Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-January 31, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Wednesday,

“But this what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall My people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you.’”

(Jeremiah 7:23).

God not only knows what is best for us, He wants the the best for us. The Lord knows that the only way we can be happy and fulfilled is to obey Him, walk in ways, do what is right in His sight.

When we honor God, He will honor us. God promises that it will go well with us. Deuteronomy 5:16 says, “Honor your father and mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, that your days may be long, that it may be well with you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you.” We must follow all God’s commands.

When do things on our own, and seek our own will, things will not be well with us. We need to obey the Lord fully, surrender to His will, and serve Him. Parents tell their children what to do and not to do that they would be safe and successful. God our heavenly Father loves us and desires our whole hearts.

The hymn writer James H. Sammis wrote, ‘When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word, what a glory He sheds on our way! While we do His good will, He abides with us still, and with all who will trust and obey. Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”

Dr. B.J. Miller once said, “It is a great deal easier to do that which God gives us to do, no matter how hard it is, than to face the responsibilities of not doing it.”

If we side with the Lord, live for Him, and serve Him—it will be well with us now and forever. Have a blessed day. Stay safe and healthy.

Obedience to God, leads to blessing on this sod,

Dean

-January 30, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Tuesday,

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

(2 Corinthians 5:7).

This verse summarizes the Christian life in a nutshell: it is a walk of faith. Faith enables us to see what is unseen, hear what is unheard, and know what is unknown. It is based on the Word of God and God’s unfailing promises.

Walking is a great form of exercise and relaxation. I made the switch from running to walking a number of years ago and it has been great. I walk fast for four miles per day. I pray while I walk and thus I call it my prayer walk. Our spiritual lives also need consistency in prayer and in the Word of God.

We don’t know what is coming on the road ahead and or around the bend in life. We may face illnesses, accidents, job losses, health issues, financial setbacks, or any number of hardships. Trials build and grow our faith; they also enable us to encourage others who are going through similar trials.

Jesus taught us to follow Him, walk with Him, and trust in Him. Charles Spurgeon once said, “When you can’t trace His His hand, trust His heart.” Sometimes we walk alone but we are never alone when we have Christ.

Paul instructs us how to walk: worthy of our calling (Ephesians 4:1); in love (Ephesians 5:2; in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16); in the light (Ephesians 5:8); circumspectly (Ephesians 5:15); in Him (Colossians 2:6); in wisdom (Colossians 4:5); according to His commandments (2 John 1:6); and as He walked (1 John 1:6).

May the Lord help us to walk by faith not by sight, trusting in the Lord, and pleasing Him. Have a blessed day walking spiritually and physically. Stay safe and healthy.

The Lord leads the way, every single day,

Dean

-January 29, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Monday,

“Then the whole congregation of the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness.”

(Exodus 16:2).

Why is complaining so common, so widespread, so popular? Complaining comes so naturally, it is as part of our sinful nature. It is so easy to complain. We complain about everything and everyone. There is in us an innate propensity to never be satisfied or content with what we have.

Complaining is possibly the most common sin in the world. When we as believers complain it shows we don’t appreciate everything that the Lord gives to us and does for us. The good news is there is a cure for complaining: give thanks for everything, every time, every day. Sound too simple? Sound too difficult? Sound too easy? Yes, yes, and yes! Yet we have the Holy Spirit and the Word of God to guide us and help us.

We are no different than the Israelites in the wilderness. They complained when they had no water to drink (Exodus 15:24); to meat and bread to eat (Exodus 16:3-4). God knows our needs and He meets them. He tests our faith in what He allows in our lives so we will rely fully on Him. God told them, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not” (Exodus 16:4).

Complaining was not just a problem in the OT, it was also happened in the NT as well. Paul wrote in Philippians 2:14-15, “Do all things without complaining or disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in this world.”

When we don’t complain, we stand out; and when we give thanks instead, we really stand out. I am so guilty of complaining when things don’t go as I expected. I ask, “Why, Lord?” It isn’t easy to thank the Lord when everything seems to be going wrong. Just as complaining is habitual, so too is giving thanks. We need to rewire ourselves to think thankfully.

