Post by Oluwatosin Oni (@oloriireoni)

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL 13 JULY 2026 COMMENTARY
MEMORISE: Ecclesiastes 9:9
“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.”

This verse is God’s command for marital joy. Daddy Adeboye anchors today’s devotional on this text because it reveals that marriage is not merely a contract or a duty—it is a gift to be enjoyed. The phrase “live joyfully” implies active, intentional pursuit of happiness together. The words “all the days” mean this is not a temporary season but a lifelong commitment to joy. Solomon, writing from the perspective of “vanity” (the fleeting nature of life), says that joyful companionship with your spouse is your “portion”—your allotted gift from God. To neglect this is to miss one of the few pleasures God gives under the sun.

BIBLE READING: Proverbs 5:15-19
This passage is a celebration of marital love and fidelity. It uses vivid imagery: drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well. Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of your youth. She is described as a loving hind and a pleasant roe—graceful, desirable, delightful. The command is to let her breasts satisfy you at all times, and to be ravished always with her love.

The Concern: Married Couples Who Don’t Spend Time Together
1. The Modern Epidemic of Separation
“I am always concerned when I see married couples who don’t spend quality time together. Many of such couples spend the whole day away from each other at work and only come home to sleep at night, then they are off again in the morning. Even on weekends, they either go to work again or attend other engagements without their spouses.”

Consider the typical pattern:

Day Morning Evening Problem
Monday–Friday Leave early for work Return exhausted, eat, sleep No meaningful interaction
Saturday Work, errands, engagements Collapse from fatigue No quality time
Sunday Church, then rest for Monday Prepare for the week Missed opportunity for connection
“This ought not to be so because when you truly love someone, you will always find a way to spend quality time with him or her, and the more time you spend together, the more your love will blossom.”

If You Love Someone The Evidence
You find time You make sacrifices to be together
You prioritize them They are not an afterthought
You enjoy their company Time with them is not a duty but a delight
Your love grows Proximity and attention deepen affection
If you never spend time with your spouse, you are not loving them well. Love requires presence. Love requires attention. Love requires the investment of time.

2. The Shocking Confession of a Sick Woman
“Years ago, a woman who was sick confessed to me that she actually didn’t want to be healed because when she was hale and hearty, her husband wasn’t spending quality time with her. However, now that she was sick, he always returned home immediately after work.”

This is a devastating testimony:

When She Was Healthy When She Was Sick
Husband came home late or not at all Husband returned immediately after work
He prioritized work and other engagements He prioritized being with her
She felt abandoned She felt attended to
She had no desire to return to that loneliness She preferred sickness with attention over health with neglect
“Husbands and wives should not abandon their spouses because of work or any other commitment. They must spend quality time with them to build strong bonds.”

What Happens When You Abandon Your Spouse for Work What Happens When You Prioritize Time Together
Your spouse feels neglected, unloved, unwanted Your spouse feels cherished, valued, secure
Your marriage becomes a roommate arrangement Your marriage becomes a partnership of love
The enemy gains a foothold for temptation The marriage is fortified against attack
Your children learn a poor model of marriage Your children see love modeled and imitate it
Do not wait for a crisis to be present with your spouse. Do not force them to choose between illness with your attention and health without it. Be present now.

The Power of Praying Together
“Married couples must also pray together. It is unfortunate that some married couples hardly ever pray together. They may attend prayer meetings, where they spend hours praying with others, but when they return home, they are often too tired to pray together.”

The Irony The Tragedy
They pray for hours at church They cannot pray five minutes together at home
They intercede for others They neglect intercession for their own marriage
They are zealous in public They are cold in private
“One way that married couples can maintain strong, loving relationships with one another is by praying together regularly. Prayer strengthens marriage bonds and solidifies the love between a man and his wife.”

https://rccglive.com/open-heaven-13-july/

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