Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-April 11, 2025-

Good morning beloved, happy Friday,

“But Samuel ministered before the Lord, even as a child, wearing a linen ephod.”

(1 Samuel 2:18).

Josiah was the youngest king of Judah at eight years; Samuel was the youngest prophet. Hannah promised the Lord to lend him to Him if would God answer her prayers for a male child.

Samuel may have been two or three years old when Hannah brought him to the tabernacle to live with the aged prophet Eli. Year after year Hannah brought him a little robe. Kids out grow their clothes and shoes pretty fast.

Even as a child he had a hunger for the Word of God and desire to serve Him.Young Samuel grew up to be Israel’s last judge and first prophet; in fact he was the only one who was a prophet, a priest, and a judge.He served the Lord faithfully in a circuit traveling all through the land of Israel. He anointed both Saul and David. He was a great man of God.

How young is too young to learn the Word? It is amazing how many children come to Christ at a young age and receive Him as Savior. Sunday School teachers teach them a lot once a week, but parents teach every day. Parents you never know if you are raising a Samuel or Timothy.

Hannah weaned Samuel before bringing him to the tabernacle; then Samuel was weaned on the Word of God. I love all the children in our church. Our kids are so well taught in the Scriptures. All of us have the responsibility to being examples to the young ones.

Have a blessed day. Stay safe and healthy.

Kids are the future church; We must pass to them the torch.

Dean

-April 10, 2025-

Good morning beloved, happy Thursday,

“And He said to them, ‘Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”

(Luke 12:15).

Jesus used any and every opportunity to teach a lesson. Someone in the crowd shouted out to Jesus, “…Tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” The key phrase is “with me.”

Money can ruin relationships I and tear apart families. This man wanted Jesus to side with him in a messy family dispute over an inheritance. Jesus wouldn’t do it.

Instead Jesus warned against covetousness (greed). Life doesn’t consist of things. People are far more important than money or possessions. Our Savior told the parable of the Rich Fool, who decided to tear down his barns and build larger ones so he would have much for years to come. Jesus called him a fool for making no provision for eternity and he left it all behind.

Life is all about Jesus not about us, nor things of this world. One of my favorite singers is Allan Jackson. He sings so many beautiful hymns. One is entitled, “It’s All About Him.” The second verse says, “It’s not about ego or things you can hold, it’s not about power, or silver or gold. Not who’s at your table or where you lay down, it’s not about spreadin your wings on the ground.”

Have a blessed day living all about Him. Stay safe and healthy.

Things only satisfy for a moment—Christ satisfies forever.

-April 9, 2025-

Good morning beloved, happy Wednesday,

“Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.”

(Psalm 119:11).

The unknown psalmist wrote this wonderful psalm that speaks of the Word of God. Today’s verse shows the importance of the Word to us personally, powerfully, and practically.

God never intended the Bible to sit on a shelf or coffee table or in an ornate church. He meant for every believer to learn it, mediate on it, study it, memorize it, and apply it to our lives.

It is so vital to hide the Word in our hearts so that when we need it we can draw upon it. My great uncle Irwin used to always quote the phrase, “Sin will keep you from the Bible, and the Bible will keep us from sin.”

Psalm 37:31 says, “The law of his God is in his heart, none of his steps shall slide.” The word slide can be rendered slip. In times of trial, temptation, fear, and anxiety—God brings His Word to our hearts and minds at just right time. The Scriptures garrison our hearts when the evil one unceasingly and relentlessly attacks us.

It is said of Mary the mother of Jesus, “But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.” This is where we get the expression “to take something to heart.” We take in the Word that we may bring it up and act it out in our lives.

We often note the difference between head knowledge verses heart knowledge. We can know something in our minds, but until it reaches our hearts we will not really know it fully; and not until we practice it will it become part of us.

May the Lord help us to hide the implanted Word in our hearts daily to keep us on the straight and narrow path, the highway of holiness.

Have a blessed day musing on the Word and letting it touch your heart and change your life. Stay safe and healthy.

By hiding the Word in our hearts, it shows in our lives like a light that cannot be hidden.

Dean

-April 8, 2025-

Good morning beloved, happy Tuesday,

“Behold what manner of the love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called the children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.”

(1 John 3:1).

One of the most beautiful titles for believers in Christ is “children of God.” God is our Heavenly Father and we are part of His family through His beloved Son, Jesus Christ. Ten times in 1 John, John calls us children or little children.

God has adopted us into His family to be His forever children. As such we are loved, blessed, and enriched in Christ. This why there is such great joy and excitement in John’s words, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Exclamation marks are not in the original language, but they are placed in key places that are appropriate.

Once we were children of the devil, orphans in this world. Now we are God’s beloved children. It is so encouraging as we live in this troubled, sinful world. You can join me and say, “I am a child of God” when Satan buffets us, discourages us, and accuses us.

Robert Boswell wrote a wonderful hymn entitled, “Boundless Love.” It is based primarily on our text today. The first verse says, “Behold, what manner of love, the Father has bestowed, on sinners lost, that we should be now be called the sons of God!”

Have a blessed day rejoicing in our high position as children of God. Stay safe and healthy.

We are the children of the King; He loves us so much and gives us everything.

Dean

-April 7, 2025-

Good morning beloved, happy Monday,

“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.”

(James 1:5).

The world doesn’t lack wisdom, but it sorely lacks the right kind of wisdom—God’s wisdom. How do we obtain God’s wisdom? God gives it to us through His Word by the Holy Spirit.

James tells us how to gain God’s wisdom by praying to Him in faith. James 1:6 says, “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.”

When I was on vacation last week, I saw the waves of the Pacific Ocean and strong winds that stirred the sea. It was amazing how high the waves were and how they pounded the coastline. We live in turbulent times politically, socially, economically, financially, physically, mentally, and emotionally. The waves of change and hard times are all around us.

God’s wisdom is from heaven above and is sent down to us who need it so much. James also said, “But the wisdom that is above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and hypocrisy” (James 3:17).

God’s wisdom is putting His knowledge and understanding into practice in our lives. Proverbs 9:10 tells us, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

May each of us pray for wisdom and God will give to us abundantly and help us live the lives that He wants us live; to know what to do, how to it, and when to do it. Sometimes it is wise to keep silent, other times it is wise to speak that right words at the right time in the right way.

Have a blessed day living in and by God’s wisdom. Stay safe and healthy.

God’s wisdom from heaven above helps us to live on earth below.

Dean