Open Heavens Daily Devotional For January 11, 2026: Title - What Is Man? (:Part 1)

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: Sunday, January 11th, 2026

THEME: WHAT IS MAN? (Part 1)

MEMORISE

“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.”

— Genesis 1:26 (KJV)

READ: Psalm 8:3–9 (KJV)

3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:

7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;

8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.

9 O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

MESSAGE

When we look at the vastness of the heavens—the moon, the stars, and the beauty of creation—it is natural to wonder why God places such great value on human beings. This was the exact question David asked in verse 4 of today’s Bible reading: “What is man, that thou art mindful of him?”

The memory verse reveals a powerful truth: God created man in His image and likeness and entrusted him with dominion over all His creation on earth (Genesis 1:26–28). This means that humanity was designed to rule, not to be ruled by circumstances. God even went further to affirm that whatever we decree on earth, when aligned with His will, is established in heaven (Matthew 18:18).

However, when sin entered the world, man lost the authority and dominion given at creation. This loss necessitated God’s redemptive plan through Jesus Christ. Through Christ’s sacrifice, mankind was restored to God’s original design and reinstated into spiritual authority.

If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, the Bible declares that you are greater than all the forces of this world (1 John 4:4). If you are yet to do so, I urge you to surrender your life to Him today. When sin no longer controls your life, situations and circumstances will no longer dominate you. Even the state of the economy will not determine your destiny—you will thrive by divine enablement.

The devil and his agents fear genuine children of God because believers are seated with Christ in heavenly places, far above principalities and powers (Ephesians 2:4–6). This understanding is why, whenever someone seeks prayers, the most important question to ask is whether the person is born again. Without salvation, even a temporary victory may be followed by greater oppression, because such a person remains vulnerable to the enemy.

Beloved, every lasting solution to life’s challenges begins with a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ. Repent from every known sin, accept Him as your Lord and Saviour, and commit to living a holy life through obedience to His Word. When you do this, you will enjoy divine success and walk in true dominion over every challenge that comes your way.

KEY POINT

God’s original design is for you to reign above all situations.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Genesis 36–38

AUTHOR

Pastor E. A. Adeboye