Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-October 23, 2023-

Good morning, happy Monday,

“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men” (1 Timothy 2:1).

“I desire therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting” (1 Timothy 2:8).

Prayer is a great blessing, privilege, and responsibility before God. Paul prayed everywhere including from prison; he lifted up so many people both saved and unsaved. He had a long prayer list. He was never too busy to pray. He wrote to the Thessalonians, “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

The most common regret that every believer will have when they leave this world to go to be with Jesus will be not to have prayed more. The quality and quantity of our prayers is vital to us and those we pray for. Timothy the young pastor in Ephesus, like us today, need reminders how important prayer is. We can know all about prayer, the various postures, the proper words to use, to pray according to God’s will, to pray in the name of Jesus, and to have no unconfessed sin in our lives. All of these things are important, but the most important thing is to actually pray daily.

Prayer takes time, commitment, and strength. The devil will fight against us continually; there will be interruptions, distractions, and obstacles that we will face. It takes determination and commitment to set aside a time to pray every day. Prayer is not limited to our prayer time, we should pray all through the day, calling on the Lord for His help and thanking Him. We can pray anywhere, at any time, for anyone.

We live in a fast paced world; we are all so busy. But we can’t afford not to pray. The Lord is counting on us, our brothers in sisters in Christ are counting on us, our governing authorities are counting on us, the unsaved are counting on us, yes, everyone is counting on us. When Israel fought against Amalek on the way to the Promised Land, Moses stood on a rock and prayed, lifting up his holy hands in prayer. When he did Joshua and Israel prevailed; but when his arms and hands got tired and he let them down, Amalek prevailed. Aaron and Hur stood on each side of him, held up his arms and hands and Israel won the victory.

Let us be committed to prayer, consistent in prayer, and conscientious in prayer. It is not optional but obligatory. Have a blessed day praying. Stay safe and healthy.

We are only ready to face our day, when we first spend time with the Lord and pray,

Dean

-October 22, 2022-

Good morning beloved, happy Lord’s Day,

“I delight to do Your will, O My God, and Your law is within my heart.”

(Psalm 40:8).

It is one thing do God’s will, and it is another altogether to delight to do it. The word delight means to, “to take great pleasure in; to please one greatly.” Today’s text was written by King David and he certainly delighted to do God’s will. But this verse pointed forward to Jesus who was sent by the Father to do His will, die on the cross, rise again, and ascend back to heaven.

Jesus always delighted to do the Father’s will. He said in John 4:34, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.” Food is necessary for the body to survive; doing the Father’s will is necessary for the soul and spirit to survive. In the Upper Room, Jesus right before His trial and crucifixion, said to the Father, “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do” (John 17:4).

Jesus delighted to do the Father’s will from start to finish; and He is our example to do the same. Delight has the connotation of devotion, desire, and duty. We should find pleasure, enjoyment, and delight in doing the will of God from our hearts willingly and joyfully. Hebrews 12:2 says, “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

If Jesus had the joy set before Him in dying to save us, as hard as that was, should we not delight to do whatever He asks us to do? One of my favorite quotes is from C.T. Studd, who said, “If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him.” Is the Lord asking you to do something, give up something, take on some responsibility or ministry? Now is the time to do it, and delight to do it!

Have a blessed Lord’s Day considering what the Savior did for you and what you can do for Him. Stay safe and healthy.

Doing anything and everything for with Lord with delight, should be our desire by day and night,

Dean

-October 21, 2023-

Good morning beloved, happy Saturday,

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

(John 14:27).

As I was driving home this evening the Lord impressed upon my heart the need for peace in this world today. From the war in Ukraine to the war in Israel, and so many other things, we are facing very scary, uncertain, and chaotic times. For us as believers familiar with prophesy and the end times, the Lord’s coming is very near. There are unsolvable problems, incomprehensible atrocities, and wickedness all over the world. This world is broken.

People are searching for peace and not finding it; for it is only found in the Lord Jesus Christ. In the upper room before His arrest, trial, and crucifixion, He spoke these words to His disciples, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you.” Peace is a gift, a blessing from God. Peace brings us hope, comfort, encouragement, and joy in the midst of it all.

What is the “it” in your life today? Is it family related, work related, school related, health related, money related, or perhaps something else? Jesus knows all about it, He knows how it will turn out. His peace gives us confidence and assurance even in times of chaos, confusion, and catastrophe. Jesus is our Rock and our Refuge. Give Him your “it” whatever it is. It is not too big or too hard for Him to handle.

