Are You Obeying God

Are You Obeying God

"For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight."
Ephesians 1:4

Today, I want you to realize that God is concerned about what you do in your life. He is concerned about the fruit that your life can produce for His kingdom, from all your efforts. He is concerned about your obedience, in following His commands in all aspects of your life. Today, as you go out into the world, you will have temptations all around you, and only you will make the choice to obey God or not. This very day you will make many choices to obey or rebel against God. When we look at the life of King Saul, we can see a man that was anointed by God, but chose to rebel against God. King Saul lived with the same free will that God has given each of you. Sadly, King Saul chose to rebel against God. He made the choice, and suffered the consequences of his rebellion. You also have to make the choice, whether you obey or rebel against God. You also will face the consequences if you make the wrong choices. Today, I just want you to realize and be aware of the choices you will make in the hours ahead, as you can obey, or rebel against God. Jesus promises you a life of abundance, which comes from living a life that is pleasing and acceptable to Him. God is concerned about you, and loves you and only wants the best for you. When God asks you to obey Him, it is not for His good, but for your good. We see in the Old Testament, that many people were quick to offer up sacrifices to God, yet their hearts were not obeying Him. When you obey God out of your heart and your love for Him, you demonstrate your obedience. As you go through the rest of this day, I want you to remember these words, "to obey is better than sacrifice", so make the right choices today, and obey God.
My Daily Devotional Volume Six
April 9
Robert William Brock, Jr.

Are You Worry Free

Are You Worry Free

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."
Philippians 4:6

Today, I want to encourage you not to worry, but in every situation, let God know what you need in prayers and requests, while giving thanks. When you look at the meaning of worry in the dictionary, it literally means "to be pulled in different directions." Another definition means to "strangle". Worry can literally destroy your peace, and weaken your faith. It can destroy your health, wastes your energy, control you, and make any problem seem bigger than it really is. The Bible talks much about worry, and the damage it can do. I can only imagine what worry does in the heart of God, when he sees His children caught in the trap of their negative attitudes, while His plan provides for a peaceful mind, free from worry. God's plan for you provides a life free from worry, one of freedom and dependency on Him for all your needs. When you don't depend on God for everything, and rather begin depending upon your own strength and ability, that is when worry will creep into your life. When you take life into your own hands, worry will always be the result. In the scripture above, the Apostle Paul gives you the formula for eliminating worry, and establishing peace in your life. When you begin to pray to God with a thankful heart, asking Him for anything, this is the perfect picture of showing Him your dependence on Him. If you are struggling with situations in your life, and desperate for the power and strength to deal with them, now is the time to turn to God, who can give you His peace and His comfort, during your storms. God can calm the waters, give you peace in any circumstance, and make you worry free.
My Daily Devotional Volume Six
April 8
Robert William Brock, Jr.

Don't Be A Roamer

Don't Be A Roamer

"I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go."
Isaiah 48:17

Three years ago, I got a new black lab puppy, which I named Annie. She was only 3 months old when we brought her home. I had just lost my best friend, Trajan, which I had for almost 10 years, and wanted another companion. Annie, was a roamer, not anything like Trajan, who was an inside dog, and one who always wanted to be in the house, by my side. Annie, however, wanted to be outside, where she could roam in our yard and in our neighborhood. Annie reminded me of the scripture above, in that, as Christians we belong to God, and have access to all of His wisdom and knowledge. We live under His protection and authority, and the Holy Spirit is there to lead and guide us in our life. We have it made, living in the presence of God, but like Annie, we are prone to roam and get out of the presence of safety, and God. As long as we read our Bibles, pray and stay in His presence, our lives can be filled with peace, joy and security. So often, however, the pressure and busyness of life, begins to take over, and we don't take time each day to spend with God. When this occurs, it becomes easier and easier to roam, and let the world take over, and begin to control our life. Our speech, our actions, and our thoughts, can start to roam from the things that please God, and soon we are out roaming Satan's neighborhood. If you find yourself roaming away from the presence of God in your life, you can make the choice today, to return to the fold. Don't let the busyness of daily life control you any longer. Begin today, to spend time with God, renew your relationship with Him, and let Him again direct your path.
My Daily Devotional Volume Six
April 7
Robert William Brock, Jr.

