Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-October 31, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Thursday,

“Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”

(John 15:2).

Our Lord Jesus Christ is the true vine, and the Father is the vinedresser. God’s will for us that we bear fruit, more fruit, and much fruit.

All believers have the capacity to bear fruit as long as we abide in Christ. Unfortunately, not every Christian is a fruitful Christian. Jesus said in Matthew 13:23, “But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

We should a be hundredfold believers. There are however, hindrances, obstacles, and distractions all around us on a daily basis; we must fight the good fight. Our flesh is our worst enemy. Paul implores us in Colossians 1:10, “that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”

To be fruitful and more fruitful we must obey the Lord, walk with Him, grow in Him, and serve Him. The pruning process is a necessary part of the health, growth, and fruitfulness of the fruit tree. It is a painful process, but it yields wonderful results. Branches must be cut off and trimmed back in order to bear more and larger fruit. God uses trials in our lives to prune us.

Just as no one enjoys pain, suffering, difficulties, and sorrows, they are necessary for our growth. When we stand before the Lord one day in heaven, we will realize what God did in our lives and how He used it to grow us and make us like Christ.

Have a blessed day learning and growing through the trials we go through. Stay safe and healthy.

God knows what to prune, how to prune, and when to prune to make us the most fruitful.

Dean

-October 30, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Wednesday,

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose hope is in the Lord.”

(Jeremiah 17:7).

In a book of sorrow and chastisement, this nugget of truth is imbedded in the tapestry of its contents. Today’s verse is so encouraging to every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jeremiah spoke of the upcoming seventy year Babylonian captivity and the eventual return to their land. For the remnant of the Jews who trusted the Lord there was hope—real hope. The lesson for us is to trust the Lord and put our hope in Him alone.

If we can’t trust the Lord, who can we trust. We put our trust in God and His Word, even when things are crumbling around us. The word trust is found hundreds of times in the Scriptures. If God spoke of it that much, it must be very important. The key words in our verse are, “in the Lord,” which are mentioned twice.

As mortals, our propensity is to only trust what we can see, hear, and touch; but faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible, and receives the impossible. We put our trust in the Lord who never fails.

Our hope is in the Lord, who is the God of hope. Paul wrote in Romans 15:13, “Now may the God of hope fill you with all peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Hope gives us the joy to wake up each morning and look forward to the new day.

The name Hope is a beautiful female name. My mother’s middle name was Hope. I have also known of ladies with the names of Charity, Faith, Grace, and Mercy, Their names remind us of what Christ has done for us.

Jeremiah shows the stark contrast of trusting God verses trusting man. The former are blessed, the latter are cursed. Every person must choose whom to trust. Whom have you chosen to trust in? Many trust in their wealth, possessions, position, intelligence, talent, or achievements. The wise trust in the Lord alone.

Have a blessed day trusting God, looking forward in hope. Stay safe and healthy.

When have nothing left but God, we have all we need and more.

Dean

-October 29, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Tuesday,

“You therefore be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”

(2 Timothy 2:1).

When our smart phones, tablets, or smartwatches need charging, we charge them by plugging into a power source. If we don’t, our devices shut down and won’t work. Our Christian lives function the same way.

We can get run down spiritually unless we are spending sufficient quality time with the Lord in prayer and in His Word. We want to be empowered by the Holy Spirit from the beginning of the day to the end. Paul instructed Timothy on many things, and this is one of the most important: “Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”

As believers we are saved by grace by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). But God’s grace doesn’t stop at conversion but continues in our lives until we go home to be with Jesus. God’s grace is the strength to face whatever comes our way.

Bill MacDonald commented on this verse, “To be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus means to be courageous with the strength which His grace provides, to go on faithfully for the Lord with the undeserved ability that comes through union with Him.” Jesus told His disciples in John 15:4, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As a branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.”

The Lord Jesus answered Paul, who had prayed three times that the thorn in his flesh be removed, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness…” (1 Corinthians 12:9). It is better to have God’s grace to get us through than to be healed or delivered immediately. We learn to trust Him through the trials we go through with Him. He teaches us so much in the process, on the journey, through it all.

Have a blessed day plugging into the power source of God’s grace. Stay safe and healthy.

There is nothing we can’t face by His sufficient grace.

Dean

-October 18, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Monday,

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

(2 Peter 1:3).

God has given us all things necessary to live for Him and serve Him in this world. He equips us for every task, every ministry, every day.

From the whole armor of God to the promises of God to power of the Holy Spirit. If God calls us to do something, He will do it through us. It is by His divine power through our weakness.

It quite an amazing term that Paul uses, “As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness…” There is no lack, God has given us everything. David, the Psalmist, wrote in Psalm 23:1, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want (or lack).”

God is a giver. When God gives, He lavishes His blessings on us. Ephesians 1:3 says, “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.”

Are you ready for another Monday? God knows what lies ahead and gives the grace and wisdom to handle whatever comes our way. You and me must be prepared for the moment.

Have a blessed day equipped, empowered, and encouraged. Stay safe and healthy.

We have all things in Christ, so we can do all things for Christ.

Dean

-October 27, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Lord’s Day,

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”

(Romans 8:31).

When God is for us, no one can successfully be against us. Certainly the devil and his demons are against us, but they were defeated at the cross. No human being can be against us. Some people just don’t like us.

All through the Bible, God has fought for and with His people. Walls fell at Jericho; armies were put to flight; giants were cut down to size; the mouth of lions were shut; a fiery furnace was cooled; and so much more.

It is so assuring, encouraging, and comforting to know we are not left alone to fight our battles—the Lord is with us. He is with us and for us at school, at work, in retirement, in fact, wherever we go.

Paul wrote in Romans 8:37-39, “Yet in all these we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present or things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

These three words bring such joy to my heart: “God is for us.” We can rest in it, sleep soundly on it, and live each day by it.

Have a blessed Lord’s Day. Stay safe and healthy.

When God is on your side, you need nothing else beside.

Dean