Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-June 20, 2023-

Good morning, happy Tuesday,

“…As your days so shall your strength be.”

(Deuteronomy 33:25b).

God gives us grace on a daily basis, enough strength to meet and handle each situation that arises at the time when it is needed. We tend worry and be anxious over what might happen instead of trusting in the Lord, praying for His help, and leaving the matter at the throne of grace.

As our days come so comes His strength. God delights to hear and answer our prayers, sometimes in ways completely different than what we prayed. The Lord knows far more than we do. Isaiah 55:8-9 says. “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor your ways My ways,’ says the Lord. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.’”

So many times we want tomorrow’s strength today, and God doesn’t work that way. There will be plenty strength for tomorrow, it just won’t come until tomorrow. There are things we don’t think we can handle or cope with but when the time comes we find the peace, comfort, strength, endurance, grace, and mercy to see us through. Then we look back in amazement and appreciation.

Esther would never dreamt that she would be queen of Persia; David would have imagined that he would have taken down Goliath; Peter would never would have thought he would walk on water; Daniel never would have believed that lions would be like kittens in the lions’ den. The list in Scripture is endless. God works miracles in our lives at just the right times and in just the right ways.

God doesn’t say, “As your strength so shall your days be.” That would mean our own strength, knowledge, training, or experience would suffice. No, instead, He says, “As your days so shall your strength be.” Samson was the strongest man, yet he lost his strength when his hair was cut. But when his hair grew and he called on the Lord, he pulled down the great pillars and killed more Philistines in his death than in his life. God answered his prayers and gave him tremendous strength.

The car may breakdown, the doctor may give us months or weeks to live; a loved may suddenly and unexpectedly pass away; we may be laid off; or the teacher may give us a pop quiz. The Lord knows what will happen and how to get us through on eagles’ wings.

The hymn writer Annie Johnson Flint expressed God’s grace and timing with the marvelous words, “He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater, He sendeth more strength when the labors increase; to added affliction He addeth His mercy, to multiplied trials, His multiplied peace. When we have exhausted our store of endurance, when our strength has failed ere the day is half done, when we reach the end of our hoarded resources, our Father’s full giving is only begun. His love has no limit, His grace has no measure, His power has no boundary known unto men; For out of His infinite riches in Jesus, He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.”

May the God of hope give us His strength at just the needed time, not one moment too soon or one one moment too late. As our days so shall our strength be. His grace is sufficient for us. Stay safe and healthy.

Being strongest at the weakest times, through grace God given at the needed times,

Dean

-June 19, 2023-

Good morning happy Monday, happy Juneteenth,

“‘And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold I have told you.’ So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.”

(Matthew 28:7-8).

Juneteenth is our newest federal holiday, now in its third year. It was made a federal holiday in 2021, when Congress based the bill and it was signed by President Joe Biden on June 21, 2021. It marks the day when slavery was officially ended in the United States. President Lincoln had made his famous Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862. The Civil War ended with Lee surrendering to Grant April 9, 1865. The news spread slowly and finally reached Texas on June 19, 1865. Union General Gordon Granger read federal orders that all enslaved people were free.

It has been widely celebrated and remembered in Texas ever since but didn’t become a state holiday there until 1980. It is now a federal holiday that all Americans celebrate. The news of freedom creates excitement and joy. It reminds us of the Jewish holiday of Passover when all the Israelites were delivered from their bondage in Egypt and the holiday of Purim when in the days of Queen Esther all Jews were saved from death and had victory over all their enemies. These were and are great days for God’s people.

The resurrection of Christ is celebrated around the world as Easter. The women who followed the Lord were the first to hear that Jesus had risen from the dead and they were to go quickly and tell His disciples that He would meet them in Galilee. News travel much faster today than in years gone by, but the joy and excitement is still strong as ever. We remember what the Lord Jesus did for us at the cross, dying for our sins to give us eternal life and how He rose from the dead. It was and still is life changing news!

Now we as believers have the privilege and responsibility of sharing the gospel, the good news, with the whole world. It is a story with eternal glory. Let us celebrate our freedom from sin, death, and the power and control of the devil. May we also join to celebrate as Americans Juneteenth as we remember the freedom of the slaves and our own freedom. Jesus said, “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8:36).

Have a blessed day celebrating our freedom in our country and especially in Christ. Stay safe and healthy.

Remembering we can’t forget, and not forgetting what we must remember,

Dean

-June 18, 2023- Father’s Day

Good morning, happy Lord’s Day, happy Father’s Day,

“And you fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.”

(Ephesians 6:4).

Fathers have the most responsibility and greatest privilege in the world of leadership in the home and training their children for Christ. It is a twenty-four hour job. The rewards are immense and eternal. To raise a child for Christ is such a blessing.

Training involves sacrifice and effort, time and patience. Children learn best when they see it practiced before them. One of the worst expressions is: “do what I say, not what I do.” Hypocrisy turns kids off, but reality, truth, and love motivate them. When a father displays Christ in all areas of his life, the children want to follow his example.

Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Each child must make their own choice to receive Christ, but giving them a strong foundation in the Word of God makes a huge difference. It is far better and more effective to train a child than it is to reform one. We see the many prisoners who are serving time. Many had either an abusive or absent father in the home.

Pastor Tony Evans compares fathers to satellites. He says, “Satellites are often used to show us where the enemy is located. They provide pictures and perspectives so that we are kept from ambushes and traps. They provide information critical for being victorious in war. Fathers are supposed to be like satellites, providing a perspective for their kids in order to keep them from being ambushed in illegitimate relationships.”

Fathers, we thank you for all you have done for us, especially spiritually. Your love, guidance, and discipline has been an example to keep us safe and on God’s path. The devil, the enemy of our souls uses sophisticated means against us and we must put on the whole armor of God, using the Word of God in an effective way. Let’s thank our fathers. Fathers, give your all for the training and admonition of the Lord. The word admonish means to, “to warm or reprimand someone firmly.” The world calls it tough love, but in actuality it is God’s love given truthfully and urgently for the good of others.

Have a blessed Father’s Day either as a father, or a wife who supports, or children young or older. We all share in this wonderful day. Stay safe and healthy.

Being better satellites for Jesus. Looking to our heavenly Father in order to be a better fathers and better Christians.

Dean

-June 17, 2023-

Good morning, happy Saturday,

“But Issac spoke to Abraham his father and said, ‘My father!’ And he said, ‘Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?’ And Abraham said, ‘My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.’ So the two of them went together.”

(Genesis 22:7-8).

Fatherhood isn’t easy. There in no training course, just on the job training. Fathers who know and trust the Lord make the best fathers. Abraham was the greatest and oldest father in the Bible. Sarah bore Issac at the age of 90, when Abraham was 100. Isaac was the promised son, and now in Genesis 22, God is putting his faith to the test: offering up Issac as a burnt offering. And what a test it was!

Abraham didn’t know it was a test. He did what God asked him to do. God stopped him right before he killed his beloved son. Life has many tests, and through them God strengthens and grows our faith. Abraham put his faith into practice and left the consequences to God. James wrote in James 2:17, “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works is dead. But someone will say, ‘You have faith, and I have works.’ Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”

True saving faith results in works that back it up. This was true of Abraham the father of our faith. His faith was activated, demonstrated, and rewarded. Each time we step out in faith, God leads us and provides for us. James used Abraham and Rahab as examples of this. God rewarded their faith with life and blessings.

Fathers, like all of us, need faith to do God’s will even when it doesn’t seem rational, plausible, or even possible. Soldiers, athletes, firefighters, police officers, and others receive the best training but never know how they will perform until they have to use it in the real world. God trains us in His ways, over time, to prove our faith. Abraham never questioned or debated with God. He knew that God would provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering. He believed that even if he killed his son, God would raise him from the dead.

May God help us to have a faith that works in the real world, when troubles, trials, and difficulties come. Fathers are leaders, they teach, train, and support their kids. The hymn writer wrote, “Faith of fathers, living still in spite of dungeon, fire, and sword, O how our hearts beat high with joy when-e’er we hear that glorious word! Faith of our fathers, holy faith, we will be true to thee ‘til death.”

Have a blessed day walking by faith. Stay safe and healthy. Being thankful for our faithful fathers to faithfully follow their examples.

Dean

-June 16, 2023-

Good morning, happy Friday,

“Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.”

(Matthew 6:26; Matthew 6:32).

Nature teaches us how God orders and provides for His creation in every way, in every detail. He loves us and cares for us. We are His children. The Lord Jesus used the expression, “heavenly Father six times. As we get closer to Father’s Day on Sunday, we are reminded that our heavenly Father loves us, cares for us, and watches over us.

Jesus taught us to pray, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” When we pray, we pray to our heavenly Father in Jesus’ name. Some of us no longer have an earthly father, or he is not a believer or may be abusive in some way, but we all have a Heavenly Father who perfect in His love. When our earthly father is good and loving, we are doubly blessed.

As believers we have a wonderful relationship with our heavenly Father through our Lord Jesus Christ. We pray to Him and He answers our prayers according to His perfect will. He who knows us best, loves us most. He provides for our every need, whether it be for food, clothing, or shelter. He gives us income to support our upkeep.

There is a wonderful hymn entitled, “Children of the Heavenly Father.” It was written by Lina Sanell and translated by Ernst W. Wilson. It says, “Children of the heavenly Father safely in His bosom gather, nestling bird nor star in heaven such a refuge e’er was given. God His own doth tend and nourish, in His courts they flourish; from all evil things He spares them, in His mighty arms He bears them. Neither life nor death shall ever from His children sever; unto them His grace He showeth, and their sorrows all He knoweth. Praise the Lord in joyful numbers, your Protector never slumbers; At the will of your Defender every foe man must surrender. Though He giveth or He taketh, God His children ne’er forsaketh; His the loving purpose solely to prepare them pure and holy.”

May we thank our heavenly Father today for all He has done, is doing, and will do for us. Have a blessed day trusting our heavenly Father. Stay safe and healthy.

Looking above to our Father of love,

Dean