Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-June 30, 2023-

Good morning, happy Friday,

“My spirit is broken, my days are extinguished, the grave is ready for me.”

(Job 17:1).

Is it possible for a believer in Jesus Christ to despair? Yes, it is! We have so many examples in Scripture and all around us today. The most important thing is to recognize it, seek the Lord’s help through godly counsel, and the promises and principles His Word. We can’t climb out of the dark pit of despair until we remember the Lord’s loving care. One of the best remedies for despair is to thank the Lord for who He is and what He has done for us.

There are degrees and stages of despair: discouragement, despondency, and depression. Job went through all these stages but clung to the Lord who brought him through it. So many times we think it can’t happen to us. We see in our text just how low he went: his spirit was broken, his days seemed extinguished, and he was ready to die. He was in a very dark place.

The word despair is defined as, “the complete loss or absence of hope.” Job was not alone in his despair. We see Elijah, David, Hannah, and Paul all went through it. In each case the Lord intervened. In our society today, mental health issues are more common than we may think. The ultimate extreme is suicide. As God’s children we should never lose hope because our hope is in Jesus Christ.

1 Kings 19:4 says of Elijah, “But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, ‘It is enough! Now, Lord, for I am no better than my fathers!’” We see how the Lord provided him with food, drink, and rest, all vital ingredients in our recovery. He spoke to him in a “still small voice.” The Lord asked him a very probing question, “What are you doing here?” He had just enjoyed a huge victory over the prophets of Baal. But when the wicked Queen Jezebel threatened his life, he fled in fear. God promised him victory and told him, “Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all those who have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him” (1 Kings 19:18).

We always come through the other side stronger, with greater faith, and more dependent on the Lord. The Lord knows we are human, mortal, finite, and weak. He loves us and draws us closer to Himself. Psalm 103:13-14 says, “As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him, for He remembers that we are dust.”

The great apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 1:8-10, “For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Yes, we have the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will deliver us.”

May the Lord help us to seek Him, walk close with Him, cling to Him, and rely on Him no matter what we are going through. Through prayer and the Word, through others who care, and His abundant promises we will overcome despair.

Have a blessed day with the Lord by our side. Stay safe and healthy spiritually, mentally, physically, and emotionally in Christ.

Leaning on the everlasting arms,

Dean

-June 29, 2023-

Good morning, happy Thursday,

“Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing.”

(Psalm 100:2).

Psalm 100 is a short psalm of thanksgiving by an unknown author. It is filled with joy: joyful shout (v. 1); gladness (v. 2); thanksgiving (v. 4); praise (v. 4). Thanksgiving, joyfulness, and singing all go together. When we serve, let us serve with gladness; when we sing, let us sing with joy.

We are memorizing this verse this week in our Scripture Memory Class at church. We have been considering the subject of service. Personally, it is such a blessing because I love to serve the Lord and to sing praises to the Lord at church, in the shower, when I am preparing the morning devotional, in the car, and wherever I go. Over the years I have learned so many hymns and worship songs.

David was such a great musician and psalmist. He played the harp and encouraged all Israel to praise the Lord. He wrote the majority of the psalms. He served the Lord with joy. On one occasion when the ark of the covenant was brought to Jerusalem, he danced with all his heart and might.

As believers we can’t sing unless we sing with great joy, nor can we serve unless we serve with all our hearts. Whether the task is simple or hard, small or big, let us give it our all. Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 9:10, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might…”

Have a blessed day of service with joyful singing. Stay safe and healthy.

When Serving with a song, we can ever go wrong,

Dean

-June 28, 2023-

Good morning, happy Wednesday,

“You have granted me life and favor, and your care has preserved my spirit.”

(Job 10:12).

Job in all his trials and sufferings came to the enviable conclusion that God takes care of him at all times. There are no exceptions, no disclaimers. This gave him such comfort. There are four seasons on earth: winter, spring, summer, and fall. Each one is distinctive and has different blessings and challenges. God made the promise in Genesis 9:22, “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease.”

God is a four season God who has a plan for our lives. He is with us through the chill of winter, the warmth of spring, the heat of summer, and the coolness of fall. It is a picture of our Christian lives. God provides for us daily, monthly, and yearly. Though everything is is moving so fast, the Lord has us on His pace. God has granted us life, favor, and care.

• Life – God created us, and gave us life, both physical and spiritual. Life is so short and we need to make the most of all our opportunities. Paul said to the Athenians, “For in Him we live and move and have our being, as some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are His offering’” (Acts 17:28). God keeps us alive on earth for as long as it is will. We are in His hands.

• Favor – God not only gives us life but He gives us favor. The word favor is defined as approval, support, or liking for someone or something.” The Lord not only grants us His favor but uses others to show us favor as well. Abraham said to the Lord in Genesis 18:3, “…My Lord, if I have found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant.” Finding favor is a frequently used expression in Scripture.

