Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-September 12, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Thursday,

“If the axe is dull, and one does not sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but wisdom brings success.”

(Ecclesiastes 10:10).

When I was working in my career, I remember the adage: “work smarter, not harder.” There is wisdom in that saying. It doesn’t mean we should stuff off, it just means should use our time wisely, be more proficient and productive.

In the old days when tree cutters used axes, they had to be keep them sharp. It makes the tough job easier and faster. I always try to do things better, faster, more proficiently. I also look for short cuts while driving.

I always pray for a profitable, productive, and prosperous. Of course the best way to sharpen our axes is to pray. Without the Lord we can do nothing.

So let us sharpen our axes to work smarter and more efficiently in all that we do, especially for the Lord. Have a blessed day. Stay safe and healthy.

Working for the greatest Master,

Dean

-September 11, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Wednesday,

“Remember what Amalek did to you on the way as you were coming out of Egypt, how he met you on the way and attacked your rear ranks, all the stragglers at your rear, when you were weary; and he did not fear God.”

(Deuteronomy 25:17-18).

We tend to forget and need reminders. Today is Patriot’s Day, a day of reflection and remembrance. Twenty-three years ago, terrorists attacked our country in surprise, unprovoked attack.

Over 2,000 people were killed in New York, Washington D.C., and Pennsylvania. This included police officers, firefighters, and many innocent people working in two tall skyscrapers known as the “Twin Towers.” Terrorists crashed commercial airliners into them in a savage act.

Though I wasn’t alive in 1941, the Japanese attacked our naval forces based at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Hawaii. It was a surprise and devastating attack and many were killed. Pearl Harbor is forever remembered as a day then President Franklin Delano Roosevelt called “a day that will forever live in infamy.”

The Jews had their own Remembrance Day when the Amalekites attacked them on their way out of Egypt. God told them to remember this. These people lashed out against the Israelites attacking them in their rear ranks when they were weary and tired. In Scripture, Amalek represents our sinful flesh and how the devil uses it against us.

Moses told them the words of the Lord, “Therefore it shall be, when the Lord your God has given you rest from your enemies all around, in the land which the Lord your God is giving you to possess as an inheritance, that you blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. You shall not forget” (Deuteronomy 25:19).

The Holocaust in Europe during WWII and the events in Israel on October 7, 2023 were also horrific. May we never forget and let us pray for God’s protection over His earthly people Israel and the church around the world. I still remember September 11, 2001 and the graphic images and the days that followed how the country came together and many people flocked to churches across the country. Our country was united and committed; many young men joined the military.

As a nation we lost our innocence and our vulnerability was exposed. Many protective measures were enacted to protect us from terrorists. We are still subject to attacks, and we must remain vigilant and prayerful.

Have a blessed and somber day of remembrance. Stay safe and healthy.

Jesus said to watch and pray; to be on guard against the devil in every way.

Dean

-September 10, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Tuesday,

“For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life.”

(2 Corinthians 1:8).

Have you ever been burdened beyond measure? There are certain trials the press us to the limit, to the breaking point. Sometimes we don’t know if we can endure it and make through or not. The Lord knows how much we can handle, and gives us His sufficient grace for whatever we are going through.

Paul and his fellow servants went through so much that they even despaired of life. It reminds me of what Elijah and Job went through in their day. They both wished to die. Sometimes we suffer physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. We think about giving up. None of us are exempt from it.

We must bring our burdens to the Lord and cast them upon Him. He never wants us to bear our own burdens alone. Paul learned a great lesson through what he went through.

2 Corinthians 1:9-10 says, “Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us.”

Paul had many great hardships in his life and ministry, and was victorious in Christ. The lesson is that if Paul could make it, we can too. It is all by God’s mercy and grace. Let’s not give up but trust in the Lord.

Have a blessed day casting all of your burdens on Jesus. Stay safe and healthy.

We may face discouragement, depression, or despair; but always remember God’s love and His care.

Dean

-September 9, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Monday,

“Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

(Luke 12:32).

It is impossible for us to plumb the depth of the Father’s love for us. He takes care of us in every way, every day. The context of today’s verse is under the general heading in Luke 12:22-34, “Do Not Worry.”

If you’re like me there are times when I worry; like all the time. Yet, we are told not to worry, not to be anxious, not to fear. Prayer with thanksgiving is the best elixir in life. Someone once said, “Feed your faith, and your fear will starve to death.” We do not have to be worry worts.

Paul wrote in Philippians 4:6-7, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Jesus tells us that we are part of His little flock. Believers will not be in the majority. We are little in number compared to the masses; yet we have God’s mighty power in our lives. He is with us, makes us overcomers, more than conquerors. Nothing can separate us from His love.

Jesus is our Good Shepherd, our Great Shepherd, and our Chief Shepherd. He laid down His life for us, lives to intercede for us, and will one day take us home to heaven to be with Him.

Our Shepherd has made this tremendous promise of the kingdom. Not for some us, but for all of us. In fact it is the Father’s good pleasure to give it to us. He doesn’t give us a small share or portion like in the stock market, He gives all the whole kingdom. That is awesome! It is not something we receive when we enter heaven, we have it now and will enjoy it forever.

We may feel like little sheep, and we are, but we are God’s little sheep. Jesus said in John 10:16 in referencing us, “And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.”

Have a blessed day little flock following our Shepherd, trusting in Him. Stay safe and healthy.

Flocks that together and are protected without measure.

Dean

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-September 8, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Lord’s Day,

“And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.”

(1 Corinthians 15:49).

When we are born into this world, we are sinners and we bear the image of Adam our federal head. Once we are born again, we bear the image of Christ, called the last Adam. He is now our federal head.

Our growth in Christ is a process with the goal of being conformed to the image of Christ. Romans 8:29 says, “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

Just as earthly children bear the image of their parents, we bear the image of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We don’t look like him physically, but we do resemble spiritually. We often say, “Like father, like son; like mother like daughter.”

We live in this world, but we are not of this world. Our words and actions should always reflect Christ. When people see us do they see Christ in us? Can they tell we are Christians? Is there a difference in our lives?

Our worth is in Christ and has nothing to do with our IQ, our wealth, our job or career, or what type of car we drive or how big our house is. Jesus made us His adopted children. We are rich in Christ. All that is His ours. It doesn’t matter what we have in this world, but what we have in Christ is what counts.

If you look at a coin or a bill, you will see it is backed by the U.S. government. All you have to do is possess it and use it. Apart from Christ we are unworthy; in Christ we are worthy.

Have a blessed Lord’s Day considering the worth of Christ and what He did for us on the cross. Stay safe and healthy.

Belonging to Christ and representing Him is the highest privilege and responsibility.

Dean