His peace is not as the Lord gives, which at best is a temporary, pseudo peace. Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” We are in troubled times, unprecedented times. Jesus said in John 14:1-3, “Let not your heart be troubled, you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

I don’t know about you, but this gives me great peace, peace that passes all understanding. I can smile when the world is frowning; rejoice when the world is weeping; and have hope when the world has no hope. Have a blessed day trusting the Lord, serving Him, and being ready for His coming. Stay safe and healthy.

Having eyes of faith when all the world is falling apart, because we have Jesus on the throne of our heart,

Dean

-October 20, 2023-

Good morning beloved, happy Friday,

“Then the Lord said to me, ‘You have seen well, for I am ready to perform My word”

(Jeremiah 1:12).

God made known His Word and He was ready to perform it. The word perform is defined as, “carry out, accomplish or fulfill (an action, task, or function.” We are living in the last days, and prophesy is being fulfilled before our eyes. In Jeremiah’s day Babylon was coming down on Jerusalem. God directed it because of their rebellion, disobedience, and idolatry. Were it not for their sin, God was not have allowed it.

Applying this verse to our time and our lives, God is ready to perform His Word. His promises, prophecies, and principles will be fulfilled in the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The New Century Version says, “The Lord said to me, ‘You have seen correctly, because I am watching to make sure my words come true.” There are so many who need to hear the gospel today and be saved. We need to share God’s love and His plan of salvation with the lost.

For us as individuals, God will perform His Word, His ways, and His will in all areas of our lives. God promised Issac in Genesis 26:3, “Dwell in the land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I will give all these lands; and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father.” Abraham passed on the truth to his son Issac, and Issac to Jacob, and Jacob to his sons to encourage them to have faith and trust in the Lord and to follow Him.

The hymn writer Ruth Caye Jones wrote, “In times like these you need the Bible, in times like these O be not idle; Be very sure, be very sure your anchor holds and grips the solid Rock! This Rock is Jesus, yes, He’s the One; this Rock is Jesus, the only One. Be very sure, be very sure, your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!” With Christ as our Solid Rock, nothing can move us!

Let us awaken and be aware of what is happening and what is ahead for us. As our pastor Adel always says, “The best is yet to come.” Have a blessed day. Stay safe and healthy.

God is ready to perform His Word, let us perform His will and be prepared for His coming.

God is ready, are we?

Dean

-October 19, 2023-

Good morning beloved, happy Thursday,

“He frustrates the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot carry out their plans.”

(Job 5:12).

Job’s words spoken, during the time of the patriarchs, was a prophecy, a principle, and a promise of God. There have been many who have sought to destroy Israel, and also the church. In each case, God intervened and gave the victory. Today’s scenario of Hamas will be no different. Anyone who touches God’s people, touches the apple of His eye, and is doomed to utter failure.

God does two things: frustrates their devices and keeps them from accomplishing their wicked schemes. We know the devil is behind all efforts to harm and destroy Israel. There are many examples in Scripture. This list is not exhaustive but demonstrates the extent the evil one will go to destroy God’s people.

1. Pharaoh in the days of Moses

2. Balak through Balaam

3. Syrians in the days of Elisha

4. Haman in the book of Esther

5. Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon

5. Herod in the days just after the birth of Christ

6. Another Herod in the days of the early church.

In each case, God interfered and intervened in amazing and wonderful ways. He used people and circumstances to bring out their downfall. God is on our side and we are on His side. It says of Abraham and his descendants, “I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse those who curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:2-3).

Pharaoh sought to drown the baby boys, but later, another likely Pharaoh was drown along with his entire army in the Red Sea; Balak who hired Balaam found that instead of cursing Israel he actually blessed them and Israel defeated him; Haman plotted to kill all the Jews and made a gallows to hang Mordecai on, was himself and his ten sons hung on it; Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the temple and killed many, taking others in captivity to Babylon, but later his people were conquered by the Medes and Persians; The Syrians tried to kill the prophet Elisha but were struck with blindness and led right into Samaria; Herod killed babies and toddlers in his effort to kill Christ, he failed miserably and Jesus lived; and another Herod killed the Apostle James then imprisoned Peter and planned to kill him also. The Lord sent an angel to deliver him from the prison.

The final victory at Armageddon at the end of the tribulation is the greatest example of all. He will defeat and destroy all the armies that descend upon Israel. It is so encouraging that Paul wrote in Romans 8:31, “What shall we say to these things? If God be for us who can be against us.” Jesus told Peter, “And I say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).

Have a blessed day assured of the victory. Stay and healthy.

Looking to the Victor, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us,

Dean