Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-April 26, 2025-

Good morning beloved, happy Saturday,

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

Romans 8:28).

Life rarely works according to plan, at least according our plans. There are delays, cancellations, interruptions, mishaps, and mistakes. God wants us to be flexible and trust in Him.

My friend Mike always says, “Be flexible and you will never get bent out of shape.” That is so true. I grew up playing with a toy called Gumby. You could bend him, stretch him, or squeeze him; still he kept his shape.

I don’t know about you, but I still need to learn this lesson. We tend to have high expectations and when we do we can be disappointed.

Paul gives us the remedy, “All things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose. God has a plan for our lives and nothing happens out His perfect, permissible, and directive will.

When can realize this we are the better for it. It can keep us from much frustration. I preach to myself first. Just Friday I stayed home all day waiting for my new debit card. First, they said it was coming between 8:40 to 12:40; then the estimate changed between 12:00 to 2:00; the third estimate was before 8:00. It goes without saying, I wasn’t happy about it. Then I had to leave to pick a prescription for someone. I just left it in the Lord’s hands.

Have a blessed day whatever direction that day takes. Stay safe and healthy.

God is in life’s twists and turns.

Dean

-April 25, 2025-

Good morning, happy Friday,

“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”

(Romans 8:37).

In this world we experience many trials, temptations, and troubles; the Apostle Paul says, “…we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” How can this be? It is all because of Jesus.

The word conquer is defined as, “to overcome or take control (a place or people) by use of military force.” As believers we share in the victory of Christ at the cross. Whom did Christ defeat at Calvary? He triumphed over sin, Satan, and this world.

Jesus said 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.” Only the Lord gives us the victory.

We are not only conquerors, we are more than conquerors. This is so important for us to remember when we go through hard times. Jesus is with us, the Captain of our ship, our Commander-In-Chief. He sees us through the storms of life.

Why then do we doubt? Why do we try to make it in our own? Why do we feel discouraged? Psalm 46:1 says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” It can also be rendered as, “an abundantly available help.” We must seek the Lord and trust in Him in order to be victorious.

The Lord is with us on Monday morning as much as He is with at church on Sunday at church. We can face anything and everything that happens to us through His love and grace. When something comes up, the Lord already knows about it and how He will get us through it.

Have a blessed day as more than conquerors through Christ. Stay safe and healthy.

Jesus turns our defeats into victories.

Dean

-April 24, 2025-

Good morning beloved, happy Thursday,

“So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully.”

(Luke 19:6).

Often people came to Jesus to heal them and save them; other times Jesus came to them. In the case of Zacchaeus did both: because was short, he climbed up in a Sycamore tree so that could see Jesus. He had great faith and determination to see Jesus.

Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector, hated by both the Jews and the Romans. The Jews called them sinners and wouldn’t associate with them. Tax collectors collected the amount charged by the Romans and charged an extra fee in on top of it. They got rich in a very unscrupulous way.

Chief tax collectors were the worst of the worst; they collected a fee from the other tax collectors and became even richer. Zacchaeus knew he was a sinner and that Jesus received sinners.

Jesus saw Zacchaeus in the tree and called him down to go to his house. This is the first time Jesus invited Himself over for dinner. It was also an outreach to his family and friends. Onlookers complained that Jesus went to be a guest of sinner.

Jesus loves sinners and saves them. Zacchaeus showed true repentance and salvation. Jesus said, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham” (Luke 19:9). What a life changing experience for Zacchaeus; his life would never be the same.

Jesus explained in Luke 19:10, “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which lost.” Souls are precious to the Lord and He reaches out His arms of love to everyone who comes to Him.

Sunday School kids love this story— we all love it too. It is our story. We, like Zacchaeus, must see our need of Jesus and come to Him as lost sinners. He will never turn us away.

Have a blessed day as a sinner saved by grace. Stay safe and healthy.

We must come down from our high tree, to come to Jesus to be set free.

Dean

-April 23, 2025-

Good morning beloved, happy Wednesday,

“But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.”

(Luke 18:23).

The rich young ruler came to Jesus seeking eternal life. He had so much in this world’s goods, yet was so poor in God’s. He asked the question, “…What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus tested him by saying keep the commandments, and names several of them.

He responded, “All these things I have kept from my youth.” Jesus was trying to show him no one can keep the law perfectly. We are all sinners in need of a Savior. Jesus point His finger on this man’s issue: he was trusting in his riches. It was like a weight he carried around his neck.

Riches have kept many people from Christ down through the centuries. In Luke 18:22 Jesus told him, “one thing you still lack, sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and will have treasure in heaven; and come follow Me.” Jesus was not saying there is anything we can do or give to be saved, but there are certain sins that keep us from salvation.

This young man’s countenance fell and became very sorrowful for he was rich and unwilling to give it up. Jesus said in Matthew 5:24, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God or mammon (money).”

One of the soils that the seed of the of the gospel fell among the thorns, and the cares of this world and deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful (See Matthew 13:22).

As believers we must be on guard against anything that would keep us from walking closely with Christ. It may be about making money and hoarding for ourselves or any other hindrance that we cling to.

Have a blessed day laying up treasure in heaven not on this earth. Stay safe and healthy.

The root of all evil is the love of money and it has shipwrecked many a soul.

Dean

-April 22, 2025-

Good morning beloved, happy Tuesday,

“Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.”

(Proverbs 3:9-10).

Today’s verses are so encouraging and challenging to our hearts. When we honor God, He honors is; we can never out give the Lord. He is so generous with us so that when we receive from Him, we can give to help others and further the work of the Lord.

Solomon tells us to honor God with our possessions and firstfruits of all our increase. Giving money is very important, but it not the only thing we should give. What do you have to give? It may be possessions, time, effort, help, encouragement, love, and most of all our hearts.

God promises when we give that He will bless us abundantly. Our barns will be filled with plenty and our vats will overflow with new wine. Malachi 3:10 tells us, “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘if I will not open the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough room to receive it.’”

What great promise! You can count on it! But we don’t honor God and give because of what we will get or receive; we give honor Him because we love Him.

You don’t have to be a preacher or singer or writer, or have any public ministry. All of us can honor God with what we have. You may have little or you may have much, but God loves a cheerful giver.

Have a blessed God honoring God with the best you have to give. Stay safe and healthy.

Honoring God is putting Him and His interests first.

Dean