God’s Oracle Devotionals

Title: How About Your Heart? (1)

Date: Saturday, 17th October, 2026

Text: Hosea 10:12; Proverbs 4:23

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

Imagine an abandoned farmland left uncultivated for three or four years. Gradually, unwanted and dangerous creatures—snakes, scorpions, and other wild animals—may make it their habitat. When the land is not deliberately cultivated and maintained, unwanted growth takes over. In the same way, an unattended heart becomes fertile ground for destructive thoughts, ungodly desires, and sinful imaginations.

The heart of an unregenerated person is like fallow ground: hard, cold, unteachable, unforgiving, and unreceptive to the transforming power of God’s Word. When the heart is not cultivated by the Word of God, its thoughts and desires gradually become contrary to the character and teachings of Christ. What occupies your heart eventually influences your words, decisions, relationships, and conduct.

However, God does not desire anyone to remain in this condition. His Word commands us in Hosea 10:12, “Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.” This is a call to repentance, spiritual renewal, and a deliberate pursuit of God. Through genuine repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, the hardened heart can be transformed, renewed, and made fruitful.

Beloved, how is the condition of your heart? What thoughts are you entertaining? What attitudes have you allowed to take root within you? Do not leave your heart unattended. Break up the fallow ground through repentance, prayer, and the consistent study and application of God’s Word. A heart surrendered to God becomes a dwelling place for His truth, righteousness, and love.

Prayer Nugget: Father, search my heart and expose every ungodly thought, attitude, and desire within me. Break up every fallow ground in my heart, renew my spirit, and make my life fruitful in righteousness, in Jesus’ mighty name.

Bible in One Year: Mark 10–11

Date: Friday, 16th October, 2026

Text: Luke 18:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

Dependence on God should drive us regularly to the place of prayer. Just as dolphins must periodically rise to the surface of the water to breathe, believers must continually return to God’s presence in prayer to sustain their spiritual lives. Prayer is not merely an emergency measure for difficult moments; it is a vital expression of our daily dependence on God.

Jesus emphasised this necessity in Luke 18:1, teaching that “men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” Prayer keeps our hearts connected to God, strengthens our faith, renews our spiritual strength, and helps us receive direction for life’s challenges. When we neglect the place of prayer, we risk becoming spiritually weak, vulnerable to temptation, and overwhelmed by the pressures of life.

A believer who does not observe a consistent and passionate prayer structure and culture is like a dolphin who refuses to come up for air. Just as suffocation follows when breathing is deprived, spiritual decline can follow when fellowship with God is persistently neglected. First Thessalonians 5:17 therefore commands us to “Pray without ceasing.” This does not mean spending every moment on our knees, but maintaining a consistent life of communion with God through regular prayer and a heart that continually depends on Him.

Beloved, do not allow the demands of life to suffocate your prayer life. No matter how busy you become, make time to seek God’s face. If you depend on God for life, strength, wisdom, and victory, you must continually return to Him in prayer.

Prayer Nugget: Father, deliver me from prayerlessness. Give me a burning desire for Your presence and the discipline to seek Your face continually, so that I may never become spiritually suffocated, in Jesus’ mighty name.

Bible in One Year: Mark 8–9

Date: Thursday, 15th October, 2026

Text: Psalm 33:13–22; Psalm 20:7–8

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God” (Psalm 20:7). Human preparations, skills, connections, wisdom, wealth, and influence are valuable, but none is strong enough to replace God. What we possess today may fail tomorrow, and the people we depend on may disappoint us. Therefore, we must never allow our resources to take the place of our Source.

Psalm 33:16–17 reminds us that no king is saved by the size of his army, and a horse cannot guarantee victory by its strength. In the same way, money cannot guarantee lasting security, connections cannot open every door, and human wisdom cannot solve every problem. When we place absolute confidence in these things, disappointment may follow because we have trusted in what is limited rather than in the limitless God.

This does not mean we should abandon preparation or despise human assistance. Proverbs 21:31 says, “The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.” We must prepare diligently, work wisely, and use the resources God has given us, while recognising that ultimate security and success come from Him. Prepare as though the responsibility is yours, but depend on God as the One who holds the outcome.

Prayer Nugget: Father, deliver me from misplaced trust. Help me to use the resources You have given me wisely while depending on You as my unfailing Source, in Jesus’ name.

Bible in One Year: Mark 6–7

Date: Wednesday, 14th October, 2026

Text: Mark 5:1–20

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

Storms are not always physical; some storms rage in the mind and manifest as mental health challenges. In Mark 5:1–20, we read about a man who experienced an extreme storm in his mind. Tormented by a legion of demons, he lived among the tombs, cried out day and night, and wounded himself with stones. However, when he encountered Jesus, the Prince of Peace, the storm was stilled. He was delivered from his torment and restored to his right mind. This demonstrates Christ’s authority over the storms that overwhelm human lives.

