Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-February 12, 2025-

Good morning beloved, happy Wednesday,

“In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, and my cry came before Him, even to His ears.”

(Psalm 18:6).

Psalm 18 was written by David when he was fleeing from Saul who wanted to kill him. He prayed with faith and confidence in God and He him and delivered him.

Isn’t it great that when come before the Lord, we don’t have wait in line, take a number, or make an appointment. He also doesn’t treat us like the ER and make us wait behind more serious cases.

David wrote, “In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried out to my God…” The word distress is a Hebrew word “tsar,” meaning straits, distress.” We still use the word distress in our modern language, and may say, “I’m in dire straits.” It comes down to being in big trouble.

Distress comes in many forms: spiritual, mental, emotional, physical, or financial. You may have some form of distress in your life today. You are pressed and stressed to your breaking point. We should share it with those who love and care for us, and ask for prayer. But even more, we need to call upon the Lord and cry to Him.

God hears our prayers in His holy temple in heaven, and they reach all the way to his ears. God hears and answers us at just the right time in just the right way.

Have a blessed day bringing your requests in faith and fervency to the throne of grace. Stay safe and healthy.

God brings redress in our distress

Dean

-February 11, 2025-

Good morning beloved, happy Tuesday,

(2 Peter 1:3).

“As His divine power has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.”

In Peter’s epistles, he wrote to believers scattered across the areas of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who were called pilgrims of the Dispersion (1 Peter 1:1-2). These people were God’s elect according to knowledge, sanctification, obedience, and sprinkling of the blood of Christ.

Peter focused on how precious Christ is to us and all that He has done for us. Here in today’s text, we see the extent of what He has given us. We are a forgetful people and need to be frequently reminded that, “…His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness.”

Just try for a moment to drink that in and consume for your life! What are the “all things” that Peter referred to? He means all the blessings and promises of the Word of God. Paul wrote a similar truth in Ephesians 1:3, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.”

We all have needs, problems, and difficulties; we go through trials, temptations, fears, troubles, and challenges. Let us remember who we are, God’s elect people; and what we have, all things that pertain to life and godliness. He has given us all that we need, both now and for all eternity. Life and godliness covers our lives like a warm blanket on a wintery night.

Have a blessed day claiming your inheritance and using it in your life. Stay safe and healthy.

All things means everything, to all of us, all the time, in all ways.

Dean

-February 10, 2025-

Good morning beloved, happy Monday,

“Whatever your hands finds to do, do it with all your might…”

(Ecclesiastes 9:10a).

Some people wait to be asked, some won’t act even if asked, and others do what needs to be done without having to be asked. I have several ministries that I saw needed to be done, and I started doing them and continue to do them. They are definitely “behind the scenes ministries.”

There was once a cement truck that had the sign on it, “Find a need and fill it.” I try to do this as much as I can. I know my limitations though, what I can do and what I can’t. If it is something electrical or is plumbing related, I seek someone with expertise to do it.

Paul writing to the Colossians said, “And whatever you do, do it heartily as to the Lord and not to men” (Colossians 3:23). The word heartily simply means with all your heart. We should all be doers, workers, and helpers in the church, our households, our neighborhoods, our offices, and our schools.

In our church, we are an all volunteer staff. Everyone serves so willingly and faithfully. Our compensation is God’s glorification. Jesus is worthy of all we do for Him and in His name.

Have a blessed day doing what needs to be done. Stay safe and healthy.

Let your hands be busy.

Dean

-February 9, 2025-

Good morning beloved, happy Lord’s Day,

“But if anyone does not provide for his own, especially for those of his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

(1 Timothy 5:8).

We as a Christians should provide for our own, especially those of our own families. The provision consists of spiritual, physical, emotional, and financial support.

Timothy was a young pastor who needed to teach those under his care how to love their families and meet their needs.

It is possible to get so involved in the Lord’s work that we can give less time and attention to those under our own roofs. Paul states that if we don’t provide for our own we have “denied the faith and are worse than unbelievers.”

Bill MacDonald commented on this verse, “When a Christian fails to do this, he denies the very truths which Christianity teaches. Such a person is worse than an unbeliever for the simple reason that many unbelievers show loving care for their own relatives. Also, a Christian can thus bring reproach on the name of the Lord in a way that an unbeliever cannot do.”

In my life, I have seen it happen that wives and kids suffer. Any service we render for the Lord begins at home. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for their abhorrent behavior to parents and even widows. They had one particularly horrible doctrine of excusing not helping their parents by saying something is Corban, meaning “given to God.”

May it never be said we have neglected to provide for our families. Love begins at home. Have a blessed day. Stay safe and healthy.

Love gives to those we love, it honors our Father in heaven above.

Dean

-February 8, 2025-

Good morning my dear friends,

“I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches.”

(Psalm 119:14).

There are many riches in the world. Whether money, possessions, jewels, gold, silver, and the like. As nice as they are all, they can’t compare to the riches of God’s Word.

As believers we have a treasure trove in the Bible. There are 66 books of truth to feast on. The Word is rich and we can’t fathom its depths.

The Scriptures have a message for everyone, no matter whatever one is going through. There is instruction, guidance, encouragement, conviction, and inspiration in the Bible. Earthly riches last only a lifetime; God’s Word is eternal. Isaiah 40:8 says, “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.”

So what riches would choose? The earthly or the heavenly; the temporal or the eternal; the seen or the unseen? I choose God’s Word over nothing else.

Have a blessed day feasting on the riches of God’s truth. Stay safe and healthy.

God’s Word never changes, but it does change us.

Dean