Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-November 12, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Tuesday,

“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”

(1 John 5:4-5).

The only way we can overcome the world is through our faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us on the cross and gave us the victory. We are overcomers through Him who loves us. Paul wrote to the Corinthians,”But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57).

Even though we are victorious we must fight the good fight of fight. Our three enemies, the world, the flesh, and the devil continue to wage war against us. We need to claim our victory by faith on a daily basis.

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.” We can draw such great encouragement from this: we have peace in the midst of all the turmoil that is going on in this world.

One of my many favorite hymns is, “Faith is the Victory.” John H. Yates wrote in the first verse of this hymn, “Encamped along the hills of light, Ye Christian soldiers rise, and press the battle ere the night shall veil the glowing skies. Against the foe in vales below, let all your strength be hurled; Faith is the victory, we know, that overcomes the world.” The chorus says, “Faith is the victory, faith is the victory, O glorious victory that overcomes the world.”

May the Lord give us the victory through faith in Christ and His Word. Have a blessed day. Stay safe and healthy.

Overcoming faith leads to overwhelming victory.

Dean

-November 11, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Monday, happy Veterans Day,

“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”

(John 15:14).

Today is Veterans Day across the U.S.A. and Armistice Day in several European countries. It is a day of reflection, remembrance, and appreciation. There will be speeches, parades, and gatherings in many cities and towns.

It is a day to honor our veterans, pay tribute to them, and thank them for their service and sacrifice for the nation, not only for the nation but also for us personally. Their love for God and country is so often underestimated and under appreciated.

There are three days a year that we take the time to think of our men and women who served or are currently serving in the armed forces: Memorial Day, that remembers the fallen; Armed Forces Day, that focuses on all those who serve in the military; and Veterans Day, that centers on those who once served.

Jesus spoke of a greater love that lays down one’s life for his friends. His love made Him lay down His life to save us. Those who have served our country deserve our deepest gratitude way more than once a year or even three times a year.

What makes a man or woman leave home, job, family, and comforts, and freedoms to join the armed forces? It is love, patriotism, and devotion. They risk danger, injury, and death; they know all this going in. I have known such wonderful people. My Dad, my two great uncles, my cousins, and my friends at church. It just struck me how many there are! One of my cousins is currently serving in the U.S. Space Force. One of my late great uncles was severely wounded in World War I.

So today, let us remember and pray for all our veterans and thank as many as we can for their service. Every year we lose more and more of our veterans. Some are homeless, some are suffering from PTSD, some are addicted to drugs or alcohol, and some are lonely. They need our help and support.

Have a blessed Veterans Day. Stay safe and healthy.

Make a call, send a text or email, show a veteran you care.

Dean

November 10, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Lord’s Day,

“Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart.”

(1 Peter 1:22).

The Holy Spirit sanctifies us in the truth of God’s Word. Only God can transform a life. Once we were darkness, now we are light; once we were lost, now we are found; once we were hopeless, now we have hope; once we were separated from God, now we are brought near by the blood of Christ.

Our souls were once sinful and impure, but now we are purified and washed in the water of the Word. Psalm 119:9 asks, “How can a young man cleanse his way?” He answers the question, “By taking heed according to Your word.”

Nowadays, we want things purified: food, water, air, and everything else. The best purification is that of the soul, for it results in obedience to God and sincere and fervent love for one another. The Holy Spirit purifies us at conversion and makes us holy in God’s sight. He then enables us to live holy lives.

The positional leads to the practical. Through the Holy Spirit, He empowers us to live lives pleasing to Him. When Peter speaks of sincere love, he means unhypocritical love. Paul described it in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a. It is a deep, unselfish, sacrificial love. It is Agape love, God’s love. Love gives all and asks for nothing in return.

When Christians love one another, the world takes notice. It makes a huge impact for Christ. More souls are won by love than any other way.

Have a blessed day obeying the Lord and loving one another. Stay safe and healthy.

Christ makes a permanent, eternal change in our lives, like a caterpillar turning into a butterfly.

Dean

-November 9, 2024

Good morning, happy Saturday,

“When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, ‘Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.’”

(Luke 5:4).

Jesus had just been teaching from one of Simon’s boat’s on the Lake of Gennesaret (also known as the Sea of Galilee). Prior to this Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John, who were partners in the fishing business, had toiled all night and caught nothing.

Jesus told Peter, “Launch out into the deep…” The first step in Peter’s obedience was to get up and going. Faith and obedience go together. Sometimes in life, just showing up is a key to victory. Jesus called him to go out into the deep waters. We often would rather wade in the kiddie pool rather in the swim in deep end of the pool in our faith and walk with the Lord.

The Lord Jesus also urged Peter to let down the his nets for a catch. Peter was reluctant at first, but quickly obeyed. The problem was Jesus said nets, Peter let down just one net.

The catch was do plentiful, that the net started to break, Peter’s partners helped him gather all the fish. Had Peter let down all his nets, there wouldn’t been a broken net. We are so like Peter, we have faith, but it is little faith.

Have a blessed day launching out into the deep and casting all nets of faith. Stay and healthy.

When we have a big God, we need a big faith.

Dean

-November 8, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Friday,

“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was tempted as we are, yet without sin.”

(Hebrews 4:15).

We all have weaknesses, sins, flaws, and shortcomings. There are trials and temptations everywhere everyday. We can face them all by the grace of God. We have a Great High Priest, Jesus Christ, who intercedes for us.

Jesus sympathizes and empathizes with us; He feels for us and with us. He knows what we are going through, especially because He went through the full range of human emotions while here on earth. He knows how to comfort, encourage, and strengthen us, just when we need it most.

In particular, He was tempted by the devil, yet He never sinned nor could He sin; He felt pain in the beatings He received and the agony He went through on the cross; He felt sorrow, weeping on at least three occasions; He experienced homelessness, and had but one outer garment; He was tired, hungry, and thirsty.

Our Savior is thus able to feel with us in what we are going through. He knows, He cares, He loves. He is our shoulder to cry on, and desires that we cast all our burdens on Him. He is a Friend that sticks closer than a brother.

The anonymous hymn writer wrote, “Our Great High Priest is sitting at God’s right hand above, for us His hands uplifting, in sympathy and love: Whilst here below, in weakness, we onward speed our way; In sorrow oft and sickness, we sigh, and groan, and pray.”

May we draw near to Jesus and tell Him all about our troubles. He will always listen, feel with us, and help through them. Have a blessed day. Stay safe and healthy.

Run to the One who really knows how you feel, and you will feel His presence and His power.

Dean