King Saul also experienced storms that affected his mental and emotional well-being. In 1 Samuel 16:14–23, whenever David played the harp, Saul found relief, and the troubling spirit departed from him. This account highlights how worship can bring comfort and peace amid inner storms. When we worship God sincerely, we redirect our attention from the raging storms to His greatness, faithfulness, and power.

Are you experiencing storms in your mental health—perhaps through anxiety, fear, emotional distress, overwhelming thoughts or demonic activities? Turn to Jesus, the Prince of Peace, in prayer and intense worship, and allow Him to still your storms.

Remember, worship and prayer can accompany appropriate professional support when needed. The storms of mental health challenges may be fierce, but they do not have to rule your life. Through Christ, you can find peace, strength, and hope in the midst of the storm.

Prayer Nugget: Almighty Father, Prince of Peace, speak peace to every storm raging in my mind and every storm surrounding my mental health in Jesus’ mighty name

Bible in One Year: Mark 4–5

Date: Tuesday, 13th October, 2026

Text: Genesis 20:1–18

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

Another thing that provokes self-inflicted storms is holding on to what God wants you to let go of. When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to release the children of Israel, contrary to God’s command, Egypt experienced devastating plagues, including a terrible hailstorm (Exodus 9:22–26). Sometimes, what we refuse to release in disobedience becomes the very reason we experience unnecessary battles. Whatever God has commanded you to release should not become what you desperately struggle to retain. As the Scripture declares, “To obey is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22).

Abimelech also experienced a household crisis when he unknowingly took Sarah, Abraham’s wife, into his household. God intervened by closing the wombs of the women in his household until the matter was resolved (Genesis 20:17–18). Although Abimelech acted in ignorance, God required him to return Sarah to her husband. The storm over his household subsided after he obeyed God’s instruction and Abraham prayed for him. This teaches us that unresolved matters can become obstacles to peace and progress. Some storms will not cease until we correct what is wrong and make the necessary restitution. The Bible says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

Beloved, is there anything you are holding on to that God wants you to surrender? Is there an unresolved matter requiring restitution, an act of disobedience demanding repentance, or a relationship that must be put right? Do not allow pride, fear, greed, or stubbornness to prolong your storm.

When God reveals what needs to change, respond promptly in obedience. Remember, “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13). You cannot insist on retaining what God has asked you to release and expect everything around you to remain peaceful.

Key Nugget: Whatever God has commanded you to release should not become what you desperately struggle to retain.

Bible in One Year: Mark 1–3

Date: Monday, 12th October, 2026

Text: Jonah 1:1–16

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

Sometimes, storms arise as a consequence of disobedience to God; in other words, some storms are self-inflicted. Jonah’s experience is a classic example. Had he obeyed God’s instruction to go to Nineveh, the storm that threatened his life and those aboard the ship could have been avoided.

Many people today are passing through avoidable storms because they have chosen their own ways over God’s commandments. When a storm results from disobedience, prayer alone may not be enough; genuine repentance and a deliberate change of direction are necessary. You cannot continue running away from God while expecting Him to calm the consequences of your disobedience.

However, not every storm is a judgment from God; some arise from life’s trials or circumstances beyond our control. Therefore, when storms arise, we must prayerfully examine our ways and seek God’s wisdom. Sometimes, the miracle you need is not merely for God to change your situation, but for Him to change your direction.

Beloved, if you have ignored God’s instructions, it is time to make a U-turn and return to His will. Do not allow pride or stubbornness to keep you on a path that leads to destruction. As you repent and obey the Lord, may His mercy restore you and His peace reign in every area of your life.

Prayer Nugget: Father, reveal every area of disobedience in my life and grant me the grace to repent and obey You completely. Deliver me from stubbornness and every wrong path, and bring every avoidable storm in my life to an end, in Jesus’ mighty name.

Bible in One Year: Matthew 27–28

Date: Sunday, 11th October, 2026

Text: Mark 4:35–41

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

God remains God when the weather of life is fair and when it becomes turbulent. As children of the Most High, our response to storms matters. When the storms of life rage, we must refuse to entertain fear or doubt but remain steadfast in faith, knowing that our God is greater than every challenge we face.

Our God rules over raging storms. Psalm 89:9 (KJV) declares, “Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.” Psalm 107:29 also says, “He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.” The same God who calms the storms of nature is able to bring peace into the storms of our lives. No situation is beyond His sovereign authority.

