Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-September 4, 2022,

Good morning, happy Lord’s Day,

“Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”

(John 10:17-18).

Jesus willingly laid down His life on the cross for us. In John 10, Jesus is telling us that He is the Good Shepherd who gives His life for the sheep. We are His sheep and we have life through Him. In John 15:16, Jesus calls us His friends, saying, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”

Jesus loved even His enemies and laid down His life for the whole world. Those who believe in Him and His finished work on the cross have everlasting life. He had the greatest love, made the greatest sacrifice, with the greatest results. There are soldiers and others who give up their lives for their fellow soldiers and their country. There are also police officers and firefighters who also lay down their lives for complete strangers. As noble as their efforts are, none can compare to Jesus.

John who witnessed the death of Christ on cross, wrote in 1 John 3:16, “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” It seems like a very hard thing for us to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters in Christ. I know that God would give each of us the grace to do it at the needed time. Jesus has set an example for us to follow.

Let us remember then His amazing love and sacrifice for us. The hymn writer Charles Wesley wrote, “And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Savior’s blood? Died He for me who caused His pain? For me, who Him to death pursued? Amazing love! How can it be that Thou, my God, shouldst die for me? Amazing love! How can it be that Thou my God, shouldst die for me!”

Have a blessed day praising, worshipping, and thanking Jesus for laying down His life for us. Stay safe and healthy.

In His eternal love and plan,

Dean

-September 3, 2022-

Good morning, happy Saturday,

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way. Though he may fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand.”

(Psalm 37:23-24).

The writer of this beautiful psalm was David the Sweet Psalmist of Israel. He had walked with Lord for many years and found that the Lord was always faithful. He had taken many steps, each one ordered by the Lord. The word ordered in our text can also be translated, “established.” The Lord delighted in His servant David.

When our steps are ordered or established by God, we can rejoice in the blessedness of His will. Nothing happens to us by accident or chance. The Lord knows where and how to lead us one step at time, one day at a time. Job said, “Does He not see my ways, and count all my steps” (Job 31:4)? Even when face hard times, we can walk by faith, knowing He is leading and is in control. The hymn writer Joseph H. Gilmore wrote, “He leadeth me, O blessed thought! O words with heav’nly comfort fraught! Whate’er I do, whate’er I be, still God’s hand that leadeth me. He leadeth me, He leadeth me, by His own hand He leadeth me; His faithful follower I would be, for by His hand He leadeth me.”

There are times when we fall, but we will not be utterly cast down. Our falls and failures are not final. We arise to keep going onward and upward. Proverbs 24:16 assures us, “For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again, but the wicked shall fall by calamity.” In boxing, a fighter is not knocked out until the referee finishes counting to ten. We may get knocked down, but we are never knocked out. We get up and keep fighting the good fight of faith.

Let us keep walking by faith and getting up each time we fall. God orders our steps, all we need to do is keeping walking. Have a blessed day whatever comes your way. Stay safe and healthy.

Walking with Jesus step by step, day by day,

Dean

-September 2, 2022-

Good morning happy Friday,

“The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.”

(Psalm 34:18).

David is the writer of Psalm 34, and it is one of the richest psalms for the people of God. We gain so much solace, comfort, and encouragement for our lives. The Lord knows and sees what we are going through. The Lord loves each believer, but is especially near to those who are hurting the most. He feels with our pain, for our Lord Jesus experienced pain while here on earth. Before He left this earthly scene, He promised to send the Holy Spirit to us as our Comforter.

David had his share of troubles and trials, sorrows, and afflictions. He always found help, deliverance, and comfort from the Lord. The word near is so reassuring to all of us. Our Lord wants us to draw near Him and bring our needs before Him. James wrote, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you, cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (James 4:8).

The two qualities that are essential for us are: brokenness and contriteness. Both are attitudes of the heart and help us to be right with God and please Him. Both reflect our seeing ourselves as God sees us. We are sinners saved by grace. Whether we are confessing our sins or seeking His help under extreme duress. He always wants us to come to Him and not try to make it on own.

• Broken hearts – We live in a broken world because of sin. To be broken before the Lord is to first acknowledge who He is in all His greatness and glory; and then to see ourselves in our weakness, insignificance, and nothingness. Compared to God we are even less than nothing. We need Him moment by moment. Our pride and self will must be crushed at the cross of Calvary.

