Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-September 2, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Monday, happy Labor Day,

“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.”

Psalm 150 is the last psalm in the book of the psalms. It has just six verses but the word praise is found in each verse and a total of thirteen times.

All the last three psalms are referred to as psalms of praise. In fact the word praise is found in them a whopping thirty times! Each of them are from unknown writers.

Praising God for the believer should as natural as breathing, for flows from those who have been redeemed, forgiven, and blessed in every way. Praise takes all the attention away from ourselves, others, and this world and focuses it on the Lord.

The word praise is defined as, “to glorify (a god or saint) especially by the attribution of perfections.” Another word for praise is Hallelujah. Our God is perfect in His character, His conversation, and His conduct. So many so called “gods” are mean spirited and sinful like the people that worship them.

We praise God for who His is (His person) and what He has done (His works. Praising God exalts Him and gives Him all the glory. On Sundays we gather collectively to worship Him, and thank Him. We join our hearts and voices to praise Him.

King David, of all the people in the Bible, established and promoted praise among God’s people. He played the harp and also mentioned instruments such as the lute, timbrel, trumpet, stringed instruments, flutes, loud cymbals, and crashing cymbals. Each of these are mentioned in Psalm 150.

Music and singing are a wonderful way to praise the Lord, but not the only way. Public reading of the Scriptures, sharing, and prayer are extremely important as well. Together they compose a tapestry of praise to our Lord.

One of my favorite hymns we sing at our church is at the end of our weekly communion service. It is entitled “Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow.” It is commonly known as “The Doxology.” The hymn writer Thomas Ken wrote, “Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him all creatures here below; Praise Him above ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.”

Praise is not just for Sunday services, but should flow from our hearts daily, especially in our times of devotion. Individuals, couples, and children should praise the Lord.

Have a blessed day praising the Lord. Stay safe and healthy.

Only our God is worthy of praise all of our hours and all of our days.

Dean

-September 1, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Lord’s Day,

“Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.”

(1 Corinthians 11:1).

The goal of every believer is to imitate Christ. The definition of imitate is, “take or follow as a model; mimic, resemble.” In today’s language we would say, “be a role model and follow godly examples.”

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 4:16, “Therefore I urge you, imitate me.” Someone can only make this statement if they are walking close to the Lord and obeying Him. It is a huge responsibility to be a godly role model.

The writer in Hebrews wrote, “That you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises” (Hebrews 6:12). Sluggishness or laziness can set in if we are not careful in our walk with Christ.

3 John 1:11 says, Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God.”

It is so important for us to walk as Jesus walked in our speech and conduct. John clearly stated, “He who abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked” (1 John 2:6). The key is the word “just.” It is like a little boy stepping into his father footprints.

I thank the Lord for our elders who live as godly examples. They don’t just talk the talk, they walk the talk. Each one of us should take up the responsibility of being godly examples and testimonies before the saved and unsaved. My great uncle Irvin used to say, “What you do speaks so loud I can’t hear what you say.”

Have a blessed Lord’s Day being an imitator of Christ and of godly men and women. Stay safe and healthy.

In the military they use the expression, “conduct becoming an officer.” We are soldiers for Christ, who is our Commander.

Dean

-August 31, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Saturday,

“Happy are the people who are in such a state; Happy are the people whose God is the Lord.”

(Psalm 144:15).

Christians should be the happiest people in the world! Why are we so happy? The reason is that we know the Lord. He makes all the difference in our lives. David uses the word happy twice in today’s verse.

The word happy is defined as, “feeling or showing pleasure or contentment.” Usually we think of happiness in term of good things happening. Imagine how excited someone would be to win the lottery. We as God’s people have far more to be happy about in our relationship to Christ and our salvation.

If you took a survey among people in the world, how many would say they are truly and completely happy? But among the saints happiness should be prevalent. Even if there are things that make us sad, we still have the joy of the Lord in us. Joy is one of the fruit of the Spirit.

It says of Solomon’s servants, “Happy are your men and happy are these your servants, who stand continually before you and hear your wisdom” (1 Kings 10:8). This applies even more to us who stand before the Lord Jesus and serve Him.

Have a blessed, happy day in the Lord. Stay safe and healthy.

Happiness in Jesus is for now and forever.

Dean

-August 30, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Friday,

“O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off.”

(Psalm 139:1-2).

We should never forget that God knows us through and through; He knows our past, our present, and our future. He knows our thoughts, motives, attitudes, desires, words, and actions. He knows us far better than we know ourselves.

David, the writer of this precious psalm, was not frightened by God’s knowledge, but was rather thankful for it. In verse one, he said, O Lord, You have searched me and known me.” Later at the end of the psalm he invited the Lord to search him and invited the Lord to try him. Psalm 139:23-24 says, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

We can’t hide from God. He sees all, hears all, and knows all. He knows our worries, fears, and doubts. We may hides things from others, but we can’t hide anything from the Lord. Though He knows everything about us, He still loves us with an everlasting love. How awesome is that!

I am reminded of Nathaniel and his first encounter with Jesus. Philip brought him to Jesus. We read in John 1:47-48, “Jesus saw Nathaniel coming toward Him, and said of him, ‘Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!’ Nathaniel said to Him, ‘How do You know Me?’ Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”

Nathaniel knew right then and there that Jesus was the Messiah. He knew Jesus could not have seen him under the fig tree. Jesus knew all about him long before this encounter.

Jesus’ knowledge of us is perfect, precious, and powerful. He never makes any mistakes. Have a blessed day with Jesus. Stay safe and healthy.

Jesus knows it all, He knows us all.

Dean

-August 29, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Thursday,

“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.”

(Psalm 136:1).

The title of Psalm 136 is: “Thanksgiving to God for His Enduring Mercy.” It was written by an unknown writer and contains 26 verses.

Each verse in the psalm contains the phrase, “For His mercy endures forever” What a great reminder of who God is and how great His mercy is. Some translations use the words unfailing love.

Oh, how we need His mercy each day of our lives; we can’t live without His mercy. His mercy sees us through the long days and dark nights. David wrote in Psalm 23:6, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

In some circumstances I need more of His mercy, and the Lord pours it on my soul. God’s mercy endures forever because He lives forever. The Lord is so good.

Mercy is one of God’s sweetest and best attributes. It is also one that the Lord wants us to practice. The Lord Jesus said in Matthew 5:7, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”

Have a blessed day basking in God’s mercy as in the sunshine. Stay safe and healthy.

Mercy is like soothing ointment for the soul.

Dean