A Passion For God

A Passion For God

“Help, Lord, for the godly are no more; the faithful have vanished from among men.”
Psalm 12:1

The above scripture was a psalm written by David when he was down and depressed, as he saw his people and their actions. We can see this same attitude prevalent in today’s society, as it appears that so many people have abandoned God, and are going their own ways, without regard to obeying God and His commands. God is being taken out of our schools, our government, our justice system, and even any mention of God in a public forum is being questioned by someone. One of the most important holidays of the year, Christmas, is now glorified by not worshipping the birth of Jesus, as our public displays about his nativity are being questioned, and being replaced with a holiday spirit, that has no mention of Jesus. God must be so disappointed with what is happening in our society today, as our thoughts have turned from Him to our own materialistic ways. We need to get our passion back for God, in the manner our forefathers had during the time our great nation was founded. The first congress spent the first part of every session in prayer, and all their decisions were based upon God and His teachings. What can you do? As a Christian you must have a passion for God, and make Him number one in your life. You must get your mind off yourself, your wants and desires, and get your focus on God, and make your number one goal, to do His will. Your daily life must center around God, and obeying His commands and doing what is right. God wants you to prosper in everything you do, but your passion for Him must be your number one goal each day. Spend time with God each day, and allow Him to direct your life, and fulfill His plan for you, and get your passion back for God.
My Daily Devotional Volume Six
April 6
Robert William Brock, Jr.

Stick To The Fundamentals

Stick To The Fundamentals

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
Matthew 6:33

I can still remember my basketball coach in college telling me to stick to the fundamentals, during one of our championship games. It was a close game, and I was expecting the coach to come up with a new play that would give us a quick score, but he said to simply stick to the fundamentals. We did as he said and won the game, as this was always his philosophy. The same philosophy, I have found is true, in our walk with God. When the pressures, and stresses of everyday life, begin to build up in our lives, we need to keep to the fundamentals of our faith. I have learned during my own life, that one of the fundamentals in keeping my faith fresh and alive, is keeping my relationship with God first in my life. The scripture above is my reinforcement to keeping God first in my life, as He tells me that these other things will be given to me as well, if I make Him first. He even gave me His greatest commandment, which says to make Him first. The ways of the world, and all the temptations that Satan throws at us daily, can cause us to get away from the fundamentals of our faith, if we don't have God walking beside us, keeping us on track. We can't let the issues, problems, and trials of daily living, come between us and God. It is easy to get sidetracked, have our schedules so full of things to do, and become caught up in the busyness of the world that we don't spend time with God. The fundamentals of your faith is that you spend time with God each day, therefore, before each day begins, ask God to fill you with His Holy Spirit. Then by faith, allow Him to guide your life daily, and stick to the fundamentals, and win.
My Daily Devotional Volume Six
April 5
Robert William Brock, Jr.

Are You Trusting God

Are You Trusting God

"To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul; in you I trust, O my God."
Psalm 25:1

In our modern day world, so often people are facing difficult situations. Life can seem so confusing, as people don't know where to turn when they face the trials and troubles of life. When Satan unleashes his fury against people, they feel helpless, with no hope, and do not see a way out of their miseries. If you are feeling alone, hopeless, and don't see a way out of your trials, look at the scripture above, and read all the other scriptures in your Bible, where God gives you His Word as a reliable compass to point the way in dealing with difficult situations. He tells you over and over, to trust in Him for your deliverance, and effectively use His guidance, obeying His instructions, and you will have victory over all your problems. Even though Satan will continue to come at you with all his forces, God will give you the armor to withstand all of Satan's evil attacks. Just remember, that your God is trustworthy. He is the one that sent His son to die in your place, and forgive all your sins. God loves you, and wants you to be part of His family. You can always trust God to keep all of His promises in the Bible, and this is the reason that you can always depend on Him. All God wants from you is to make Him number one in your life, and gave you His greatest commandment; to love Him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. This is all that He wants from you. You need to realize that God is deeply interested in your affairs, and wants you to trust Him for guidance in all things. Don't do as most people do, in times of trouble, and depend upon yourself, but turn to God, get closer to Him, put your confidence in Him, and trust Him for your victory. Remember, God can be trusted in all situations.
My Daily Devotional Volume Six
April 4
Robert William Brock, Jr.

