Table of Contents
OPEN HEAVENS 4 JULY 2026 TODAY DEVOTIONAL
TOPIC: WHILE IT IS DAY
OPEN HEAVENS 4 JULY 2026 TODAY DEVOTIONAL TOPIC: WHILE IT IS DAY
MEMORISE:
Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.
— John 11:9 (KJV)
READ: Joshua 13:1-5 (KJV)
1 Now Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the Lord said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed.
2 This is the land that yet remaineth: all the borders of the Philistines, and all Geshuri,
3 From Sihor, which is before Egypt, even unto the borders of Ekron northward, which is counted to the Canaanite: five lords of the Philistines; the Gazathites, and the Ashdothites, the Eshkalonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avites:
4 From the south, all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah that is beside the Sidonians unto Aphek, to the borders of the Amorites:
5 And the land of the Giblites, and all Lebanon, toward the sunrising, from Baalgad under mount Hermon unto the entering into Hamath.
OPEN HEAVENS 4 JULY 2026 TODAY MESSAGE
The account of some of Joshua’s great exploits can be found in Joshua 12. The chapter highlights all the kings he conquered and the lands he possessed. It was indeed a long list of victories, and any fellow who achieved the things Joshua did would be proud of such exploits.
However, in the next chapter, which is today’s Bible reading, God told him that even though he was now old, there remained much land to be possessed. God then went ahead to list all the lands that remained unconquered, making him know that there was still so much to do.
Beloved, there is a set time when you must do the works of Him who sent you. In John 9:4, Jesus said, “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.”
For every human, there is a daytime and a nighttime. The daytime is the portion of a fellow’s life when he or she is young and agile. In the daytime, a fellow has the strength to go around preaching the gospel of Christ and can fast and pray as long as he or she wants to.
However, by nighttime, the fellow’s strength would have abated. Also, when some people’s nighttime comes, they become sick and are unable to continue working.
Therefore, if you have the opportunity to do God’s work now, do it with all your strength and focus.
Even if you are well advanced in years, the fact that you are alive means that there is still so much you can do for God, just as He showed Joshua in today’s Bible reading.
There are 24 hours in a day. Approximately half of those hours are characterised by the presence of sunlight, and during those hours, most people work on their goals. After those hours of light, darkness descends.
Jesus said in John 11:10 that if a man walks in the night, he stumbles. This means that NOW is the time to serve God and carry out any assignments He might have committed into your hands. You must get to work now because when the night comes, no one, including you, will be able to work.
Therefore, work while it is still day. Don’t procrastinate God’s work. Heal the sick, preach the gospel, cast out demons, mentor the next generation, and let your light so shine before men that they may glorify your Father in heaven.
KEY POINT:
Work while it is day.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Proverbs 15-17
HYMN 32: TO THE WORK! TO THE WORK! WE ARE SERVANTS OF GOD
Verse 1:
To the work! to the work! we are servants of God,
Let us follow the path that our Master has trod;
With the balm of His counsel our strength to renew,
Let us do with our might what our hands find to do.
Chorus:
Toiling on, toiling on,
Toiling on, toiling on,
Let us hope, and trust, and watch, and pray,
And labor till the Master comes.
Verse 2:
To the work! to the work! let the hungry be fed,
To the fountain of life let the weary be led;
In the cross and its banner our glory shall be,
While we herald the tidings, “Salvation is free!”
(Chorus)
Verse 3:
To the work! to the work! there is labor for all,
For the kingdom of darkness and error shall fall;
And the name of Jehovah exalted shall be,
In the loud swelling chorus, “Salvation is free!”
(Chorus)
Verse 4:
To the work! to the work! in the strength of the Lord,
And a robe and a crown shall our labor reward;
When the home of the faithful our dwelling shall be,
And we shout with the ransomed, “Salvation is free!”
(Chorus)
OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL 4 JULY 2026 COMMENTARY
MEMORISE: John 11:9
This verse establishes the reality of a limited window for effective work. Daddy Adeboye anchors today’s devotional on this text because it reveals that the “daytime” of life—the season of strength, opportunity, and visibility—has a fixed length. Just as a literal day has twelve hours of light, your life has a divinely appointed season for labor. Therefore, the only wise response is to work now, while the light lasts.
BIBLE READING: Joshua 13:1-5
This passage records God’s words to Joshua in his old age. Joshua had led Israel through decades of conquest. The previous chapter (Joshua 12) lists an impressive catalog of defeated kings—thirty-one in total. One might think the work was complete. But God says to Joshua: “Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed.” Then God proceeds to list all the unconquered territories. The fact that you are still alive means God still has an assignment for you.
