Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-September 18, 2025-

Good morning beloved, happy Thursday,

“Vanity of vanities,’ says the Preacher; vanity of vanities, all is vanity.’”

(Ecclesiastes 1:2)

The writer of Ecclesiastes is not mentioned by name, but is called “the son of David, king in Jerusalem.” It is universally believed to be King Solomon, the wisest person ever.

Ecclesiastes is book that describes life on earth under the sun. Solomon demonstrates the life of anyone who doesn’t know Christ. He sought pleasure without God, and found it to be vanity. Today’s verse if the key verse in the book of Ecclesiastes.

The word vanity is defined as, “the quality of being worthless or futile; something that is vain, empty or valueless.” This certainly speaks of our world today with all its attractions, entertainments, and amusements. They just leave people empty inside.

People in the world try to fill the God-shaped void in their hearts with other people or things. Case in point, if you examine the lives of rich, successful, and popular people, you will find them among the most unhappy and unsatisfied. The old expression is certainly true, “money can’t buy happiness.” True happiness can only be found in Jesus Christ. He alone satisfies longings of the human heart.

Hence, so many lives are wrecked, broken, and battered by this world. The people have no hope outside the Lord. Let us be thankful that we are saved, have Jesus in our lives, and hope for the future.

Have a blessed day counting your blessings. Stay safe and healthy.

Life is either vain without Him, or valuable and victorious with Him.

Dean

-September 17, 2025-

Good morning beloved, happy Wednesday,

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

(Philippians 1:21).

For us, our lives just begun when we received Christ as Lord and Savior. It was our spiritual birthday. Oh, we were born into this world through our parents, but because of sin we were lost, dead, and hopeless.

We all once had a former life, but now we have a foremost life. Paul says of himself, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is Christ.” Later in Philippians, he wrote, “But what things were gain to me, these things I have counted loss for Christ” (Philippians 3:7). Therefore he counted all things loss, as rubbish to have and serve Christ.

When I woke up this morning, I put on Family Radio and they were playing a hymn, entitled, “All I Have is Christ. The chorus says, “Hallelujah, all I have is Christ, Hallelujah, Jesus is my life.”

I started thinking that Jesus is all I have, Jesus is all I need, Jesus is all I want. Our lives in Christ are all about Him. We know Him, we love Him, and we serve Him. Therefore let us give all to Him. He is truly our all in all. Nothing and no one is more important than He is.

Can you say, “Jesus is my life? “We can’t forget this in a fast paced, stressful, and unpredictable world. He is why we live, and one day we will be with Him in glory. The hymn writer, Will L. Thompson wrote, “Jesus is all the world to me, my life, my joy, my all; He is my strength from day to day, without Him I would fall. When I am sad to Him I go, no other one can cheer me so; When I am sad He makes me glad, He’s my Friend.”

Have a blessed day with Jesus. Stay safe healthy, and close to Him.

When you have Jesus, you need nothing else for now and for eternity.

Dean

-September 16, 2025-

Good morning my beloved family in Christ, happy Tuesday,

“If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.”

(Proverbs 24:10).

Adversity strikes all of us at all times in many ways. In essence, adversity tests our faith; it reveals where we are spiritually. The word faint is defined as, “lacking courage, strength or vigor.”

There is no room for faintheartedness in the Christian life. In the OT, it was one of the characteristics that would exempt a man from military service. Deuteronomy 20:8 says, “The officers shall speak further to the people, and say, ‘what man is there who is fearful and fainthearted? Let him go and return of his house, lest the heart of his brethren faint like his heart.” If we faint, others around us may faint also.

The Word of God encourages us and builds us up so that when trouble comes we won’t fall apart, instead we fall upon God’s mercy and grace. In Isaiah 40:31 tells us, “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”

It is a challenge for each of us to face adversity with active faith in God Almighty. We can’t trust in our own strength. When we fill our hearts and minds with the Word and pray, we will be prepared as much as possible for the adversity that lies ahead.

Is your faith big or small? If you answered small, you are being honest, knowing that only the Lord can give you His strength. Jesus rebuked His twelve disciples for their lack of faith. Our faith can always grow and be stronger.

The devil wants us to faint, give up or give in. He attacks us at our weakest where are the weakest. May the Lord help us to cast ourselves fully on Jesus. Have a blessed day. Stay safe and healthy.

Adversity reveals what our hearts conceals.

Dean

-September 15, 2025-

Good morning dear ones, happy Monday,

“I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

(Revelation 1:9).

Last night I watched a Christian move called “Patmos.” The Apostle John, one of the twelve disciples was banished there for his outspoken faith and testimony of Christ in a world hostile to our Lord Jesus Christ and His followers.

I was moved by the severity and cruelty of the persecution by the Romans. God used this time of banishment to give John the Revelation of the future events. We are so blessed as a result.

Only God could turn a bad situation into something good and profitable Paul wrote in Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those are called according to His purpose.”

I decided to do some research on the island called Patmos. It was no vacation spot or somewhere where you would want to be. The Romans banished prisoners there to this small, rocky Greek island on the Aegean Sea. It is still there today. In and of itself it was just a small dot, but it was significant because John the servant of the Lord was there and it was where God gave John the Revelation.

The lesson we learn is that we are never alone because the Lord is with us. He never forgets us even in most adverse circumstances. We all have our Patmos’ where we feel isolated and alone. Some saints are sick or shut in and feel they have no purpose or usefulness.

When we stand for the Lord and His Word, won’t be popular or treated well. What a blessing to please the Lord wherever we are. Where has God called you? The Lord will use your prayers and efforts to bless the people of God.

Have a blessed day wherever God has placed you. We may not understand why things happen to us, yet God has a purpose and turns things the good. Stay safe and healthy.

No place is a bad place when God is there, even if others are not with us or are against us

Dean

-September 14, 2025-

Good morning beloved, happy Lord’s Day?

“And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself, will be exalted.”

(Matthew 23:12).

. Jesus taught humility, and most importantly, He lived it. The disciples needed the lesson on humility, just we do also. On more than one occasion the disciples argued over which one of them was the greatest. Jesus brought in a little child to illustrate humility.

• Whoever exalts himself will be humbled – This was certainly true of King Nebuchadnezzar. He thought of how great he was and how great his kingdom was. He heard a voice from heaven, “The kingdom has departed from you! And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over yo, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses” (Daniel 4:32).’”

Fortunately for Nebuchadnezzar, he repented and acknowledged the greatness of God. Daniel 4:37 says, “Now I Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down.” Only God can deal with our pride.

• And he who humbles himself will exalted – Just as God humbles the proud and puts them down, He able to exalt those who humble themselves. James wrote, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up” (James 4:10).

The word “humbled” in our text may be rendered “put down,” and word “exalt” may be rendered lifted up. May the Lord help us to humble ourselves before Him and He will exalt us.

May a blessed Lord’s Day. Stay safe and healthy.

Pride goes before a fall; humility lifts us tall.

Dean