Merry Christmas

Margaret and I wish all of you
a very Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year. We pray that God will bless all of you this new year and give you His peace and His comfort in all that you do.

Christmas Day
The Birth of Jesus
Luke Chapter 2

“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
This is the day of the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ who came into this world to suffer and die on the cross for us, and forgive us from our sins.

You Are The Salt Of The Earth

You Are The Salt Of The Earth

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses it saltiness. how can it be made salty again? You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden."
Matthew 5:13-14

Over the years, I have seen many Christians, just after they have accepted Jesus as their savior, be on fire for God. They are active in their churches, attend weekly Bible study, and get involved in their church ministries. However, over time they begin to become more reclusive, and want to isolate themselves into their own small group. They try to submerge themselves into a Christian subculture of their own making, and quit becoming involved in the world. When Jesus made the statement above, the disciples understood the significance of what He was saying. They knew that they were to reach out to the world, and be the light on the hill, which would bring others to know Jesus. In the days of Christ, salt was considered to be very valuable. In fact, the Romans considered salt as one of their most important treasures, and some soldiers would even be paid with salt. So when Jesus said, "You are the salt of the earth", He was saying you were valuable, important, and significant, and could make a difference. Just stop and think about salt, and how it can change things. Have you had someone put salt in your water, when you weren't looking? You immediately noticed its change. A little pinch of salt can alter the flavor of something, just as one Christian making his belief in God known to others, can affect change. One believer who lets his or her light shine in the world can really make a difference. God wants you to be the salt to the lost and lonely world, around you. Today, let your light shine brightly and tell others about your God and His grace.
My Daily Devotional Volume Six
April 3
Robert William Brock, Jr.

Fishing With God

Fishing With God

"Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed."
Proverbs 15:22

As I was growing up, I spent many wonderful days with my grandfather fishing on the Cumberland River. My grandfather loved to fish, and was an accomplished fisherman, as he rarely went fishing when he didn't catch fish. Peter was also a fisherman, and as I read the story of the disciples who went fishing, after Jesus had risen from the dead, I think about my grandfather. I can recall several times where we would be in the boat fishing, and my grandfather would be catching fish, but I would not even be getting a nibble. He would finally tell me, as I would be getting discouraged, where to cast my hook, and soon I would be catching fish. After Peter had fished all night, and had not caught anything, Jesus appeared on the beach and told them to cast their nets on the right side of the boat. When they obeyed Jesus and cast their nets as He commanded, they caught so many fish that their nets were breaking. So often in life we fish outside the will of God, which is equivalent to fishing on the wrong side of the boat. We often struggle, strive, work, and strain, trying to make something great happen. We try to change things, and oftentimes try to change ourselves. We try to get a better job, and think that having more money will make things better. We try to make ourselves healthier by going on many different diets. We may even try to change our spouse in the hope that things will improve. However, the answer to most of our problems is that we don't listen to God. When you don't walk with God in your life, and try to do things yourself, you will most likely fail. When you begin to listen to God, spend time with Him, make Him first in your life, He will tell you where to cast your nets.
My Daily Devotional Volume Six
April 1
Robert William Brock, Jr.

