Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-February 25, 2025-

Good morning, beloved, happy Friday,

“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”

(James 4:7).

The devil is a defeated foe. Jesus was victorious over him through the cross and the empty tomb. Even so, he fights on against Christ and His people. Though he is powerful, his power is nothing compared to the Lord’s.

Spiritual warfare is very important, especially for all soldiers of Christ. Both Peter and James were cognizant of this and said the same thing: resist the devil. Though both tell us how to resist, each gives us extremely important ways to do it.

1 Peter 5:8-9 says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.”

What does it mean to resist the devil. The word resist is defined as, “refrain from doing or having something (tempting or unwise); to exert oneself so as to counteract or defeat.” We can’t resist or defeat the devil on our own; we need the power of the Holy Spirit.

Paul wrote a whole section on spiritual warfare in Ephesians 6:10-18. He tells us to stand against the wiles, (schemes, tricks, lies) of the devil by putting on the whole armor of God and praying in the Spirit.

So taken together, we should resist the devil being steadfast in the faith, being strong in the Lord, by standing against the wiles of the devil, by putting on the whole armor of God, and by being watchful, and by praying in the Spirit. When we do these things the devil will flee from us.

During WWII, the allied forces fought Nazi Germany and its leader Adolf Hitler. Even when France was occupied by Nazi troops, France fought back in the form of the French Resistance. These brave men and women worked behind the scenes and wreaked havoc on the occupying Germans.

Let us resist the devil today and he will flee from us. Have a blessed and victorious day in the Lord. Stay safe and healthy.

Jesus said, “Get behind me, Satan.” We should say the same thing to him in the name of Jesus and by the power of His blood.

Dean

-February 24, 2025-

Good morning, dear friends, happy Monday,

“Therefore submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you.”

(James 4:7).

Have you ever considered how submission is linked to humility? In the verse preceding our text today, James wrote in James 4:6, “But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: ‘God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’”

We can’t submit ourselves to God until we humble ourselves before Him; we can’t be humble before Him unless submit to Him. These two virtues complement one another beautifully.

We are no longer under the law with its condemnation for disobedience, but under grace. In essence we are under a different law, the law of love and liberty; we still need to obey God, not for salvation but in order to please Him.

The word submit is defined as, “accept or yield to a superior force or to the authority or will of another person.” God is our authority, and we must submit to Him and His will for our lives. Christ is our loving Lord and He wants what is the very best for lives.

The opposite of submission is rebellion, rejection, and refusal. If we don’t submit, we are hurting ourselves the most. As those who submit to God we are called to submit to our leaders, both in the government, at work, and at home.

Submitting to God is like obeying the traffic signs on the road: Danger, Stop, Slow Down, Yield, the speed limit, and others. God has a purpose for everything that He brings into our lives. He uses them to teach us and grow our faith.

Let us then submit to God and His will. He will see us through and cause all things to work for our good in our lives. Have a blessed day. Stay safe and healthy.

God’s love for us helps us to submit to Him.

Dean

-February 23, 2025-

Good morning, dear brothers and sisters, happy Lord’s Day,

“For the kingdom is the Lord’s, and He rules over the nations.”

(Psalm 22:28).

There have been many rulers over nations. Some even rule over a few different nations. The Lord Jesus Christ rules over all the nations. He is the King of glory—none can compare to Him.

There will be a time when our Savior will come back to rule and reign over the earth for a thousand years. Revelation 12:5 says, “She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.” The woman speaks of Israel and the Child is Jesus Christ.

God the Father has given Jesus the kingdom. Right now He sits at the Father’s right hand on the throne. He rules over all the nations. When go through severe trials, it is good to remember our Lord is still on the throne and in control. We are His beloved people. One day we will rule and reign with Him.

The nations, even all put together, are no match for the Lord! They are nothing to Him. Isaiah 40:15 tells us, “Behold, the nations are as a drop in the bucket, and counted as the small dust on the scales; Look, He lifts up the isles as a very little thing.” The Lord is the final authority and reigns in heaven. Isaiah 40:17 says, “All nations are before Him as nothing, and they are counted by Him as less than nothing and worthless.”

Thank God that our Jesus has brought us into His kingdom. We are sons of the kingdom, kingdom disciples. Oh, how privileged we are! Jesus is the Ruler of all ages. All earthy rulers reign for a few years with limited power; Jesus reigns over all forever with unlimited power.

Have a blessed day worshipping the King of glory and doing His will. Stay safe and healthy.

The song writer Michael W. Smith wrote, “Above all powers, above all kings, above all nature and all created things. Above all wisdom and all the ways of man, You were here before the world began.”

Dean

-February 22, 2025-

Good morning dear ones, happy Saturday,

“He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength.”

(Isaiah 40:29).

Aren’t you glad the Bible is chock-full of promises? Today’s verse assures us of God’s power and strength when we are weak.

The reason this promise is so encouraging is that we often weak, exhausted, and feeing hopeless. The Lord knows our weaknesses and gives us His strength. I am sure most of us have experienced weaknesses in our lives, and how God has strengthened us to carry on.

It is only when we come to our Lord in our weakness and seek God’s power that we find Him to be our enough. We err when we rely on our own strength to get through our difficulties. It never works, nor will it ever work.

I know I get tired and I pray for the Lord to strengthen me and give me a second wind. He always does. God’s grace gets us through the toughest times. David wrote in Psalm 6:2, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak; O Lord, heal me, for my bones are troubled.”

There is a wonderful hymn entitled, “Just a Closer Walk With Thee.” I love this hymn. The first line says, “I am weak but Thou art strong; Jesus keep me from all wrong; I’ll be satisfied as long as I walk, let me walk close to Thee.”

May we come to the Father in the name of Jesus. Let us acknowledge our weakness and inability; relying on His strength not our own. Have a blessed day. Stay safe and healthy.

As Paul wrote, “…for when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10).

-February 21, 2023-

Good morning beloved, happy Friday,

“Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

(Hebrews 12:2).

Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith. He created us, He died for us, He redeemed us. These two titles are so beautiful and descriptive of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

• Jesus is the Author – Our Lord is both the Author of the Word of God as well as the Author of our salvation. He is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. The Greek word translated “author” can be rendered “originator.” He started everything in the world, and in the whole universe. This is the only use of the word author in the Bible.

• Jesus is the Finisher – Most of us are familiar with John 19:30, which says, “So when Jesus has received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished!’ And bowing His head, He gave up His Spirit.” Jesus completed the work of our salvation by bearing our sins, shedding His blood, and paying the price of our sins in full. The Greek word for “finisher” can be rendered “perfecter.”

We now by faith can look unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. He is our hope, our peace, our joy. He died for sins and was raised for our justification. We are complete in Him. One day, and hopefully soon, we will see Him face to face in heaven.

Have a blessed day learning from the Author and resting in the Finisher of our faith. Stay safe and healthy.

“Face to face I shall behold Him, far beyond the starry sky; Face to face in all His glory, I shall see Him by and by!” (Carrie E. Breck).

Dean