Joshua’s Great Exploits and God’s Correction
1. The Long List of Victories (Joshua 12)
“The account of some of Joshua’s great exploits can be found in Joshua 12. The chapter highlights all the kings he conquered and the lands he possessed. It was indeed a long list of victories, and any fellow who achieved the things Joshua did would be proud of such exploits.”
Consider Joshua’s track record: the conquest of Jericho where walls fell at the shout of faith; the conquest of Ai after initial defeat and cleansing of sin; the defeat of the southern coalition where the sun stood still at Joshua’s command (Joshua 10); the defeat of the northern coalition with multiple kings and armies destroyed; and thirty-one kings defeated—an astonishing military achievement.
Joshua had every reason to feel satisfied. He had led a generation into the Promised Land. He had won battles that seemed impossible. He had seen miracles that no living person had witnessed. Humanly speaking, he had earned the right to rest.
2. God’s Unexpected Word (Joshua 13:1)
“However, in the next chapter, which is today’s Bible reading, God told him that even though he was now old, there remained much land to be possessed. God then went ahead to list all the lands that remained unconquered, making him know that there was still so much to do.”
Joshua’s perspective was “I have done so much,” but God’s perspective was “There is still much to do.” Joshua thought “I am old,” but God said “You are alive, so you are still useful.” Joshua looked at the many victories, but God pointed to the unconquered lands. Joshua felt he could rest, but God commanded him to work while it is day.
“Even if you are well advanced in years, the fact that you are alive means that there is still so much you can do for God, just as He showed Joshua in today’s Bible reading.” This is a crucial point. Age is not an excuse for retirement from kingdom work. As long as you have breath, you have assignment. As long as you are alive, there is “much land” still to be possessed—souls to win, disciples to make, prayers to pray, generational transfers to complete.
The Daytime and Nighttime of Life
1. The Daytime: The Season of Strength and Opportunity
“For every human, there is a daytime and a nighttime. The daytime is the portion of a fellow’s life when he or she is young and agile. In the daytime, a fellow has the strength to go around preaching the gospel of Christ and can fast and pray as long as he or she wants to.”
The daytime is characterised by youth and agility, allowing for travel, preaching, and active service. It brings strength and energy for extended fasting and prayer. It offers health and vitality for difficult assignments. It provides opportunity and access to influence others, mentor, and lead.
“Therefore, if you have the opportunity to do God’s work now, do it with all your strength and focus.” The daytime is a gift. It is not guaranteed to last. Do not waste it on trivial pursuits, selfish ambitions, or lazy indifference. Use your strength for the Kingdom while you still have strength.
2. The Nighttime: The Season When Work Ceases
“However, by nighttime, the fellow’s strength would have abated. Also, when some people’s nighttime comes, they become sick and are unable to continue working.”
The nighttime brings advanced age, limiting extensive travel and long physical labor. It brings declining health, making extended fasting and lengthy prayer difficult. It brings diminished strength for physically demanding assignments. Ultimately, it brings the end of life—the night comes when no man can work.
John 9:4 states: “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” Jesus spoke these words with urgency. He knew His “day” was finite. He knew the cross was approaching. He did not procrastinate. He worked while He could.
The Danger of Walking in the Night (John 11:10)
“Jesus said in John 11:10 that if a man walks in the night, he stumbles. This means that NOW is the time to serve God and carry out any assignments He might have committed into your hands. You must get to work now because when the night comes, no one, including you, will be able to work.”
Walking in the day means seeing the light of this world, working effectively, fulfilling purpose, and avoiding obstacles. Walking in the night means stumbling because there is no light, being unable to work, missing opportunity, and falling into traps.
“Don’t procrastinate God’s work.” Procrastination is the enemy of destiny. Tomorrow is not promised. Next year is not guaranteed. The “night” may come suddenly—illness, accident, unexpected death, or simply the gradual decline of strength that makes what you could do today impossible tomorrow.
What You Should Do While It Is Still Day
Based on Daddy Adeboye’s teaching and the examples of Joshua and Jesus, here is a checklist of kingdom work that cannot be postponed:
1. Heal the Sick
Do not wait until you have “more faith” or “more training.” Pray for the sick now. Lay hands on the suffering now. The power of God is available in the present, not just in some future season.
2. Preach the Gospel
Don’t wait for a bigger platform; share with one person today. Don’t wait for more eloquence; speak what you know. Don’t wait for a pulpit; witness in the marketplace, workplace, and home.
