Post by Oluwatosin Oni (@oloriireoni)

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL 22 MAY 2026 COMMENTARY
MEMORISE: 1 Corinthians 2:14
“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

This verse draws a clear line between two kinds of people: the natural man and the spiritual man. The natural man operates only with his five senses—seeing, hearing, touching, tasting, smelling. He cannot receive spiritual things because they make no sense to his natural mind. He considers them foolish. Spiritual things are not discovered through intellect or education—they are spiritually discerned. You need the Holy Spirit to see what is really happening.

BIBLE READING: Numbers 22:22-33
This passage records the strange story of Balaam and his donkey. Balaam was a prophet who had been hired by King Balak to curse Israel. God told Balaam not to go, but Balaam persisted. God allowed him to go but sent an angel to block the way. Balaam could not see the angel, but his donkey could. The donkey turned aside, then crushed Balaam’s foot against a wall, then lay down under him. Each time, Balaam beat the donkey. Finally, God opened the donkey’s mouth, and it spoke: “What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?” Then God opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel standing in the path with a drawn sword. This passage demonstrates that spiritual discernment is not automatic—even prophets can be blind to danger, and God may use the most unlikely messengers to warn us.

The Crisis of Spiritual Insensitivity
In today’s devotional, Pastor E.A. Adeboye addresses one of the most critical needs for every believer: spiritual discernment. Without it, you cannot understand God’s direction, recognize the enemy’s traps, or perceive divine opportunities. Lack of spiritual discernment has destroyed homes, ended lives prematurely, and derailed many who started well.

The Natural Man vs. The Spiritual Man
The memory verse establishes that the natural man cannot understand spiritual things. This means:

He cannot follow God’s direction because God’s guidance often contradicts natural logic.
He cannot recognize the enemy’s schemes because the enemy operates in the spiritual realm.
He cannot perceive divine appointments because they often look like ordinary circumstances.
The spiritual man, however, knows how to discern spiritual things. He sees beyond the surface. He understands that not every situation is what it appears to be.

Two Everyday Examples
The devotional gives two common scenarios where spiritual discernment is essential:

1. When People Try to Anger You
Several people may be trying to get you angry—insults, provocations, misunderstandings. The natural man sees only the people and reacts in the flesh. But the spiritual man discerns that the devil is seeking to open a window through which he can attack.

If you give in to anger, you give the devil access. Your reaction is not just about the person who offended you—it is about the spiritual door you are opening. Discernment allows you to see the trap and refuse to walk into it.

2. When You Keep Encountering People in Need
You may keep meeting fellow believers who need help—financial, emotional, practical. The natural man sees inconvenience, expense, and interruption. But the spiritual man discerns that God is positioning him to help so that God can open windows of blessing over his life.

Your response to need determines your release of blessing. If you ignore the people in need, you miss out on what God wanted to give you through them. Discernment allows you to see the divine appointment hidden in the ordinary encounter.

Balaam: The Prophet Who Couldn’t See
The Bible reading gives a shocking example of spiritual blindness. Balaam was a prophet—a man who regularly heard from God. Yet he was completely oblivious to the danger ahead.

What happened:

God had told Balaam not to go with Balak’s men (Numbers 22:12).
Balaam wanted to go, so God allowed him but sent an angel to block the way.
Balaam could not see the angel, but his donkey could.
The donkey turned aside, then crushed Balaam’s foot, then lay down.
Each time, Balaam beat the donkey—angry, frustrated, completely missing the message.
Finally, God opened the donkey’s mouth, and it spoke.
Only then did God open Balaam’s eyes to see the angel with a drawn sword.
Notice the irony: A donkey had more spiritual discernment than a prophet. The animal saw what the man of God could not see.

Balaam was so spiritually insensitive that:

He didn’t know the donkey’s strange behavior was for his own good.
He beat the animal that was trying to save his life.
He didn’t sense the danger even when a donkey spoke to him.
This is what happens when spiritual discernment is dull. You cannot see the danger ahead. You cannot recognize divine warnings. You keep beating the very things God is using to protect you.

Why Spiritual Discernment Is a Must-Have
The devotional st

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