OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
SPEND QUALITY TIME WITH YOUR SPOUSE
MESSAGE BY: Pastor E. A. Adeboye
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
I. THE ARRESTED EMOTION: EXPLORING THE CRISIS OF DOMESTIC DISTANCE
It brings deep sadness and pastoral concern to my heart whenever I observe Christian couples who have gradually allowed the rhythm of modern life to steal their intimacy. In this fast-paced world, an alarming number of married partners live together more like corporate housemates than covenant lovers. They depart their homes early in the morning for work, spend their entire energetic peak away from each other, and return late at night only to collapse into bed for sleep. When the weekend finally arrives, the cycle repeats itself as they fill their schedules with external business, community engagements, or social activities—all without their spouses.
This pattern is a dangerous anomaly in the sight of God. The fundamental law of love dictates that where there is genuine affection, there will be an intentional pursuit of quality time. Love is not merely a passive feeling; it is an investment of presence. The more time you actively invest in one another, the more your marital love will blossom, deepen, and resist the wear and tear of life.
Conversely, when quality time is starved, the emotional foundation of the marriage begins to erode. Years ago, a sick woman made a shocking confession to me during a counseling session. She looked me in the eye and admitted that she secretly did not want to be healed. When I asked her why, she explained that when she was healthy and strong, her husband completely ignored her, dedicating all his time to his career. However, the moment she fell ill, he became highly attentive, rushing home immediately after work to check on her. She chose physical pain just to secure her husband’s presence.
Husbands and wives must never abandon their partners on the altar of career, ministry, or social success. You must be deliberately intentional about protecting and building your relational bond.
II. THE SACRED COUPLING: THE UNCOMPROMISING POWER OF JOINT PRAYER
Beyond spending social time together, married couples must cultivate the discipline of praying together. It is a tragedy that many Christian couples have no active, shared prayer life. They can attend congregational prayer meetings, spend hours interceding alongside other believers, and actively lead church ministries, yet when they return home, they claim they are too exhausted to hold hands and pray with their own spouse.
When a husband and wife kneel together before the throne of grace, they tap into a unique dimension of spiritual power and intimacy. Joint prayer does not merely change your circumstances; it transforms your relationship. It melts hidden animosities, bridges emotional distances, and reinforces your covenant bond.
When you consistently pray with your spouse, it becomes incredibly difficult to harbor deep-seated malice or bitterness against them. The presence of God acts as a supernatural adhesive, sealing your hearts together and fortifying your union against the subtle arrows of division deployed by the enemy.
III. THE MEDICINE OF MIRTH: HARNESSING FUN AND HOLY LAUGHTER
By the special grace of God, my wife and I have been happily married for 59 years. Throughout nearly six decades of ministry, family life, and global travels, one secret we have consistently practiced is creating dedicated moments to laugh, play, and have fun together. We are not just a man and a woman coexisting under the same roof out of religious obligation; we are passionate lovers.
Many couples are far too serious for their own good. They carry a rigid, formal, and uptight atmosphere into their homes, making their living rooms feel like a corporate boardroom.
Scripture commands in Proverbs 5:18, “Rejoice with the wife of thy youth.” You must play with your spouse! Do not let the stresses of life steal your sense of humor or prevent you from sharing a hearty laugh. When joy and regular laughter characterize a home, the frequency of friction, tension, and petty arguments drops drastically. You must intentionally schedule date nights, engage in lighthearted recreation, and create an atmosphere where your spouse can let their guard down and experience pure joy in your presence.
IV. THE CULTURE OF THE ALTAR: RELEASING THE POWER OF AFFIRMATION
Finally, let us build a continuous culture of appreciation and verbal affirmation within our marriages. Never allow yourself to fall into the trap of taking your spouse for granted. The fact that they perform certain duties or look after the home beautifully should never make those acts ordinary in your sight.
Go out of your way to shower your partner with sincere, specific compliments. Express your deep gratitude for their character, their appearance, and the sacrifices they make daily for the family. Let your words build them up and reassure them of their unique place in your heart. May the Almighty God breathe afresh upon every Christian marriage today, heal every broken heart, and strengthen your marital bonds, in the mighty Name of Jesus.
