Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-February 17, 2025-

Good morning beloved, happy Monday, happy Presidents’ Day

“For kings and all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.”

(1 Timothy 2:2).

We declared our independence and freedom from the British in 1776. We fought a war against the most powerful country at the time, and no longer serve a king, but are under republic. We have so many freedoms, one of which is to choose our president every four years. Our government is the people and by for the people.

Today, we honor two great presidents: George Washington, our first president, and Abraham Lincoln, our sixteenth president. Both were great leaders, but even greater men. In 1968, there was a resolution passed to make the third Monday in February, Presidents’ Day, to honor of these two great men, and all presidents who served our country down to the present day.

Washington commanded the Continental Army to victory over the British, and was elected our first president and served two terms. He declined to run for a third term. He was a humble, God fearing man, of the highest character. He was a strong leader and a great examples for subsequent presidents to follow.

Abraham Lincoln came from a humble background to be elected president under tremendously difficult conditions. There was a division between the north and the south over slavery and over economic issues. Lincoln, like Washington before him, did what right, feared God, and fought a civil war to reunite the country. He suffered so much over a divided country and all the troops who died fighting for freedom. His life was cut short by an assassin’s bullet.

It used to be that character in a president counted for even more than performance; but that is not the case so much anymore. We don’t have leaders like Washington and Lincoln today. The job of being president of the United States is one of the most difficult and pressure filled jobs in America. I believe that the president is overworked and underpaid; scrutinized and criticized way too much, and not appreciated the way he should be.

Let us honor our presidents today and pray for our current president and all our government leaders. Have a blessed day. Stay safe and healthy.

No matter who is in the White House, he deserves our respect and our prayers for his leadership and hard work.

Dean

-February 16, 2025-

Good morning beloved, happy Lord’s Day,

“He will not be afraid of evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.”

(Psalm 112:7).

This wonderful psalm speaks of a blessed man, a God fearing man, an upright man, a good man, and a steadfast man. Today, I want to focus on the steadfast man.

The word steadfast is such a great word to describe a believer in Jesus Christ. It is inspiring, encouraging, and challenging, especially in the times we live in.

The word steadfast is defined as, “Resolutely or dutifully firm and unwavering; firmly fixed in place, not subject to change; firm in belief, determination, or adherence.” You notice that the dictionaries I drew from all speak of being firm.

I think all of us desire to be steadfast in our walk with Christ. It all starts with a steadfast heart then translates to a steadfast life. There is no room for compromise. We must stand firm on the Word of God. It is possible to be steadfast without be unloving or unkind.

Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “Therefore, my beloved brethren be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:57). Our brother Paul also wrote in 1 Corinthians 16:13-14, “Watch, stand firm in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love.”

May the Lord help us to be steadfast, in season and out of season. We can’t give in, give up, or quit. Have a blessed Lord’s Day. Stay safe and healthy.

We may hold a minority view, but let’s stand for Christ and be faithful and true.

Dean

-February 15, 2025-

Good morning beloved, happy Saturday,

“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called, in one body; and be thankful.”

(Colossians 3:15).

To rule is to control and govern. Paul told the Colossians the way to accept and appropriate the peace of God in their lives and be thankful.

He wrote, “Let the peace of God rule in your hearts.” When peace rules, calm ensues. Jesus has given us peace in a hostile, chaotic, sinful world. All we have to do is claim it and put into practice. The Lord said in Isaiah 48:18, “Oh, that you had heeded My commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea.”

The hymn writer Horatio G. Stafford wrote, “When peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll—whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, it is well, it is well with my soul.” This man lost his wife and daughters at sea while they were crossing the Atlantic. He was stuck down but not destroyed by this. He left us this tremendous hymn, “It is well with my soul.”

So whatever we go through in life, whether good or bad, His peace will comfort and encourage our hearts. Just as Jesus calmed the Sea of Galilee and saved his terrified disciples from death; so also Jesus calmed the hearts of His disciples. His peace surpasses all understanding.

Let us then pray and call on the Lord. He promises to help us and give us peace. Have a blessed day. Stay safe and healthy.

The Lord doesn’t just give us a piece of His peace; He gives us the whole thing.

Dean

-February 14, 2025-

Good morning beloved, happy Friday, happy Valentine’s Day,

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.”

(1John 4:7).

The Apostle John is affectionately known as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” It is therefore appropriate that he should write so much on love. Jesus loved all of His disciples, but He had special, close relationship with John. John was the one who leaned his head in Jesus’ breast.

Today is Valentine’s Day, a day of love. St. Valentine was a real person, a genuine believer in Christ who was imprisoned and martyred for his faith in his blessed Savior. He sent out heart shaped cards from prison to the saints to encourage them on how much God loved them and he loved them.

Valentine’s Day has become a day of romantic love, but it much more. There are three Greek words in the NT for love: “agape,” God’s love, the greatest and highest love; “phileo,” the love of others, which should always flow from the love of God for us; and “eros,” which is physical or romantic love between a man and woman.

Paul spent a whole chapter, 1 Corinthians 13 on the subject of true love, what it is, what it isn’t, and the effect it has in our lives. Love goes beyond emotion to motion, or action. John tells us, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God.” 1 John 3:18 says, “My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.” It doesn’t mean we shouldn’t say, “I love you,” we should always, but it should be shown in actions.

When God is the source of our love, it will be true love; a love that cares, a love that shares, a love that gives, a love that sacrifices, a love that helps, a love that comforts, a love that never fails.

Valentine’s Day is for all of us, all the married couples, and even those who are single. It is also a special day for kids. There is a lady in our church named Cindy who gives a Valentine’s card, signed by Jesus, and chocolate bar to all the single people in our church every year. I consumed well before today.

Let us remember the extent, the excellence, and the expression of God true love and how to show it to others. Have a blessed Valentine’s Day with the one special person or persons in your life. Stay safe and healthy.

Love begins at home, but doesn’t end there.

Dean

-February 13, 2025-

Good morning dear friends, happy Thursday,

“I do not receive honor from men.”

(John 5:41).

Jesus is our example. He always sought to honor the Father and please Him. The Pharisees did the opposite; they sought the honor of men. They announced what they did for God, to be seen by people.

Jesus told them in John 5:44, “How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the holy God.”

This problem can happen in our lives today. It speaks to our motivation. Do we seek to please others, to be praised by others, to be seen by others?

We should serve the Lord in secret, not letting our left hand know what our right hand is doing. When we seek to please the Lord, God will honor us. When our lives are fully surrendered, everything is about Christ, not about us.

May the Lord help us to be God-pleasers not people pleasers. Have a blessed day. Stay safe and healthy.

Man’s standards are low—God’s standards are high. People look at the outward appearance, God looks at the heart.

Dean