Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-June 2, 2025-

Good morning beloved, happy Monday,

“But by the grace of God I am what I am; and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”

(1 Corinthians 15:10).

Like many of us we are uncomfortable speaking of ourselves. He deflected praise to the Lord and his fellow servants. He never sought the limelight or was self oriented.

Paul was saved by grace through faith and gave the Lord Jesus all the glory. Not only was he saved by grace, he was kept by grace and strengthened by grace. Grace is God’s unmerited favor that He lavishes upon us.

Paul uses the word grace twice in today’s verse. He says, “I am what I am by the grace of God.” We can learn the lesson that all that we are, all that we have, all that we do, all that we speak, and all we achieve in this world is by the grace of God.

God made us just how He desired and uses us to accomplish His will. Paul was centered, grounded, and focused on Christ. He lived for the Lord and served Him using the gifts God had given him. He refused to be distracted from his mission to preach the gospel and teach the Word of God.

The hymn writer Annie Johnson Flint wrote the hymn, “He Giveth More Grace.” The chorus says, “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 all we do be done by the grace of God and for the glory of God. Have a blessed day. Stay safe and healthy.

Just automobiles run on gas, we run on grace. His your tank empty or full?

Dean

-June 1, 2025-

Good morning, happy Lord’s Day,

“Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of Yours.”

(2 Chronicles 1:10).

Solomon became king after his father David. 2 Chronicles 1:7 says, “On that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, ‘Ask! What shall I give you?’”

Imagine Solomon had carte Blanche to ask whatever he wanted. There were many good choices, but he chose the best one: that he would receive wisdom and knowledge. He realized how great was the task of governing all Israel.

God was so pleased with what He asked for that He also added riches, wealth, and honor. Solomon became the wisest king ever. Whenever we think of wisdom, we automatically think of Solomon.

We as believers today need wisdom from above, knowledge, and understanding to live for the Lord in this world. We are assured of God’s wisdom if we ask Him in faith. James 1:5-6 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.”

May the Lord grant us wisdom in abundance day by day. It is a good prayer to begin each day, saying, Lord give me wisdom and strength for each hour. Have a blessed day. Stay safe and healthy.

God’s wisdom from above helps us to live joyfully and victoriously below.

Dean

-May 31, 2025-

Good morning beloved, happy Saturday,

“Jesus answered, ‘Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.’”

(John 11:9).

To the Jews of Jesus’ days, there were twelve hours in a day. The reason for this was they had no electricity. They started the day at 6:00 a.m the first hour, and ended at 6:00 p.m. the twelfth hour. This reckoning was based on the hours of the sun. They couldn’t see at night.

Jesus uses this analogy to speak in spiritual terms. As believers we have limited time to serve the Lord on this earth. Jesus said in John 9:5, “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.”

Since our time is limited, we must utilize every day we have to glorify and serve the Lord. We seem to lose to many opportunities that God has given us. Paul wrote, “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16).

Paul also tells us that we are sons of light and sons of the day. None of us know how much time we have left in the hourglass of our lives.

Have a blessed day using our time for the Lord. Stay safe and healthy.

May we make our days and hours count for eternity.

Dean

-May 30, 2025-

Good morning beloved, happy Friday,

“Now Martha said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.’”

(John 11:21).

Mary and her sister Martha loved Jesus very much and when He was in Bethany, He visit them and stay with them and their brother Lazarus. Lazarus became seriously ill and they sent word to Jesus, saying, “Lord, behold he whom You love is sick.”

Jesus purposefully stayed two more days knowing Lazarus would die and He would raise him from dead, a greater miracle than healing a sickness. He would show His great love and mighty power that glorified God to the max.

We are so often like Mary and Martha, saying “what if” or “if only.” We question why the Lord allows certain trials in our lives. And if don’t question why, we ask, “how long will it last.”

David wrote in Psalm 13:1, “How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me?” We err when we question God, yet it is so easy to fall into that trap of the devil. Someone once said, “When you can’t see His hand, trust His heart.”

Have a blessed day trusting the Lord’s wisdom, sovereignty, and love. Stay safe and healthy.

Question others but never question the Lord; He knows best and His ways are perfect.

Dean

-May 29, 2025-

Good morning beloved, happy Thursday,

“But your eyes have seen every great act (or work) of the Lord which He has done.”

(Numbers 11:7).

There is something special when we see something with our own eyes. The people of Israel left Egypt after seeing God work wonders in delivering them from bondage.

As the people journeyed in the wilderness they saw the parting of the Red Sea, and God’s victory over Pharaoh and his entire army. They saw Him provide water from a rock, manna from heaven, quail in abundance, and parting of the Jordan.

God was faithful, but most of the Israelites doubted, murmured, and complained. As a result, only Joshua and Caleb made it to the Promised Land, all the others who left Egypt died in the wilderness.

We ask ourselves how anyone could see what they saw and not be affected? We need to look no further than our sinful hearts. We seem to take God lightly or for granted. What He does not move us. We are even more responsible and accountable than they were. The Lord has saved us and given us many abundant blessings. Why do we not thank Him more?

Deuteronomy 29:2-3 says, “Now Moses called all Israel and said to them, ‘You have seen all that the Lord did before your eyes in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and his servants and to all his land—the great trials which your eyes have seen, the signs, and those great wonders.’”

Has God not done great things for us in saving us and helping through our journey on the path to heaven?He has protected us, led us, delivered us all through our lives.

Let us thank the Lord that we have seen so many great things in our lives. Stay safe and healthy.

See and remember what He has done; and thank Him from the dawn to setting sun.

Dean