V. PRAYER POINT
Dear Father, today marks the birthday of my beloved lover and partner. I ask that You join me in thanking God for her life. May You continually strengthen her, shield her, and multiply Your supernatural grace, radiant health, and perfect peace in her life, in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen.
VI. BIBLE READING SUMMARY: PROVERBS 5:15-19
King Solomon issues a strong, poetic warning regarding marital fidelity and the preservation of intimacy within the covenant of marriage. He admonishes the husband to “drink waters out of his own cistern” and enjoy the running waters of his own well, emphasizing that sexual and emotional intimacy should be strictly preserved for one’s spouse rather than being scattered carelessly abroad with strangers. He commands the believer to let their marital fountain be blessed, to rejoice completely with the wife of their youth, and to look upon her as a loving hind and a pleasant roe. He concludes that her physical affection should satisfy him at all times, urging him to be permanently captivated and ravished by her love alone.
VII. BIBLE IN ONE YEAR SUMMARY: SONG OF SOLOMON 1-4
Song of Solomon 1: The Shulamite woman expresses her deep, passionate longing for her beloved groom, praising his character and comparing his love to fine wine. The couple engages in a beautiful dialogue of mutual adoration, complimenting each other’s physical appearance and expressing the joy of their upcoming union amidst rural, natural imagery.
Song of Solomon 2: The bride describes herself as the rose of Sharon and the lily of the valleys, while the groom highlights her uniqueness among other women. She reflects on the arrival of spring, using poetic language to describe her beloved jumping across the mountains like a young stag, and warns against the “little foxes” that spoil the tender vines of their growing romance.
Song of Solomon 3: The bride recounts a vivid dream of searching through the city streets at night for the one her soul loves until she successfully finds him and holds him close. The scene then shifts to describe a magnificent royal wedding procession for King Solomon, who approaches from the wilderness surrounded by valiant warriors, seated upon a luxurious carriage crafted from the finest wood, silver, and gold.
Song of Solomon 4: The groom pours out an extensive, highly detailed song of admiration for his bride, praising every aspect of her physical beauty from her eyes to her speech. He compares her purity to a locked garden, a sealed fountain, and an orchard filled with precious spices, prompting the bride to invite the north and south winds to blow upon her garden so that her beloved may enter and enjoy its choice fruits.
VIII. HYMN 28: GUIDE ME, O THOU GREAT JEHOVAH
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 now and evermore;
Bread of heaven, Bread of heaven!
Feed me now and evermore.
2. Open now the crystal fountain,
Whence the healing stream doth flow;
Let the fiery, cloudy pillar
Lead me all my journey through.
Strong Deliverer! Strong Deliverer!
Be Thou still my Strength and Shield.
Strong Deliverer! Strong Deliverer!
Be Thou still my Strength and Shield.
3. If I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears subside;
Bear me through the swelling torrent,
Land me safe on Canaan’s side:
Songs of praises! Songs of praises!
I will ever give to Thee.
Songs of praises! Songs of praises!
I will ever give to Thee.
4. Saviour, come! We long to see Thee,
Long to dwell with Thee above;
And to know in full communion,
All the sweetness of Thy love,
Come, Lord Jesus! Come, Lord Jesus!
Take Thy waiting people home
Come, Lord Jesus! Come, Lord Jesus!
Take Thy waiting people home.
IX. PROPHETIC DECREE
I decree and declare that on this Monday, July 13, 2026, every weapon of division, emotional distance, and cold indifference fashioned by the enemy to destroy your marriage is utterly frustrated and dismantled by the power of the Holy Ghost! I command the fresh oil of first-love, unhindered joy, and mutual attraction to flood your home right now!
I decree that the spirit of strife, constant arguments, and exhaustion is cast out of your household. Your marriage shall not become a statistics of failure! God is restoring the years that the cankerworm of busy schedules and heavy career demands have stolen from your relationship. As you intentionally prioritize your spouse today, may the peace of God that passes all human understanding guard your home, fill your dwelling with holy laughter, and transform your union into a model of covenant fulfillment, in the absolute matchless Name of Jesus Christ! Amen! Hallelujah!