It is interesting when David was confessing his sins of adultery and murder, he said in Psalm 51:17, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart —These, O God, You will not despise.” It shows that the words heart and spirit are often used interchangeably in the Scriptures. Brokenness and Contriteness go together, for you can’t have one without the other.

• Contrite spirits – To be contrite is to humble ourselves before God, seeking His will, and being obedient fully to Him. It says in James, “But He gives more grace, therefore He says: ‘God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’ Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up” (James 4:6; James 4:10).

May the Lord help us to draw near to Him in both brokenness and contriteness. He can’t resist His people when we come humbly before Him. Have a blessed day in His presence. Stay safe and healthy.

Drawing near in His presence we see His essence,

Dean

-September 1, 2022-

Good morning happy, Thursday,

“For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.”

(Jeremiah 31:25).

In the midst of a dry, thirsty world, the Lord has promised to fully satisfy our weary souls and bring us the replenishment we need. This world is like a wilderness; but just like the Lord brought the Israelites through 40 years of it and into the Promised Land, so too, He will lead us to glory in heaven. God provided manna from heaven and water from the rock. Their clothes and sandals never wore out the entire time. He met every need.

We all get weary at times. This world is so evil and wicked. Times are tough. The Lord knows when we need a boost of encouragement. He word satiate is defined as, “Satisfied to the full; satiated.” It has to do with God satisfying our needs and desires fully or to the excess. David said in Psalm 23:1, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want (or lack).” Paul wrote, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). His resources never run out.

He satiates our weary souls. He sends us the cold water of His Word to quench our thirst. Proverbs 25:25 says, “As cold water to a weary soul, so is good news from a far country.” There are droughts in so many places in the world with soaring temperatures. Heat can wear us down physically just all the bad news wears us down spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. We need God’s refreshment and replenishment. Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 11:28, “Come to Me, all you labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Replenishment is a wonderful word also. It means to fill back up that which runs down or out. In the days of the old west, they carried canteens and when they ran out of water they would have to refill them at a water source. The Holy Spirit is our source of the living water we need. The hymn writer Clara T. Williams wrote, “All my life-long I panted for a drink from some cool spring that I had hoped would the quench the burning of the thirst I had within. Hallelujah! I have found Him—Whom my soul so long had craved! Jesus satisfies my longings; through His blood I now am free.”

Why seek our satisfaction, fulfillment, and refreshment in this world when only Christ can satisfy? Have a blessed day in and with Jesus. Stay safe and healthy.

In His spiritual hydration,

Dean

-August 31, 2022-

Good morning, happy Wednesday,

“Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the Lord blessed him. The man began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous.”

(Genesis 26:12-13).

Isaac was the son of Abraham and the father of Jacob; all three of these men comprise the patriarchs. In many ways, Abraham, the father of faith and Jacob the father of the twelve tribes of Israel overshadowed Isaac. Isaac was a great man of God in his own right. Abraham left big shoes to follow in. We should never try to be someone we are not. We are all unique. God gives each of us different gifts, talents, skills, and abilities. We should learn from the godly examples, yet bring our own person.

God prospered Isaac. He sowed in that land, a foreign land, and reaped a hundredfold. The word prosperous is defined in Webster’s Dictionary as, “Marked by success or economic well-being; enjoying vigorous and healthy growth: flourishing. In Scripture, prosperity goes beyond the material and financial, and reaches to our spiritual lives. Joshua 1:8 gives us the secret to spiritual prosperity and successfulness, “This Book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will be prosperous.”

Isaac was a hard worker, as evidenced by the fact that he sowed in the land that year and reaped a hundredfold. The word hundredfold indicates a hundred times as much. He began to prosper and continued prospering until he became very prosperous. We see the hand of God’s blessing on his life. At one time his wife Rebekah was barren and was unable to have a child. He prayed for her and God answered his prayers. Also, if you read the rest of Genesis 26, you will find how he handled conflict over wells of water in the land in a godly, humble way. Every well he dug, the people quarreled over, and he yielded his rights. Finally, he dug a well at Beersheba, which God gave him. He was a man of great patience and peace.

Issac was more concerned for God will than for

May God make you profitable, productive, and prosperous today and every day. We may never be rich in this world’s goods but we are rich in the things of God, which is what really counts. Stay safe and healthy.

In the service and care of the greatest Master, Jesus Christ,

Dean