Facing Difficulties

Facing Difficulties

"When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down, but even in death the righteous have a refuge.'
Proverbs 14:32

Each morning I get dozens of e-mails from people who are facing very difficult circumstances in their life. As I respond to these people, I almost always tell them that God does not want them to be facing these difficult situations, and that He wants to help them change their circumstances. I always tell them to pray, as this needs to be the first thing that they need to do, and will be a key part in helping them out of their situations. I also tell them to look at their relationship with God, and that they need to make Him number one in their lives. The problems may not magically disappear when you wake up in the morning, as God knows what you are going through, but He will provide you peace and comfort as you battle your problems. Many times, our problems can be traced to sin, and rebellion. Doing things our way, instead of God's way. Once you turn your life over to God, He will help you work your way out of the problems over a period of time. It may not be easy, as you didn't get into the problems you are facing overnight, and rarely will God deliver you from them overnight. However, once you begin to depend on God each day, and trust Him and have faith, you will begin to see things begin to change in your life, for the better. The Bible tells us that we are not to have a spirit of fear. If you are serious about seeing your situation change, you must get serious about trusting God to help you make those changes. I pray today, that any of you who are dealing with difficulties in your life that need to be changed, will heed this special word, and begin to let God take control of your situation. Just remember that the same God that led the children of Israel out of bondage will also deliver you.
My Daily Devotional Volume Six
March 31
Robert William Brock, Jr.

A Father's Role

A Father's Role

"Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord."
Ephesians 6:4

There is not a day that passes that I do not think about my father. Even though he was killed in World War II, when I was only 2 years old, I have missed sharing my life with him. It was difficult growing up without my father, as there were many things that I would like to have been able to talk to him about. After praying about today's devotional, the Lord has put on my heart to use it as a special encouragement to all the fathers. There are so many Godly fathers who are the spiritual heads of their homes. They work hard to provide for their families. They love and honor their wives. They realize that their children are gifts from God, and help nurture and mold their lives. These fathers realize that serving God is their most important responsibility as head of their homes. For all the fathers that I just described, I want you to know that you are in my prayers. I want to encourage you to spend a special time each day alone with God. Let Him encourage you, prepare you, and make you a special father, training and teaching your children in the ways of the Lord. If you spend a quiet time with God each day, and make Him number one in your life, you are on the path that God wants you to be on, which is to make your wife and your children your priorities. Getting the right balance in your life is the biggest hurdle you will face each day, as getting that perfect balance between work, home, serving God, and finding time to relax. The other hurdle you will face is being able to give God control, and trusting Him in all things. If you are not doing these things, this is the perfect day to start, just surrender your life and your family to God.
My Daily Devotional Volume IV
March 30
Robert William Brock, Jr.

Finding Perfect Peace

Do You Have Perfect Peace

“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.”
Isaiah 26:3

Do you enjoy perfect peace in your life? If not, God will provide a peace and joy in your life like you have never experienced before. The scripture above is my favorite verse in the Bible, and until I put my entire trust in God, and turned over all my life to Him, I had never experienced the peace and joy in my own life, like I have had these last 20 years. As I was writing my first book “God’s Plan For a Joy Filled Life” I kept coming back to this verse, as I wrote the many chapters. I began to realize more and more that as I had begun trusting God for everything during these years, and as He was showing me how He was fulfilling my every need, I became even more at peace with myself. I had spent the first 48 years of my life making the majority of decisions for me and my family, without asking God for guidance, and therefore had never had the peace in myself that was right there before me. I have changed my attitude about myself, and the way I now look at life, and now put my complete trust in God, and ask Him for guidance in all things. As I began to trust God for all my needs, I have discovered the true meaning of the above scripture. I regret not having found this wonderful peace, that I could have enjoyed all throughout the years by not putting my trust in God. My plan for my remaining days is to direct all my energies to fulfilling God’s plan for my life, and as I am following His guidance, He is leading me to fulfill things that I never thought possible. There is nothing that cannot be accomplished when we put our trust in God. God can give you this same peace I am experiencing, if you will let Him into your heart, and accept the many blessings that He has waiting for you. Ask God for your perfect peace.
My Daily Devotional Volume Six
March 29
Robert William Brock, Jr.

