OPEN HEAVENS FOR 31ST MAY 2026

TOPIC: DEPEND ONLY ON THE GOOD SHEPHERD

MEMORISE:

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. — John 10:10

READ: Psalm 37:3-7 (KJV)

3. Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

4. Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

5. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

6. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

7. Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

MESSAGE:

A man once swallowed a charm that was supposed to make him wealthy, but he remained poor. On top of that, he was told that he would die after seven years because of the charm he had swallowed. When he had just about two weeks left to live and was already staring death in its face, he ran to the RCCG. When he told us his ordeal, we told him that our God is the Great Deliverer. He gave his life to Christ, and when we said a simple prayer for him, he vomited what he had swallowed.

He remained consistent in church for two weeks, rejoicing because of what the Lord had done for him. Then, suddenly, he stopped coming. When we went to check on him, he said, “The herbalist who made the charm for me told me that I swallowed it wrongly.” He swallowed another one, and this time, he became very wealthy. The herbalist told him he would live only for seven years to enjoy the wealth, and when the time was about to elapse, he suddenly had a ‘brilliant’ idea. He decided to relocate to London as he felt that demons could only operate in Africa. Sadly, however, he died on the plane.

My Father in the Lord, Pa Josiah Akindayomi, used to say, “Your father will take care of you with whatever he has. If he has evil, he will use it to take care of you, and if he has good, that is what you will get from him.” The devil doesn’t have anything good in him; if you go to him for anything, be sure that whatever he gives you will be evil. Jesus, however, is the Good Shepherd; whatever comes from Him is always good.

According to today’s Bible reading, trusting and depending on God is your access to His goodness. Those who trust in Jesus will receive the power to become sons of God (John 1:12). They will have authority over all the power of the enemy and nothing shall by any means harm them (Luke 10:19). No weapon that is fashioned by the devil against them will prosper (Isaiah 54:17), and they will eat the good of the land (Isaiah 1:19).

Beloved, do you depend only on the Good Shepherd? Those who depend on Him are like Mount Zion; regardless of the situation around them, they cannot be shaken (Psalm 125:1). Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4).

REFLECTION:

Do you depend on the Good Shepherd for your needs, or do you seek ungodly alternatives?

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:

Job 17-20

HYMN 19: ROCK OF AGES, CLEFT FOR ME

1. Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
   Let me hide myself in Thee;
   Let the water and the blood,
   From Thy wounded side which flowed,
   Be of sin the double cure;
   Save from wrath and make me pure.

2. Not the labour of my hands
   Can fulfil Thy law’s demands;
   Could my zeal no respite know,
   Could my tears for ever flow,
   All for sin could not atone;
   Thou must save, and Thou alone.

3. Nothing in my hand I bring,
   Simply to the cross I cling;
   Naked, come to Thee for dress;
   Helpless look to Thee for grace;
   Foul, I to the fountain fly;
   Wash me, Saviour, or I die.

4. While I draw this fleeting breath,
   When mine eyes shall close in death,
   When I soar to worlds unknown,
   See Thee on Thy judgment throne,
   Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
   Let me hide myself in 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 31st May 2026 concludes the month with a warning against depending on the devil’s counterfeits and a call to trust only in the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ.

---

BRIEF COMMENTARY

Based on Open Heavens 31st May 2026 – “Depend Only on the Good Shepherd”

The Devil’s Gifts Always Kill

In today’s devotional, Pastor Adeboye returns to a theme he has touched on before: the devil’s blessings always come with hidden death. The enemy may give you wealth, success, or power—but his gifts are poisoned. They steal your peace, kill your destiny, and destroy your soul. Only the Good Shepherd gives life that is truly good.

The memory verse, John 10:10, draws a clear line between two masters: the thief (the devil) and the Good Shepherd (Jesus). The devil has three goals—steal, kill, destroy. Every single thing he gives comes with one of these three purposes. Jesus gives life—not just existence, but abundant, overflowing, excessive, more-than-enough life.

The Man Who Swallowed a Charm

The devotional opens with a tragic testimony. A man swallowed a charm for wealth but remained poor. Worse, he was told he would die after seven years. When he had just two weeks left to live, he ran to RCCG. He gave his life to Christ, and after a simple prayer, he vomited the charm. He was free.

Then he stopped coming. He said, “The herbalist told me I swallowed it wrongly.” So he swallowed another charm. This time he became very wealthy—but he would live only seven years to enjoy it. As the time was about to elapse, he decided to relocate to London, thinking demons could only operate in Africa. He died on the plane.

