However, if you are a genuine child of God, you must pray without ceasing.
No matter how much you pray now, you can always go higher in the place of prayer. Never let your current prayer lifestyle, no matter how vibrant you think it is, make you feel as if you are doing your best. Keep pushing to be better so you don’t begin to relax and lose your fervency. When I became the General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, I went with six of my best friends to Ilorin, a state in North Central Nigeria, to pray for 36 hours nonstop. After the 36 hours of prayers, God revealed several things to us. We felt good with ourselves, and we thought we had achieved something unbelievable. The following week, however, I was told about a man who prayed nonstop for 30 days!
In today’s Bible reading, we saw Jacob wrestling until he obtained a blessing from God that changed his life for good. Beloved, God expects you to hold on to Him in prayer without fainting (Luke 18:1). Do not relax or boast about any milestones you might have reached in the place of prayer; rather, always seek to exceed them. May the Lord continually empower you to wait on Him as you should in every season of your life, in Jesus’ name.
Source: Open Heaven (RCCG), official devotional
Open Heaven Prayer Points for Today
These Open Heaven prayer points for today are original PrayerPrompt content, declarations and a reflection to turn today’s message into prayer.
Prayer Points
- Lord, ignite in me a hunger for Your presence that cannot be satisfied by a few hurried minutes, teach me what it truly means to pray without ceasing.
- Father, remove every spirit of prayerlessness and complacency that creeps in whenever life feels comfortable and smooth.
- Holy Spirit, be my helper in the place of prayer; when my words run dry and my strength fades, intercede through me with groanings that accomplish Heaven's will.
- God, like Jacob who refused to let go until he received a blessing, give me a holy tenacity that holds on to You regardless of how long the night lasts.
- Lord, let every milestone I reach in prayer become a launching pad to go deeper, not a trophy that makes me spiritually self-satisfied.
- Father, raise up around me a community of praying believers who will sharpen and challenge my prayer life the way Pa Akindayomi challenged a generation.
- I pray for every saint who carries a heavy intercession tonight, sustain them, encourage them, and let Heaven respond to their persistent cries.
- Lord, teach me to pray in every season: in abundance and in lack, in clarity and in confusion, in celebration and in trial, let prayer be the constant rhythm of my life.
Declarations
- I am a person of prayer; God's Spirit empowers me to intercede beyond my natural capacity.
- I refuse to be satisfied with yesterday's prayer life, I am pressing into deeper communion with God every single day.
- No comfort, convenience, or complacency will silence my prayer altar; I keep it burning in every season.
- Like Jacob, I will not let go of God until His blessing and purpose are fully manifest in my life.
- I am growing in prayer, more fervent, more persistent, and more fruitful, because the Holy Spirit is teaching me how.
Reflection
Take a moment today to honestly evaluate your prayer life, not to condemn yourself, but to locate your next step forward. Maybe your next step is adding ten focused minutes to your routine, or fasting one meal this week to create sacred space. Small, deliberate pushes toward more consistent prayer compound over time into a lifestyle that changes you from the inside out and shifts circumstances around you. The goal is not to impress God with hours logged but to cultivate a heart so tethered to Him that prayer becomes as natural as breathing.
Pray With PrayerPrompt Today
Test Your Understanding
Answer these 5 questions on today's devotional, then see how you did.
