Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-October 11, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Friday,

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.”

(Isaiah 43:2).

Three times in today’s verse God uses the word through. God does not promise to take us around our trials, difficulties, hardships, and problems; but He does promise to take us through them and be with us in them.

In the history of the nation of Israel, He took them through the Red Sea; He brought them through the Jordan; Joseph went through slavery, false accusations, and imprisonment; Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego went through the fiery furnace; and Daniel passed through the lions’ den. The list of examples is endless in the Old and New Testaments.

In our text, God tells us, not if but when we pass through great affliction. He speaks of waters, rivers, and fires. But notice, we will pass through the waters and rivers and they will not overflow us, the fires will not burn or scorch us. He will be with us through it all.

Israel, and the church today are precious to our God. Isaiah 43:4 says, “Since you are precious in My sight, you have been honored, and I have loved you; Therefore I will give men for you, and people for you, and people for your life.” Bill MacDonald commented in his Believer’s Bible Commentary, “In tones of tender love, Jehovah assures His people that they need not fear because He who created, formed, redeemed, and called them will be with them in the flood and in the fire.”

I love the words of the hymn, God leads His Dear Children Along.” The chorus says, “Some thru the waters, some thru the flood, some through the fire, but all through the blood; Some thru great sorrow, but God gives a song, in the night season and all the day long.”

Take courage, comfort, and encouragement in the promises of God. We are just passing through the trials in this life. He is with us in all we go through. He will never leave us us nor forsake us. Someone once said, “Trials come to pass not to stay.”

Have a blessed day walking with the King over mountains and through valleys. Stay safe and healthy.

He is with us to take us through whatever may come our way today.

Dean

-October 10, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Thursday,

“Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am to be content.”

(Philippians 4:11).

We can’t be happy in the Christian life unless we are content. It is a lesson we all need to learn and be reminded of often. The word content is defined as, “a state of satisfaction; peaceful happiness.”

So often I want what I can’t have, I what I don’t need, and I want something new or better. I don’t think I am alone. Greed is a sin and it can easily swallow us up. It may start with an ad, a thought, or a desire.

Paul spoke of being content in whatever state he was in. Contentment is the best state, better than any of our fifty states. 1 Timothy 6:6-8 tells us, “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.”

Contentment is sorely lacking in our society and in the church. It takes surrendering our will to God’s will and waiting on the Lord. It means to pray for everything and ask for the Lord’s leading.

Let us be content with what we have and when we have it.

Have blessed day. Stay safe and healthy.

With food and clothing, let us be content; for everything we have is surely God sent.

Dean

-October 9, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Friday,

“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.”

(Isaiah 40:8).

Very few things in life last for a lifetime, and only one thing last forever: the Word of God; it stands forever, it lasts forever. The Psalmist wrote Psalm 119:89, “Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled (or literally translated “stands firm”) in heaven.”

Grass withers and flowers fade; and all other earthly things are temporary, can be lost, stolen, broken, or worn out. We can’t take anything with us from this world except our knowledge of God’s Word.

We can stake our lives on the faithfulness and trustworthiness of the Bible. It has never failed us nor will it ever fail us. God has given us a plethora of promises. We base our lives on the solid foundation of God’s truth, it is our rock.

Jesus said in Matthew 24:35, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by all means pass away.” Someone once said there are only two things that we can take with us into eternity: the Word of God and the souls of men.”

God never changes and neither does His Word. The Scriptures give us instruction, encouragement, comfort, and wisdom. God speaks to us through His Word.

Let us obey and apply God’s Word to our lives and feed on it as our daily as our spiritual food. Have a blessed day in the Word. Stay safe and healthy.

Christ always strengthens and satisfies us in His Word.

Dean

-October 8, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Tuesday,

“Now therefore, O Lord our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the Lord, You alone.”

(Isaiah 37:20).

King Hezekiah was one of the godly kings of Judah who honored God and put Him first. Sennacherib, king of Assyria, came against Jerusalem with all his mighty army. He sent his emissary the Rabshakeh, to threaten Hezekiah and people of Judah. Even more, he blasphemed the Lord and reckoned Him in the same category as the false gods which were the work of men’s hands.

Hezekiah didn’t consult his military leaders, nor did he hire foreign armies to help him—he sought the Lord’s help. He sought godly counsel from the prophet Isaiah. Isaiah promised a complete victory by the hand of the Lord.

In Isaiah 37:14-20, King Hezekiah makes heartfelt prayer to the Lord. He brought the threatening letter sent by Sennacherib and spread it out before the Lord. He acknowledged who God was and His mighty power, and he made his request for deliverance. He said, “that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the Lord, You alone.”

God’s reputation was on the line along with His glory. God is the Almighty God. He sent the Angel of the Lord, a pre incarnate appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ to kill 185,000 Assyrians at the same time. They never reached Jerusalem. God did it all; Isaiah and his army didn’t have to lift a finger.

The lesson for us is this: when we see no help, no way out, God comes through for us at just the right time.

Have a blessed day trusting the Lord, who is omnipotent. Stay safe and healthy.

Help is just a prayer away, when we plead by night or day.

Dean

-October 7, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Monday,

“Do all things without grumbling or disputing.”

(Philippians 2:14).

Today’s text sounds easy enough, but in practice is extremely hard to do. Our nature is to complain about everything. We complain about people, circumstances, the weather, finances, school, work, and so much more.

The word complain is defined as, “a statement that a situation is unsatisfactory or unacceptable; an expression of grief, pain, or dissatisfaction.” Complaining gets us into more trouble; it sours our relationships and mars our testimony for Christ.

Imagine how Moses and Aaron felt in the wilderness with a bunch of winers and complainers. We detest it in others, but tolerate it in ourselves. What is the remedy for complaining? Thanksgiving of course. In stead of complaining, let us thank the Lord in and for everything.

Disputing is defined as, “to argue irritability or with irritable persistence.” It takes two people to have an argument, especially when both staunchly believe they are in the right. Talking things out peacefully and calming is what we should do. Again, it is easier said than done. The hardest phrase to say in the English language is, “I was wrong, please forgive me.”

I love the story of the two rams trying to pass through a tight spot on a mountain pass where only one could get by. At first they butt heads but all they get is a headache. Then all of the sudden, one lays down so that the other can pass over his body safely. Humility and the love of Christ helps us deal with difficult people and situations.

Let us learn to follow the example of Christ in the way we handle what comes up in life. Let love prevail in every detail. As Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13:7, [love] bears all things, believes things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

Have blessed giving thanks instead of complaints, being peaceful peacemakers instead of heated arguers. Stay safe and healthy.

Closing the complaint department and putting it out of business.

Dean