Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-March 23, 2021-

Good morning, happy Wednesday,

“Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”

(1 Corinthians 10:12).

Pride is destructive for a Christian. Once we think we are strong in ourselves, we are bound to fall. Proverbs 16:18 says, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” There is no room for self reliance. This happened to Peter twice. The first time, was when he was walking on water. It did fine for a few steps but then he looked at the wind and waves, and began to sink. The second was when he told Jesus that he would never stumble because of Him but instead he denied Jesus three times.

Jesus told His disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane, “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” We all have the capacity to fall into sin. We must be vigilant, always watching, praying, and relying on Jesus. As soon as we think we stand, we are in trouble. Invincibility leads to vulnerability. Paul wrote in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Paul recognized that victory only comes through Christ.

Satan knows our weaknesses and tries to exploit them. Often even our strengths become weaknesses when we think that we can handle our problems on our own. Fortunately, our weaknesses can become strengths when we seek the Lord and His sufficient grace. The Lord doesn’t want us to fall. He will support us and help us to be strong in Him.

Falling is a big problem, especially for older folks. We have to be very careful when walking. Spiritual falls are even worse than physical ones. The key words in today’s verse are: “lest he fall.” Taking heed requires non-stop watchfulness and prayer. One misstep call can land us in a bad place that affects us and others around us. This is why Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise” (Ephesians 5:15). The word “circumspectly” can be rendered “carefully.” Are you careful in your walk with the Lord?

May the Lord help us to watch and pray; walk carefully, and not rely on ourselves but on Him. There are many obstacles and impediments we must watch out for. As Paul said, “He who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”

Have a blessed day relying on the Lord and not on ourselves. Stay safe and healthy.

In His care,

Dean

-March 22, 2022-

Good morning, happy Tuesday,

“It is good to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; to declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, and your faithfulness every night.”

(Psalm 92:1-2).

This psalm was written by an unknown writer in connection with the Sabbath day. Every day we wake up is God’s gift to us. So many in the world have died just while we have slept. We should start and end our day thanking the Lord. In fact, we should thank and praise Him all day long.

When we awaken, we should declare His lovingkindness in the morning. Lamentations 3:22-23 says, “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” God gives us His sufficient grace for each new day. We should then commit ourselves to doing His will each morning, by asking God for His strength and wisdom.

At the end of our day it is good to declare His faithfulness before we close our eyes to sleep. I like to recap my day and what God helped me to accomplish. If there is any sin we need to confess, that we haven’t already confessed, this is also the time. Each day is like a page in the book of our lives. A clear conscience is the best pillow to lay our heads on.

Thus we declare His lovingkindness in the morning and His faithfulness at night. These two times are special, much like a runner who wants to start the race well and end it strongly. The race is contested between these two points. We face much in our day in terms of challenges, obstacles, troubles, and trials. We need the Lord every moment. He prepares us for our day, and brings us through it to the conclusion. We can never thank and praise Him enough.

Have a blessed day in the morning, noon, and night, that we will be pleasing in God’s sight. Stay safe and healthy.

In His matchless grace,

Dean

-March 21, 2022-

Good morning, happy Monday,

“But you, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts my head. I cried to the Lord with my voice, and He heard me from His holy hill.”

(Psalm 3:3-4).

David wrote Psalm 3. The title of this psalm is: “A Psalm of David when he fled from Absalom his son. The heading over it is: The Lord helps His troubled people.” David had a close walk with the Lord and trusted fully in Him. He had his share of troubles, just as we all do, yet He clung to the Lord. For years he was pursued by king Saul to kill him, and later by his own son Absalom, who took the kingdom from him and also wanted to kill him.

David was fearful, yet he relied on the Lord. He wrote, “But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head.” A shield is defensive in nature, and protects one from harm and death. When Paul describes our spiritual armor in Ephesians 6:10-18, he mentions the shield of faith with which we can quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. David fought against literal people; our fight is against principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world, and the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Our invisible enemies, the devil and his demons, are far more dangerous than any physical ones.

In David’s case, he found the Lord himself to be his shield. Just as David never went to battle against his enemies without his sword and shield, we must put on the full armor of God. When David says, “You are a shield for me, it can also be literally rendered, “You are a shield around me.” In other words, in our world of science fiction and high technology, we can say God is our force field all around us at at times. He has our back to protect us from every attack.