This is the devil’s pattern: He gives you what you want, but he makes sure you cannot enjoy it. He gives you wealth, but he takes your life. He gives you success, but he steals your peace. He gives you a temporary blessing, but the permanent curse kills you.

The Devil Has Nothing Good in Him

The devotional quotes Daddy Adeboye’s mentor, Pa Josiah Akindayomi: “Your father will take care of you with whatever he has. If he has evil, he will use it to take care of you, and if he has good, that is what you will get from him.”

The devil has no good in him. He cannot give good gifts because he has no good to give. Every gift from the devil is evil disguised as blessing. He gives wealth, but it comes with sorrow. He gives success, but it comes with bondage. He gives pleasure, but it comes with destruction. He gives power, but it comes with a shortened life.

The man on the plane learned this too late. He thought he had outsmarted the devil by moving to London. But the devil’s curse followed him—because the devil’s gifts are not location-specific. They are destiny-specific.

Jesus: The Good Shepherd Who Gives Good Gifts

By contrast, Jesus is the Good Shepherd. Whatever comes from Him is always good. He gives wealth without sorrow (Proverbs 10:22). He gives success without bondage. He gives pleasure without guilt. He gives power without destruction.

The Benefits of Trusting the Good Shepherd

The devotional lists what happens when you trust in Jesus:

1. You receive power to become a son of God (John 1:12). Not a slave, not a beggar, not a servant—a son. Sons have access, inheritance, and authority.

2. You have authority over all the power of the enemy (Luke 10:19). Not some power—all power. Nothing shall by any means harm you.

3. No weapon fashioned against you shall prosper (Isaiah 54:17). The enemy may fashion weapons, but they will not succeed because the Good Shepherd protects His sheep.

4. You shall eat the good of the land (Isaiah 1:19). Not just survive—thrive. God’s provision is not barely enough; it is abundantly enough.

How to Access the Good Shepherd’s Goodness

The Bible reading in Psalm 37 gives the pathway:

1. Trust in the LORD. Trust is not hoping for the best; it is resting in the character of God. He is good, faithful, and cannot lie.

2. Delight yourself in the LORD. When you find your joy in God, you stop needing the devil’s cheap pleasures. And when you delight in Him, He gives you the desires of your heart.

3. Commit your way to Him. Roll your burden onto Him. Stop carrying the weight of your own success, provision, and protection.

4. Rest in the LORD. Stop striving. Stop envying the wicked who prosper. Rest means you trust that God’s timing is better and God’s gifts are safer.

5. Wait patiently. Waiting is active trust. It is saying, “I will not run ahead of God. I will not grab the devil’s counterfeit because I am impatient.”

The Tragedy of the Man on the Plane

The man who died on the plane is a warning to every believer who is tempted by the devil’s shortcuts. He had been delivered. He was free. But he went back because he wanted wealth more than he wanted life. He thought he was being clever by moving to London. But the devil’s curse followed him.

The tragedy is not that he died—everyone dies. The tragedy is that he died after tasting freedom and rejecting it. He chose the devil’s poison over the Shepherd’s provision.

Conclusion: Do You Depend Only on the Good Shepherd?

The devotional asks a searching question: “Do you depend only on the Good Shepherd?” Not on the Good Shepherd and your own cleverness. Not on the Good Shepherd and the devil’s shortcuts. Not on the Good Shepherd and worldly wisdom. Only on the Good Shepherd.

Those who depend on Him are like Mount Zion—unshakable. The storms may come, the earth may shake, but they stand firm. Not because they are strong, but because they are standing on the Rock.

Do not envy the man who prospers through wickedness. His prosperity is temporary. His wealth is poisoned. His success is a death sentence. Instead, trust, delight, commit, rest, and wait. The Good Shepherd has good gifts for you—gifts that will not kill you, gifts that will not curse you, gifts that will not steal your soul.

Reflection from the Devotional:

Do you depend on the Good Shepherd for your needs, or do you seek ungodly alternatives?

Action Steps:

1. Examine your desires – what are you tempted to get through shortcuts—wealth, success, a relationship, a breakthrough? Write it down.

2. Renounce every deal – if you have made any agreement with the enemy’s system, renounce it today. Pray, “I break every covenant with the devil’s prosperity.”

3. Test your source – when a blessing comes, ask: Did this come through righteous means? Does it bring peace or anxiety? Is there any hidden curse?

4. Practice delighting in God – set aside time not to ask for anything—just to delight in God. Worship Him for who He is, not for what He gives.

5. Wait patiently – identify one area where you have been tempted to grab the devil’s counterfeit because you are impatient. Commit to waiting on God’s timing, no matter how long it takes.