Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-May 16, 2025-

Good morning beloved, happy Friday,

“It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statues.”

(Psalm 119:71).

Growing up I remember hearing the phrase often, “It is good for you.” Whether it is taking medicine, getting a shot, going to the dentist, eating vegetables, or any number of things. At the time, good the furthest thing on our minds.

For us as believers, affliction is good for us. The definition of affliction is, “a cause of persistent pain or distress; great suffering. Things things rarely seem good or pleasant at the time. Hebrews 12:11 says, “Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”

Whether trials, afflictions, or chastening, they are good for us spiritually. God loves us and they are a definite indication of God’s love. James 1:2-3 tells us, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.”

Though it not easy, we must make the conscious effort to count it all joy and thank the Lord for what He brings into our lives. The Psalmist also wrote, “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word” (Psalm 119:67).

So the next time you hear, It is good for you,” you can think what the Scripture says, “It is for my own good,” and we can remember the word that says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

Have a blessed day trusting in Jesus. Stay safe and healthy.

In whatever you face, trust in Jesus for His sufficient grace. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean

-May 15, 2025-

Good morning beloved, happy Thursday,

“When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been in that condition a long time, He said to him, ‘Do you want to be made well.’”

(John 5:6).

Jesus came to the Pool of Bethesda where people gathered to be healed of their infirmities. An angel would come at a certain time and stir up the water. The first person who stepped into the water was immediately healed. Others would have to come back next time.

Jesus met there a crippled or paralyzed man who had been in this condition thirty-eight long years. Imagine thirty-eight years! Thirty-eight long years of suffering and with no one to help him into the water. There would always be someone stepping in front of him.

At first glance, the question Jesus asked him seemed so obvious. He asked him, “Do you want to be made well?” To a certain degree it was obvious, but Jesus wanted this man to desire His healing.

Sometimes people don’t want anyone’s help, which is always hard for me to believe. In the San Francisco Bay Area, we have a big homeless problem. There are many reasons why people live on the streets, some out of necessity, but many more by choice. The latter group refuse any shelter or help. They don’t want to work or be responsible or accountable to anyone.

This man had no issue in seeking Jesus’ assistance. Jesus was his only help, his only hope. Jesus told him, “Rise, take your bed and walk.” Immediately he did and was healed.

Jesus has the desire to heal, answer, and help us if we are willing to come to him. Jesus never turned anyone away who sincerely came to Him.

As believers we sometimes stay in the same condition for weeks, months, or years. We may try to change, try to do it in our own strength, but it never works. We can’t conquer addictions, habits, fears, or anything else apart from Jesus.

What is your need? Jesus already knows about it, but He wants you to tell him about. We can’t be helped until we recognize and acknowledge our need. He alone can give the answer or solution we desperately need.

Have a blessed day looking to Jesus for everything. Stay safe and healthy.

Let’s go to the One who can help us, and wants to help us.

Dean

-May 14, 2025-

Good morning beloved, happy Wednesday,

“Then they said to the woman, ‘Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed is the Christ, the Savior of the world.’”

(John 4:42).

When speaking to people who are unsure of our credibility, we may say, “Don’t just believe me?” It simply implies that the person should check it out for themselves.

Here in John 4 we have the story of the Samaritan woman at well whom Jesus saved. She was so excited to tell the whole town of Sychar about Jesus. As a result many came to Christ and believed in Him.

John 4:39 says, “And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, ‘He told me all that I ever did.’” There were still many others who came to faith by hearing Jesus themselves.

Each person has to choose to believe in Jesus and receive Him as Lord and Savior. There were those who said, “Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.”

This passage teaches us that people respond to the gospel differently; there are those who respond to Christ the first time we share Him and based on our witness and testimony; then there others who take a little longer to be convicted and come to the Savior. Each one must see their need of Christ and make a personal decision to receive Him.

We sow the seed of the gospel, God alone brings about results for His glory. Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Have a blessed day being a bright testimony and witness for Christ, pointing people to Him. Stay safe and healthy.

All are affected, but not all believe; but all who believe are transformed by the power of the gospel.

Dean

-May 13, 2025-

Good morning dear friends, happy Tuesday,

“You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.”

(2 Timothy 2:3-4).

In Part I yesterday, we discussed that we must endure hardship as good soldiers of Jesus Christ. We are part of the army of God to fight the good fight of faith. As difficult as hardship is, it has a blessing for us spiritually.

Today, we focus on how we can please our Commander-In- Chief. He is the One who enlisted us a soldier. We may think that to be good soldiers we must be properly trained and equipped. Though this is true, but Paul says here, “No one engaged in active warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.”

Entangling ourselves in worldly, earthly, temporary things only distract and discourage us. The devil delights in getting us to focus on things, not on Christ. The word entangle is defined as, “caused to become twisted together with or caught in.”

Sometimes we can get entangled in spider webs, sea weeds at the ocean, or other physical things. We have all had shoelaces tied in a knot that is hard to get loose. A string of Christmas lights so easily gets tangled.

Worse yet we can get entangled by sin and the things of this life. Hebrews 12:1 says, “…let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and run with endurance the race set before us.”

To be effective, efficient, excellent soldiers we can’t let the world or sin ensnare us. Have a blessed day as good soldiers of Jesus Christ. Stay safe and healthy.

The key to victory is to follow orders from headquarters.

Dean

-May 12, 2025-

Good morning dear friends, happy Monday.

“You therefore must endure hardship as good soldiers of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.”

(2 Timothy 2:3-4).

In this section of 2 Timothy 2:1-13, Paul speaks of being strong in grace. He uses several analogies of the Christian life: being soldiers, athletes, and farmers. Each of these is worthy of our study and meditation.

When a person enlists in military service, he or she signs up for a life of full allegiance and commitment to our country. It therefore should be done with careful consideration of all the ramifications. Your lives are your own and you must give over all your personal things. They give what to wear, and the weapons and equipment you need to function in your role as a soldier.They tell when to sleep, when to eat, and when to fight.

Being a soldier is not easy from bootcamp to the battlefield. The same is true of us as good soldiers of Jesus Christ. Paul tells us we must endure hardship. This is especially true when a soldier is in active combat. Being a soldier requires sacrifice, privation, and hard physical effort. One has to be all in, all the time.

The word hardship is defined as, “severe suffering or privation.” The Christian life is filled with many hardships: spiritual, physical, mental, emotional, social, material, and financial. They are difficult to go through.

For us there are spiritual battles to fight against the world, the flesh, and the devil. Because we still have the old nature we must engage in fighting against sin. The word “endure” can be rendered “you must share.” Thus we share in the life of Christ and when we stand for Him we will suffer persecution and opposition.

Have a blessed day serving in the Lord’s Army. There will be hardships but there will also be the grace to fight on. Stay and healthy.

The battle is not ours but the Lord’s, all our days and all our hours.

Dean