In Mark 4:37–39, Jesus and His disciples encountered a violent storm on the Sea of Galilee. While the disciples panicked, Jesus arose and rebuked the wind and the sea, and there was a great calm. This teaches us that the presence of a storm does not mean the absence of God. Even when He appears silent, we must trust His power and remain confident in His presence.

God promises in Isaiah 43:2, “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee.” Notice that He says when, not if. Storms may come, but they do not have the final say over our lives. Whether the storm is financial, marital, spiritual, or emotional, keep your faith alive. The storm may be fierce, but our God is greater!

Key Nugget: The presence of a storm does not mean the absence of God. Even when He appears silent, we must trust His power and remain confident in His presence.

Bible in One Year: Matthew 25–26

Date: Saturday, 10th October, 2026

Text: Matthew 6:10

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

“Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). Having considered the dangers of settling for God’s permissive will, we must now pursue His perfect will. God desires that we love Him wholeheartedly and love our neighbours as ourselves (Matthew 22:37–39).

Our joy and fulfilment are tied to carrying out God’s perfect will. Jesus declared, “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me” (John 6:38). He also described Himself as the Bread of God, who comes down from heaven to give life to the world (John 6:33). As Christ gives life to the world, we must live to fulfil the Father’s purpose and bring His life and love to others.

If we must resist the devil effectively, we must first submit ourselves to God, for James 4:7 says, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Submission is the foundation of effective spiritual resistance; we cannot continually reject God’s authority and expect to stand firmly against the enemy.

Our experience of Heaven on Earth is tied to carrying out God’s perfect will daily—allowing His love, righteousness and peace to find expression through us. Let us therefore stop insisting on our own way and seek to please Him in our thoughts, choices and relationships. True fulfilment comes not merely from getting what we want, but from doing what God wants.

Prayer Nugget: Father, help me to fulfil Your perfect will daily. Teach me to love You wholeheartedly, love my neighbour as myself, and submit completely to Your authority. Let Your kingdom find expression in my life, and let me experience Your purpose on earth, in Jesus’ name.

Bible in One Year: Matthew 23–24

Date: Friday, 9th October, 2026

Text: Matthew 19:4–8

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

God’s original design for marriage was a permanent, lifelong union between one man and one woman. Though Moses permitted divorce because of the hardness of human hearts, Jesus made it clear that “from the beginning it was not so” (Matthew 19:8). God’s permission should therefore never be mistaken for His perfect desire.God hates divorce (Malachi 2:15-16)

Sometimes the permissive will comes through impatience with God’s timing. Ishmael came through Abraham’s attempt to fulfil God’s promise through human arrangement, while Isaac came according to God’s appointed time. What Abraham obtained through impatience brought pain and conflict, showing that what we produce outside God’s timing cannot replace what He has ordained.

Israel also demanded a king so they could be like other nations, and God permitted their request by giving them Saul. Though Saul appeared impressive, he eventually lost the kingdom through disobedience, while David was raised according to God’s purpose. Israel also demanded meat and got what they requested, but judgment followed while the meat was still in their mouths (Numbers 11:31–33).

God’s perfect will may initially appear unreasonable to the human mind, but “the foolishness of God is wiser than men” (1 Corinthians 1:25). The permissive will may look attractive or convenient at first, but its consequences can bring pain and regret. Do not settle for what God merely permits; seek what He truly desires and trust His timing.

Bible in One Year: Matthew 21–22

Date: Thursday, 8th October, 2026

Text: Luke 22:42

Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan

Exhortation:

Though God is sovereign, He does not force His will upon us. He has given mankind the ability to make choices, and when we stubbornly insist on having our own way, God may permit us to follow the path we have chosen. This is what is often referred to as the permissive will of God—God allowing something to happen even though it is not His perfect desire or ideal plan for us. His permission, however, should never be mistaken for His approval.

God desires that we submit our will to His will. When our desires clash with His purpose, humility and reverence require us to bow before Him. Jesus demonstrated this perfectly in the garden of Gethsemane when He prayed, “Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42).

Insisting on our own way despite knowing God’s will is an expression of pride. It is as though we are telling God that we know better than He does. The wise response is to surrender our plans, desires and ambitions to the One whose wisdom is infinitely greater than ours.

Many avoidable struggles can result when people insist on their own way instead of seeking and following God’s perfect will. Marriages, careers, businesses, projects and even major decisions can suffer when God’s counsel is ignored.

Something may be permitted by God without being His best for us. Do not mistake God’s permission for His endorsement. Do not settle for what God merely allows when you can walk in what He desires. Seek His will, submit your will to His, and let His purpose prevail in your life.

Prayer Nugget: Father, deliver me from the pride of insisting on my own way. Give me the humility to surrender my will to Yours, and the grace to obey You always in Jesus’ name.

Bible in One Year: Matthew 18–20