Paul urges us to give thanks in and for all things. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Ephesians 5:20 tells us, “Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Have a blessed day of thanking the Lord in and for all things. Stay safe and healthy.

May our complaints be turned to thanksgiving so that we can really enjoy our Christian living,

Dean

-January 28, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Lord’s Day,

“A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself; The simple pass on and are punished.”

(Proverbs 27:12).

Nike’s slogan is “Just Do It.” I like it and it applies to serving the Lord very well. However, there are times in life when we face temptations to sin. In such cases, we should say, “Just Don’t It.” A few years ago there was an anti-drug campaign to “just say no.” Unfortunately it didn’t work very well.

Solomon, the wisest man in the world warns us to foresee evil and hide ourselves. It is also good to not put ourselves in situations that play upon our weaknesses. Joseph was in charge over Potiphar’s house and he took his duties very seriously. God made him successful. Potiphar’s wife had longing eyes for him and he said no and kept saying no.

Joseph’s response to her shows his obedience to God. Genesis 39:8-9 says, “But he refused and said to his master’s wife, ‘Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. There is no one greater in this house that I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God.” Even when she caught him by his garment, he fled and ran away from her. She falsely accused him and he was put into prison. He lost his freedom but saved his integrity.

Joseph just did not do it and God richly blessed him. God in time elevated him to the second highest place in Egypt under Pharaoh. This reminds me of Daniel and his three friends how they just said no to the king’s food and wine, choosing to eat only vegetables and drink water. He later rose to an exalted place in Media-Persia.

Another excellent example is David. Saul was pursuing him to kill him. David and his men found Saul and his men asleep in a cave. David’s servant suggested that he kill Saul. David refused and spared Saul, the Lord’s anointed. He did the same thing on another occasion as well.

Obedience to God means refusal to sin against Him. Are we willing to take a stand in this sinful world? Have a blessed day. Stay safe and healthy.

When something is wrong, don’t do it, when something is doubtful, don’t do it,

Dean

-January 27, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Saturday,

“The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body is full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness.”

(Matthew 6:22-23).

We should never underestimate the importance of having a good attitude before God and people. Attitudes affect actions, and actions lead to reactions. Jesus in speaking on the Sermon on the Mount, gets right to the crux of the matter. He never beats around the bush nor does He sugarcoat His words.

The eye speaks of our perspective, our outlook, and our frame of reference. Jesus said, “If the eye is good, your whole body is full of light.” When we are saved, the Lord changes our attitudes. Before we were selfish, self-centered, and self-directed—to me, myself, and I; after we received Christ, our attitudes have changed to humility, service, and love.

It is so vital to view life through God’s eyes. It makes all the difference in the world. Paul wrote in Philippians 2:5, “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus.” (NASB). When we display the attitudes of Christ, life is good; when we don’t, life is bad.

The words we use are important, but equally or more importantly, it is how we say those words. Sometimes with young child we say, “he or she has a ‘tude.” We as believers can sometimes have a ‘tude ourselves. It is a blessing that our spouses, our kids, and our friends can see right through us and get through to us. It takes a true friend to rebuke our bad attitudes.

The best attitude is gratitude. When we are in God’s will, our attitude will reflect the sunshine of God’s grace. If our hearts are smiling, there will be a smile on our faces as well. What is your attitude right now? Is it good or bad, happy or sad? So often we get bothered or frustrated by the smallest things. We need a good eye, a clear eye to see what God sees.

I ask myself: am I joyful, thankful, and hopeful even when things are difficult? I learned a song as a young man, “I can smile, as I walk along life’s road, I can smile, if I carry a heavy load, I can smile, because I walk with Jesus.” I was just singing it this week around my house.

Have blessed day with a good attitude. Stay safe and healthy.

Having the mind of Christ in every situation, will relieve many a trouble and much agitation,