Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-July 10, 2025-

Good morning beloved, happy Thursday,

“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God in whom I trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”

(Psalm 18.2).

David, the writer of this psalm, was extremely familiar with shields and he was very proficient with them. As he thought about it, he saw the parallels between the shield and the Lord.

Five times in the Scripture, the expression “my shield” is used of the Lord. Shields are used for protection and defense. The Lord is our defense against the onslaught of the devil.

Whenever we face an obstacle, He is our shield; whatever we go through, He is our shield; whatever attacks come, He is our shield.

Have a blessed day behind your shield, taking cover with the shield. Stay safe and healthy.

We never need to yield, when the Lord is our shield.

Dean

-July 9, 2025-

Good morning beloved, happy Wednesday,

“The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise.”

(Psalm 28:7).

In order to be helped you first need to realize that you need help, then you have go to the right person, and finally you have to accept that help. These principles work every time. Yesterday I went to see the ophthalmologist about a cataract. She checked my eyes thoroughly and told me that it is mild and I don’t need surgery. I rejoiced and thanked the Lord.

The psalmist says, “…My heart trusted in Him, I am helped.” Only God can help us. He understood there was no help in people or in anything in this world. There is a common but erroneous expression that still circulates in the world, “God helps those who help themselves.” It is so wrong and so, well, unhelpful!

Instead we need to know that God helps the helpless. We can’t rely on ourselves, our own strength, our own understanding, our own wisdom. We need to trust the Lord for His answers, solutions, and resolutions.

Psalm 121:1-2 says, “I will lift up my eyes to the hills—from when whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” God is our only help because He is our only hope.

There is a beautiful hymn written by Henry F. Lyte, entitled, “Abide with Me.” The first verse says, “Abide with me—fast falls the even tide; The darkness deepens—Lord with me abide; When other helpers fail and comforts flee, Help of the helpless, O abide with me.”

Have a blessed day running to the Lord for His help. Stay safe and healthy.

Help is just a prayer away when it comes from the Lord.

Dean

-July 8, 2025-

Good morning beloved, happy Tuesday,

“Strengthening the souls of disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, ‘We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.’”

(Acts 14:22).

Tribulations are very much part of the Christian life. Jesus promised the disciples in John 16:33, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

These peace and courage help us in and through tribulation. Paul tells the believers that we must go through many tribulations to enter the kingdom of God. Trials are necessary in our spiritual life in order to grow our faith. So often we would not choose comfort, stress free, lives of ease; instead chooses what is best for us.

Not only did Paul speak of trials, but so did James and Peter as well. James admonishes us to count it all joy when we fall into various trials and Peter urges us not to think it strange when we go through fiery trials. Trials not only grow our faith, they test our faith.

It is interesting that Paul uses the word “many” regarding trials and tribulations. Have you ever experienced multiple trials at the same time? I know I have. Certainly Job and many others in Scripture.

Have blessed day enduring trials, resting in His grace. Stay safe and healthy.

When you can smile in the midst of your trial, then your faith will grow a mile.

Dean

-July 7, 2025-

Good morning beloved, happy Monday,

“But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

(Hebrews 5:14).

The writer of Hebrews desires that everyone grow to maturity, resulting in discernment. We live in a world of confusion, uncertainty, sin, and troubles. We have decisions to make and choices to pursue. Like a banana we must peel back things to see the true nature of them.

Discernment is crucial to victorious Christian living. Not everything we hear is truth, not everything is clear cut. We need discernment. The word discern is defined as, “to perceive or recognize something; to see or understand the difference; to examine, prove, or test; scrutinize.”

The Word of God is the key to our growth and maturity. Full age is not in years but in applying the Scripture and being obedient to the Lord.

How much discernment do you have? Are your senses exercised to discern both good and evil? It is so vital for us to have our eyes and ears open to people and circumstances. Sometimes something just doesn’t sound right. We need to examine everything in the light of God’s Word.

The devil makes sin appear pleasurable and satisfying. We must realize there are consequences to sin. Adam and Eve found this out in the Garden of Eden. The same is true of us as well.

Let us develop and utilize the skill of discernment in every situation. It takes constant use and practice. Have a blessed day. Stay safe and healthy.

Test every word, action, and thing in the light of the Word, judging rightly.

Dean

-July 6, 2025-

Good morning beloved, happy Lord’s Day,

“I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also.”

(Romans 16:1-2).

Today’s verses speak of a wonderful lady named Phoebe from the church of Cenchrea. Paul speaks of many individuals in Romans 16:1-16. Phoebe was not just mentioned by commended by the Apostle Paul.

This passage is where we get the teaching on letters of commendation from one church to another for someone moving to a new church, usually in another state. Our elders have done so for some in the past.

Apparently she was traveling and had some business that she had to attend to. Paul called upon the saints to receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints. He wanted them to help her in whatever business she had.

Paul notes that she is a sister in Christ who served the Lord in Cenchrea. Reading this portion we glean that she served the Lord and many including Paul himself. We can be assured that God will make sure His servants and served and helped.

The term singled out is phrasal verb, meaning, “to treat or to speak about (someone or something in a group) in a way that is different from the way one treats or speaks about others.” This was certainly the case with Phoebe. Paul had a special affection and great respect for this dear lady.

In a sense, every believer in Christ is singled out by God’s grace from all the people in the world. We are all saved and are members of the body of Christ. The Lord knows all about us and loves us immensely, intensely, intentionally.

Have a blessed day as God’s special child. Stay safe and healthy.

God’s description of us means everything to us.

Dean