3. Cast Out Demons
The authority of the believer is not reserved for “experts.” Jesus gave His authority to all who believe. Set captives free now. Break bondages now. Do not delay deliverance.
4. Mentor the Next Generation
Joshua was old, but God told him there was still land to possess—including the land of the Philistines, the Sidonians, and others. Part of that “land” was the raising up of the next generation. Do not die with your gift still inside you. Transfer what you know. Pour into younger believers.
5. Let Your Light Shine (Matthew 5:16)
“Let your light so shine before men that they may glorify your Father in heaven.” Do not wait for the “perfect” opportunity for good works; act now when someone is in need. Do not delay public testimony; speak of God’s goodness while you have breath.
The Urgency of Now
Daddy Adeboye’s devotional carries an urgent tone: “You must get to work now.”
Some say “I’ll serve God when I retire,” but you may not live to retire, or your health may fail. Others say “I’ll witness when I’m more confident,” but confidence comes by doing, not waiting. Some think “I’ll pray more when I have more time,” but you will never have more time; you have only now. Others promise “I’ll start that ministry next year,” but next year may never come for you.
“There are 24 hours in a day. Approximately half of those hours are characterised by the presence of sunlight, and during those hours, most people work on their goals. After those hours of light, darkness descends.”
The analogy is simple but profound: during the sunlit hours, work is possible, progress is made, and goals are achieved. During the hours of darkness, work is impossible, stumbling occurs, and opportunity is lost. Your life is the “day.” Your death or decline is the “night.” You do not know how many hours of daylight remain. Therefore, work now.
Warning: Do Not Presume Upon Tomorrow
Daddy Adeboye’s devotional carries a sobering warning: the night is coming. It may come sooner than you think.
James 4:13-14 says, “Go to now, ye that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city… whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” Do not assume you have tomorrow to serve God. Your “daytime” is brief—a vapor, a mist.
Do not be like the rich fool in Luke 12 who said, “Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.” God said to him, “Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee.” His “night” came unexpectedly. His work was undone.
How to Maximize Your Daytime (Practical Steps)
Based on Daddy Adeboye’s teaching, here is how to ensure you are working while it is still day:
1. Identify Your Assigned Work
Ask God: What is the “land” You have given me to possess? For Joshua, it was unconquered territories. For you, it may be a family, a community, a ministry, a sphere of influence. Know your assignment.
2. Stop Procrastinating
Identify one thing God has been asking you to do that you have delayed. Do it today. Not tomorrow. Not next week. Today. Whether it is a difficult conversation, a financial commitment to God’s work, a ministry assignment, or an act of forgiveness—do it now.
3. Use Your Strength While You Have It
Do not save your best energy for yourself. Do not exhaust yourself on trivial pursuits and offer God your leftovers. Young or old, strong or weak, give God the best of your strength while you still have strength to give.
4. Pour Into Others Before Your Night Comes
Joshua was old. His strength was fading. But God said there was still land to possess—including the raising up of the next generation. Do not die with your wisdom unshared. Write it down. Speak it out. Mentor someone younger.
5. Live Each Day as If It Were Your Last
Not in morbid fear, but in urgent purpose. Ask each morning: If this were my last day of “daytime,” what would I do for the Kingdom today? Then do it.
Conclusion: Your Prayer for Urgency and Fruitfulness
Daddy Adeboye closes with a call to work while it is still day. Do not procrastinate. Do not assume tomorrow. The night is coming. Work now.
Pray this:
“Lord Jesus, I thank You that You have given me a daytime—a season of strength, opportunity, and light. Forgive me for the hours I have wasted. Forgive me for the procrastination, the excuses, the delays. Forgive me for acting as if my night will never come. Today, I receive the word You spoke to Joshua: even though I may be old, even though I may be tired, there is still much land to possess. Show me the unconquered territories in my life—the souls to win, the disciples to make, the prayers to pray, the generational transfers to complete. I will work while it is day. I will not stumble in the night. Heal the sick through me. Preach the gospel through me. Let my light shine before men. Use me until my last breath. In Jesus’ mighty name.”
Action Steps:
The “Much Land” Audit: Ask God to show you the “land that remains to be possessed” in your life—specific assignments, people to reach, areas of service you have neglected. Write them down.
The Procrastination Confession: Identify one specific task God has given you that you have been delaying. Commit to completing it within 48 hours. Do not let another week pass.
The Daytime Schedule: For the next 30 days, schedule your kingdom work first, not last. Before you fill your calendar with entertainment, hobbies, or non-essentials, block out time for prayer, witness, service, and mentoring. Protect your “daytime” hours.
