Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-July 30, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Tuesday,

“Now He arose from the synagogue and entered Simon’s house. But Simon’s wife’s mother was sick with a high fever, and they made request of Him concerning her. So He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And immediately she arose and served them.”

(Luke 4:38-39).

This account of the healing of Simon’s mother-in-law is also found in Matthew 8:14-15 and Mark 1:30-31. It was a wonderful visit by our Lord at just the right time.

Jesus had just finished his ministry in the synagogue. Peter invited Jesus over to his home, a home that consisted of his wife and mother-in-law. At the time, his mother-in-law was very sick with a high fever. Luke being a physician, described her condition as a high fever. It was a very serious condition, and she could have died from it.

Matthew tells us that Jesus saw her; Mark tells they told Him about her at once; and Luke tells us that they made request of Him concerning her. By reading all three accounts we get all the details by the Holy Spirit.

We all need Jesus to visit us for salvation, for healing, for comfort, for encouragement, and for help. He comes to visit us at the right time with the right solution to our situations. Our Savior stood over her rebuked the fever, took her by the hand, and lifted her up. Immediately the fever left her and she was wonderfully healed.

The first thing she did after being healed was to serve them, Jesus and His disciples. Isn’t that what we want to do after He heals us as raises us up? We can never thank Him or serve Him enough.

One day we will meet this dear lady in heaven. She will forever be known as Peter’s mother-in-law. So much for Peter being the first pope; He was a married man.

Let us call upon the Lord in our times of need and He will visit us. Have a blessed day. Stay safe and healthy.

When Jesus visits us, we are never the same again.

Dean

-July 29, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Monday,

“Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.”

(Psalm 55:22).

David, the writer of this psalm, experienced the grace of God under some very difficult circumstances. Over and over, Saul tried to kill him. Later, his own son Absalom usurped his kingdom and pursued David to kill him also. Worse of all, Athithophel his dear friend and adviser turned against him despised a plan to kill David.

Where did David turn to? He turned to the Lord. He wrote, “Cast your burden on the Lord on the Lord…” It sounds easy, but it goes against our flesh. So often we first try to handle things on our own, which never works, then after all things fail we turn to the Lord in prayer.

God promises to sustain us and He always fulfills His promises. The word sustain is defined as, “strengthen or support physically or mentally.” For the believer, the Lord also includes spiritual strength and support as well.

Underneath us are God’s everlasting arms. Deuteronomy 33:27, “The eternal God is your refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms; He will thrust out the enemy from before you, and you will say, ‘Destroy.’”

We have all found God’s sustaining grace over the years. Peter wrote in 1 Peter 5:7, “Casting all your care upon Him for He cares for you.” God wants us to cast our burdens on Him in order for His sustenance to help us.

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

The Lord took away the burdens of our sins at the cross; He bears our daily burdens each day of our lives.

Dean

-July 28, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Lord’s Day,

“Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips.”

(Proverbs 27:2).

There is no room for boasting in the Christian life. There will be times that we succeed and do extremely well at something and others are blessed. It is at these times, we must be in guard against pride and with a heightened awareness of our utter weakness.

Solomon had his share of successes, especially in his younger days. I am sure many people praised him, especially when he built the temple called by his name. He gave all the glory to the Lord.

Solomon said, “Let another man praise you, a stranger, and not your own lips.” Pride starts in the heart and chokes us spiritually. Lucifer, once one of the leading angels fell into this sin, became the devil, and was banished from heaven. I have three enemies living in my home: me, myself, and I.

When someone compliments us, we should thank that person and direct all the praise and glory to the Lord. Everything we have has been given to us from the Lord; we can’t do anything of value without His help. If we don’t use what He has given us humbly, He can take it away.

The way to test ourselves when we experience success, blessing, and victory—do we seek God’s approval or man’s? When we are thankful, pride has a hard time getting a foothold in our lives.

Jesus taught us in John 15:5, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” We need the Lord in everything and for everything.

Paul warned us not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think. We are sinners saved by grace; His beloved children, servants of the most high God.

So let others praise us, even strangers; but let us give all the glory to the Lord Jesus Christ. Have a blessed day. Stay safe, humble, and healthy.

Don’t listen when the devil whispers in our ears how good we are. Pride goes before a fall.

Dean

-July 27, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Saturday,

“Then King Agrippa said to Paul, ‘You are permitted to speak for yourself.” So Paul stretched out his hand and answered for himself.”

(Acts 27:1).

Paul used every opportunity to speak for the Lord. He always spoke the truth in love. He often shared his personal testimony with many different people.

His response to King Agrippa is found in Acts 26:2-23. He had also given his defense before both Roman governors Felix and Festus. His words spoken in the power of the Holy Spirit had such a powerful affect on the king. Acts 26:28 says, “Then Agrippa said to Paul, ‘You almost persuade me to become a Christian.’”

When it comes to salvation, close is not enough, almost is not sufficient. Jesus once said to a lawyer who had answered wisely in Mark 12:34, “…You are not far from the kingdom of God…’

This is why we always need to ready to share our faith with others. Peter wrote in 1 Peter 3:15, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.”

Paul was ready, are we? We prepare to share by being in the Word and in prayer daily. You will be permitted to speak for yourself about the Lord and what He has done in your life.

Have a blessed day and take advantage of the opportunities to speak. Stay safe and healthy.

Speaking less about self and more about Christ.

Dean

-July 26, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Friday,

“You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance” Selah.

(Psalm 32:7).

Life is difficult, even for us believers who know the Lord. We need a hiding place in times of trouble. He is our refuge, our rock, our fortress, and our deliverer. It is good to know He is with us always; He never leaves us nor forsakes us.

Corrrie ten Boom was captured by the Germans during WWII for hiding Jews in her family’s home. She and her sister Betsy were taken to the same concentration camp. She later wrote a book entitled, “The Hiding Place.” She detailed her life’s story and what she and her sister went through. God got them through by His marvelous grace.

God wants us to run to Him in our time of need. Psalm 119:114 says, “You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word.” In ancient times, soldiers carried long, body-length shields for protection. God is better and stronger than any human shield.

When we are afraid, we can trust in the Lord. He surrounds us on every side with songs of deliverance. Dear brother, dear sister, isn’t that comforting and encouraging? We can face anything and anyone; any time and in place. His perfect love casts out all fear. The word selah is a musical pause and is found 74 times in the psalms.

Have blessed day running to your hiding place, to Jesus Christ our Lord. Stay safe and healthy.

Seeking His face, our blessed hiding place.

Dean