Looking For God

Are You Looking For God

“She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for him in the inn.”
Luke 2:7

In just two more days we are going to celebrate Christmas, and the birth of Jesus Christ, which I believe is the most momentous occasion in human history. The night Jesus was born is also the greatest night in human history. But, why, on this most important night, were the majority of people like the innkeeper, unaware of what was going on. Angels had appeared to proclaim His arrival. Wise men came from afar to acknowledge His birth. Shepherds were visited by an angel who announced where the Son of God was born. But, with all the open proclamation, how did the majority of people miss the birth of Jesus. Why did the innkeeper not know that Jesus was to be born that night? I believe the reason is that they were not looking for Him, because they were too busy. This is how people still are today, as we become too busy with the demands and struggles of daily living that we lose sight of God and neglect to spend any time getting to know anything about Him. We become too involved in our own pleasures and don’t try to adjust our time and schedules to make room for God. Even though the shepherds were busy, keeping watch over their flocks, they took time to adjust their busyness and make room for Him. The innkeeper however put his priorities ahead of God and did not see. I would like to ask each of you if you are looking for God in your own lives, or are you to busy with all the other things that are going on. For those that are looking for God, the heavens are open, the angels are singing and God is giving you signs. For those who are not looking for God, you are like the innkeeper as you will not have any room for Him when He comes back to earth, and are relegating Jesus again to a stable.
My Daily Devotional Volume III
December 23
Robert William Brock, Jr.

Signs Of The Times

Signs of the Times

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”
Isaiah 7:14

As we approach the Christmas season we need to be mindful that for hundreds of years before Christ was born, prophecies were given of the Messiah’s conception, birth and promise of salvation for mankind. The scripture above from the Prophet Isaiah gave us this account, and the sign when Jesus would be born. When Jesus was born, the sign from God that the prophets had declared should have been obvious to all the world. But, many people of that day missed the prophesy, as they were not paying attention, or did not believe. Not everyone saw the Star that the Magi saw, nor did everyone see the angels appear and hear them, when they announced the birth of Jesus. There were few that paid any attention, when a young virgin girl named Mary was found with child. Nor did anyone listen when Joseph told his story of the angel who appeared before him, and spoke to him about Mary’s baby. I am afraid that it is much like that today, as God is moving all around us, with signs of Jesus coming again, and we are still not paying attention or believing. Even with the Christmas season almost upon us we are still not paying attention. Just as it was in the days of the first Christmas, even with all the signs not many noticed and ready for the first coming of Jesus. Today, we have the Bible giving us all the signs of the second coming of Jesus, and we are still not paying attention or heeding them. This time will be the last coming of Jesus, and is the critical one that we must make sure we are prepared for, as this time we are going to be judged by God, to see if we have been paying attention. There will not be a next time to get prepared for, as this will be the last.
My Daily Devotional Volume IV
December 21 Volume III
Robert William Brock, Jr.

Rejoice In Your Trials

Rejoice In Your Trials

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete not lacking anything.”
James 1:2-4

God tells you many times throughout the Bible, and especially in the above scripture, that you will face trials in your daily lives. You will have days that everything will go wrong, and you will face adversities from many different directions. During these times, you must have faith in God that these trials are the times when you are being tested in how strong your faith is in Him. You must trust in His word during these times, and not become discouraged, but believe that you are being tested for a reason. It is how you come through, and handle these trials, that will demonstrate your true faith in God, and His promised assurance that He will watch over you. The testing of your faith helps you develop perseverance, which enables you to become better equipped to handle future adversities. By not getting upset and reacting negatively every time things do not go right, remember that God is judging you, and is watching to see how you react to your situations. If you handle situations the way He directs you to, you will become stronger in dealing with situations and trials in the future. As you think back at the end of the day and see how you reacted to your problems in a positive manner, you will feel better about yourself, and will help to instill a positive attitude when future problems arise. So if you face problems today, deal with them in a positive manner and do what is right in all situations. When you persevere in your trials, with God's help, you will then be rewarded with His blessings.
My Daily Devotional Volume Six
March 28
Robert William Brock, Jr.