When David felt down, God lifted up his head. He cried to the Lord in prayer and God answered him. Psalm 6:9 says, “The Lord has heard my supplication; the Lord will receive my prayer.” Of all our spiritual arsenal, prayer is of the most vital importance. In Ephesians 6:18, Paul wrote, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.”

May the Lord be our shield all around us and lift us up. Let us pray for His help as we are surrounded by troubles. They come in all sizes, shapes and colors. We need not yield when God is our shield. The hymn writer wrote, “Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care? Precious Savior, still our refuge — take it to the Lord in prayer! Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer! In His arms He’ll take and shield thee — thou wilt find a solace there.”

Have a blessed day trusting in the Lord. stay safe and healthy.

In His everlasting care,

Dean

-March 20, 2022-

Good morning, happy Lord’s Day,

“And Abraham called the name of the place, ‘The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, ‘In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided.’”

(Genesis 22:14).

God tested Abraham’s faith in asking him to offer his only and well beloved son, the son of his old age and his promised heir Isaac to the Lord. He set off early in the morning for the place of God’s own choosing: Mount Moriah, the very spot that hundreds of years later His Son Jesus Christ would give His life for us on the cross. Coincidence, yes but divine coincidence, to fulfill God’s plan.

Abraham, Isaac, and a few young servants made the journey that day. Abraham in faith said to the young men in Genesis 22:5, “…Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.’” Abraham believed that even if he sacrificed his son, God would raise him from the dead. When Issac asked where the lamb was, he answered again in faith, “‘My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.’ So the two of them went together” (Genesis 22:8).

Just when he held the knife in his hand to slay his son, God stopped him, and provided a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. Abraham offered it up instead of his son. Imagine the joy, relief, and blessing Abraham felt at that moment. God spared Abraham the pain that He did not spare Himself at Calvary. The ram was the substitute for Isaac. He named the place, “The Lord-Will-Provide,” not the Lord provided, because by faith he looked forward to the cross of Christ still hundreds of years ahead. In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided. God would provide the Lamb.

Jesus is the Lamb of God who took away the sins of the world, and opened the way for people who believe in Him to be saved. Paul writing in Romans 8:32 said, “He who did spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him freely give us all things.” We are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. All things belong to us because we belong to Christ.

Since God provided for our greatest need of salvation, He has promised to meet all our needs of all other things as well. There is a beautiful song that says, “Sing hallelujah, God hath provided the Lamb, O sing hallelujah, God hath provided the Lamb.” Let us rejoice that He provides for us daily His richest blessings and and meets all our needs.

Have a blessed Lord’s Day worshiping the Lamb who provided for us and will provide for us. Stay safe and healthy.

In His wonderful love,

Dean

-March 19, 2022-

Good morning, happy Saturday,

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

(Psalm 23:1).

Psalm 23 is arguably the best loved and most familiar portion of God’s Word. I am sure most of us have it memorized. It is so comforting and encouraging in times of sorrow and difficulty. The Lord Jesus is our Good Shepherd, Great Shepherd, Chief Shepherd. He died to save us, lives to care for us, and will come again to take us home and reward us for labors for Him.

David wrote, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” We are the sheep of His pasture. He promises to provide for us. The word want can be translated “lack.” We can therefore say, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not lack.” Some say that God gives us what we need, not what we want; and that is true, but more accurately, He gives us what is good for us according to His will. Sometimes what we want is what we need, and is according to His will. Other times God does not give things to us that which will not be good for us.

Paul wrote to the generous Philippian believers, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). Jesus used the example of a human father with his children. If a child asks for bread, he won’t give him a stone; and if he asks for a fish, he won’t give him a serpent. Jesus said that God is a much greater giver and will give His children good things when they ask Him. He loves us so much!

Psalm 84:11 says, “For the Lord is a sun and shield; the Lord gives grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.” When we pray, we should always pray for the Lord’s perfect will. He has already given us all things that pertain to life and godliness, every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, and an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and reserved for us in heaven. We lack nothing. Our Shepherd cares for us so wonderfully. In Psalm 23:2-3, it says, “He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.”

My Shepherd has takes care of me all my life. He has always provided for me and guided me. He has met my needs and given so many good things. I am sure that He has done the same for you too. He is our Shepherd, we shall not lack. He is so good and faithful. We are all so undeserving and unworthy.

Have a blessed day following our Shepherd wherever He leads us. We will lack nothing. Stay safe and healthy.

Under His watchful and loving care,

Dean