• Care – God cares for us and preserves us through the ups and downs of life. He is our heavenly Father. He knows our needs, and provides for us. Civilla Martin wrote in her wonderful hymn, “Be not dismayed whate’er betide, God will take care of you; Beneath His wings of love abide, God will take care of you.” We know He cares for us because He has proven Himself faithful all through the years, through all our fears and tears, and in joys and blessings never ceasing. He takes great care of us.

Let us thank the Lord for granting us life, favor, and care in every season. We can trust Him every step of the way. This is why David wrote at the end of Psalm 23, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (Psalm 23:6).

Have a blessed day in the sunshine of His grace. Stay safe and healthy.

Having the clearest vision, when we see His abundant provision,

Dean

-June 27, 2023-

Good morning, happy Tuesday,

“That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, you must be born again.”

(John 3:6-7).

What a day it was when Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish Sanhedrin, the teacher, and ruler in Israel came by night to speak to Jesus. At first he was curious about Jesus that he had heard so much about. He knew that He was a teacher and had done many signs and God was with Him. He wondered if Jesus was the Messiah. We are the beneficiaries today of the conversation he had with Jesus.

Jesus told him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus was confused what Jesus meant, for this terminology is not found in the OT. He wondered how this could be that man who is old could be born a second time. How could he enter his mother’s womb and be born a second time? Jesus explains it to him so he could understand, and we could understand as well.

When one is born naturally into this world it a a wonderful and beautiful thing. Today is my 66th birthday. My father passed away and my mother is 95. My brother is 79. I am thankful for them and how blessed I have been and am today. I am so thankful. Life on earth is so short, is filled with troubles and trials, blessings and good times. I am thankful for all that I have learned and experienced in this life.

As good or bad as life can be, the most important thing is to be born again, born from above, born of the Holy Spirit. Without the second birth we cannot enter the kingdom of God. Jesus tells this to Nicodemus twice in John 3:1-21. Nicodemus became a believer though a secret one. After Jesus was crucified, he joined Joseph of Arimathea in taking Jesus’ body down from the cross, anointing His body for burial, and laying it in Joseph’s tomb.

There is nothing better than the new birth. Peter later wrote, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:4-5). Someone once said, “If you are born once, you will die twice, but if you are born twice, you will die only once.” The first birth birth is physical, the second birth is spiritual. Death is also in two forms: the physical death of the body and the second death is of the soul and spirit in hell.

Being born into God’s family occurs when we receive Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior. We have all the rights and privileges of sonship. Through faith in Christ we are adopted into the family of God. If the Lord Jesus comes before we die, we will be raptured. Either way we will be with the Lord forever. I am so happy for my two birthdays: the natural one and most of all the spiritual one.

Have a wonderful and blessed day rejoicing in your spiritual birth. Stay safe and healthy.

Enjoying my birthday 🎂 today, and serving the Lord until He takes me home to heaven,

Dean

-June 26, 2023-

Good morning, happy Monday,

“Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects; Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty. For He bruises, but He binds up; He wounds, but His hands make whole.”

(Job 5:17-18).

There are many things in life that we do or experience that seem bad to us at the time but have good results. Normally it involves things we wouldn’t choose but are needed. For example, having surgery, being out of work, missing a special day with family or friends, being injured, or other difficult things. Others tell us that certain things are good for us like exercise, eating healthy, getting more sleep, etc.

God’s discipline is one thing that is always good for us spiritually. There are times we need God’s hand upon us to correct us and get us back on the right path. So often we need what is called “an attitude adjustment.” God uses people and circumstances to get our attention and correct our behavior. It isn’t easy to go through.

Hebrews 12:11 says, “Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” Can we really be happy when we are disciplined by the Lord? Yes we can! We should be because God knows what is needed and what is best in our lives.

When we go through difficult and painful things we should always search our hearts and ask the Lord if there is something we’ve said or done that is wrong and what we need to do something about it. We may ask, “Lord, what are you trying to teach me or show me in this situation?” If there isn’t anything at the time, then it is a trial rather a discipline. Both are good for us and produce good results in our lives.

The Lord uses pain for our gain. In our text it says, “He bruises but He binds up; He wounds but His hands make whole.” How we respond to discipline and trials shows our faith and level of spiritual maturity. Sometimes the lessons God teaches us are very hard. We often learn best from our mistakes and the mistakes of others.

The story is told of a father who dropped off his two sons at the mall to purchase new clothes for the new school year. He gave Johnny and Billy the same amount of money to spend and a specific time to be done. Johnny shopped around a bit, bought three pairs of pants, four shirts, and a pair of sneakers. Billy came to the car with one T-shirt and a brand new expensive skateboard. His dad asked him if he was sure he had enough clothes for school, Billy answered back, “No problem, dad.” Before the first day of school, Billy wore a gaping hole in his old sneakers using his foot to stop his skateboard. He asked his dad for a new pair. His dad took him to the garage and taped them up with duct tape. He had to wear his taped shoes for a whole month until he had enough money to buy a new pair. Billy learned his lesson. Sometimes a little pain is good thing.

Let us learn our lessons, and accepting our discipline and correction from the Lord. Have a blessed day. Stay safe always healthy.

Benefiting from chastening and correction, to get back on the right direction,

Dean