Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-March 16, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Saturday,

“This the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.”

(Psalm 118:24).

Today is a new day, a day to be thankful, to live for the Lord, and to serve Him. Each day is a gift from the Lord; we never know many we have left. May we never take any day lightly or for granted.

When we recognize that God is in control, it helps to live one day at a time. It takes focus and commitment to rejoice in the Lord; it is a choice we must make daily. Paul wrote, “Rejoice always” (1 Thessalonians 5:16); and “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, rejoice” (Phil. 4:4).

It is hard to rejoice and be glad under severe circumstances. The Lord is so good and faithful. He is with in all things. The joy of the Lord is our strength.

I read a cute story of two young children, Kim age 2, and her slightly younger cousin, Able. Kim’s parents were taking them to church. Kim was in a particularly foul mood that morning and it showed. Able, who could barely talk at that time, all of the sudden, looked his cousin right in the eyes and said, “Rejoice Kimmie!” We all need reminders to rejoice and be joyful.

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

Rejoicing always in all ways, today and in all our days,

Dean

-March 15, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Friday,

“Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage; And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait I say on the Lord.”

(Psalm 27:14).

It is never easy waiting on the Lord, but it produces tremendous benefits in our spiritual lives. David, the author of this beautiful Psalm 27, waited on the Lord for years, through many tears, amid many fears. The prophet Samuel anointed him king over Israel in place of Saul. The problem was Saul that was still king. To make matters worse, Saul tried his utmost to kill David.

In the days, months, and years that followed, David waited on the Lord. In God’s timing he became king and ruled for forty years. When we wait on and for the Lord, we learn many important and valuable lessons about God’s mercy, faithfulness, and love. David said, “Wait on the Lord.” It can be rendered wait in faith on the Lord. It comes down to trusting the Lord.

David wrote in Psalm 40:1, “I waited patiently for the Lord; And He inclined to me, and heard my cry.” He also said, “Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all day long.” Good things happen for those who wait. We will never be disappointed.

Lessons learned in waiting are greater than even seeing the results of our waiting. We gain courage, strength, patience, perseverance, and faith. If we don’t learn from waiting, we are wasting our waiting. We must wait and keep on waiting, even when it seems like nothing is happening, nothing is moving. And oh how we want God to move faster!

Let us wait like Abraham, like Joseph, like, like David, and so many others in the Bible. For us today we are waiting for the Lord to come. We wait to graduate, wait for a job, wait for a mate, wait for a child, for a house, and for many things in life.

Have a blessed day waiting on the Lord. Stay safe and healthy.

Waiting and learning, waiting and resting, waiting and trusting,

Dean

-March 14, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Thursday,

“And the Lord said, ‘Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.’”

(Luke 22:31-32).

Aren’t you glad that failure is not final with the Lord? Peter sure was. Jesus predicted that Peter would deny Him three times; and that is exactly what he did. It was a colossal failure, a huge regret. I believe that because he failed he could relate to other believers with compassion, sympathy, and empathy.

After Peter denied Jesus for the third time, the rooster crowed, just as Jesus said would happen. And at that very poignant moment, Jesus turned and looked at Peter. Though the Scripture doesn’t say, but I am sure it was a look of mercy and compassion. Yes, Jesus was disappointed, but He loved Peter so much, and Peter loved Him.

Peter remembered Jesus’ words, and he went out and wept bitterly. So many times we are prone to blame Peter for his failure. I will not. I know my own failures, weaknesses, mistakes, and sins.

The Lord Jesus forgave him freely and fully. First we confess, then we repent, and forsake our sin. Many others in the Bible failed but were restored and greatly used by God. There was Moses, Jonah, David, John Mark, and many others.

May the Lord encourage us to come back to the Lord. God is in the restoration business. Have a blessed day. Stay safe and healthy.

Failure isn’t final; God doesn’t discard us, He restores us,

Dean

-March 13, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Wednesday,

“And He sent Peter and John, saying, ‘Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat.”

(Luke 22:8).

Jesus is approaching the day when He will be crucified for our sins. He was the Lamb of God, the perfect sacrifice for us on the cross.

Jesus chose two of His disciples to prepare the place for them to celebrate the last Passover and the first Lord’s Supper. This account is also found in Matthew and Mark. Of the three, Luke gives the most details. The two names of the disciples as told by Luke were Peter and John.

They asked a good question, “Where do You want us to prepare?” Jesus gave them very specific instructions: they were to go into the city (Jerusalem), where they would meet a man carrying a pitcher of water. Normally, it was a woman’s job to carry water. So this would be the sign for them. They were follow him into the house and ask the master of the house where was the large, furnished, upper room. They were then to prepare it.

They followed the instructions to a tee, and it had a good result. Luke 22:13 says, “So they went and found it just as He said to them, and they prepared the Passover.” It reminds me of a another occasion where Jesus sent two disciples to find a donkey and the owner gave them permission to take it to Jesus do He could ride it into Jerusalem in His Triumphal Entry. In that case also they followed His instructions perfectly.

The lesson for us is to follow the Lord’s instructions every time and in every way, and it will turn out well for His glory. Sometimes the instructions He gives us may not make sense to us, but God has a plan. May the Lord guide us in His paths of righteousness. Our lives are in His hands, He has everything under control. Let’s stick to the Master’s plan.

Have a blessed day following the Lord’s instructions. Stay safe and healthy.

It’s all found in the instruction manual, the Bible; nothing else is sure and completely reliable,

Dean

-March 12, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Tuesday,

“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

(Romans 10:17).

Faith springs forth by hearing the Word of God. Of course hearing means listening to and obeying the Word of God. When we apply the Scriptures to our lives we grow in faith, and please God.

The word “by” is used twice in our text. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. God’s Word instructs us, inspires us, comforts us, encourages us, strengthens us, satisfies us, and builds us up. We need it ourselves, our families, and others we come into contact with.

It says in Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” God’s truth is effective to the salvation of the soul and the building up in the faith.

We all face times of adversity, trouble, trial, affliction, sorrow, difficulty, and pain. The Word gives us promises to claim and precepts to follow. The Holy Spirit uses the Word at just the right time and in just the right way.

The Psalmist wrote in Psalm 119:105, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Each day the Lord gives us nuggets of truth to encourage our hearts.

Have a blessed day in the Word. Stay safe and healthy.

The Word transforms us, reforms us, and conforms us to Christ,

Dean