Be An Overcomer

Be An Overcomer

"He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son."
Revelation 21:7

I have spent much of my life being an "overcomer". I had a difficult time during my early years, with my speech, as I inherited a stuttering problem from my father. This has haunted me throughout my life, although I have been able to overcome much of it as I have gotten older. I had to overcome being the youngest person in my school, which caused many social problems as I was growing up. I was often the youngest person in administration in my jobs throughout the years, which caused some credibility issues, as people normally don't like taking orders from someone much younger than they are. Life is full of areas where we have to be overcomer's to survive. I know it would be nice to ride through life on a pink cloud with harps playing in the background, but this is not what life is like. We are not in kindergarten as we progress through life; we are in a battle. Satan is attacking us wherever we go, and in whatever we do, and if he can make us feel insecure, worthless, and with no sense of self worth, he has won the battle. But, you have someone that will help you fight your battles, as God does not want you to face your struggles alone. He will be with you each step of the way, to give you strength, comfort and His peace, as you do battle with Satan. You will all face your own giants, whatever they might be, and you must learn to overcome and defeat them. Don't let Satan get the victory, and cause you not to be the person God wants you to be. Don't walk around as defeated Christians, but become victorious Christians. You can become a conqueror, as there is nothing that can keep you from being victorious, when you have Jesus with you.
My Daily Devotional Volume Six
March 27
Robert William Brock, Jr.

My Mentors

My Mentors

"The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death."
Proverbs 13:14

As I have written my daily devotionals for the past 10 years, I am constantly reminded of all the wise and Godly mentors that have been part of my life. Both my grandfathers, and my grandmother, and my mother have all played such an important role in making me the person I am today, and influenced so much of what I try to replicate in my life each day. My father was killed in World War II, and I missed not having him as a mentor, but my life has been blessed with the others who raised me, and always taught me so much of what a Godly man should be. These precious people, by their wise counsel, have helped me grow in faith, in family life, in work, and in life in general. As I write my devotionals I am always constantly reminded, just how much these people have meant, in helping me grow in an understanding of the Christian life. The Bible is filled with wonderful mentoring relationships, such as Jethro to Moses, Elijah to Elisha, Barnabas to the Apostle Paul, Jesus to the Twelve Disciple, and Pricilla and Aquila to Apollos. As I write my devotionals each day, I am always aware of the many contributions my mentors have made in my life, and almost always think about how they would address the situations I face each day as I write. I am so grateful to have had them in my life, and would not be the person I am today without their influence. Today, I want you to think about the mentors that have touched your life. Think about what they have taught you, how they were positioned in your life, at the right time, and think about all the wisdom you learned from their teaching. Be grateful to them, and honor them by passing on to others what the Spirit has passed to you, through them.
My Daily Devotional Volume Six
March 26
Robert William Brock, Jr.

Making The Right Choices

Making The Right Choices

"From the fruit of his lips a man is filled with good things as surely as the work of his hands rewards him."
Proverbs 12:14

Have you ever been torn between making a choice which you know is wrong and evil, and making a choice which you know is right and good? All throughout the day you are making choices, and each choice is critical because they all carry consequences. Good choices bring forth good consequences, and bad choices bring forth bad consequences. In my devotionals I am constantly reminding you just how important your daily walk with God really is, as just a few minutes alone with God each morning, reading your Bible and praying, can help you avoid the temptation to make a bad choice. The closer you are to the Lord, the more you will take on the mind of Christ. The more you think like God, the more Godly your choices will be. So much of the pain and heartache you face in this life stems from your own poor choices. As you make those choices in your life throughout the day based on what God would want you to do, what would please Him, what would honor Him, after a while making the right choices becomes easier and natural. The more you practice making Godly choices, the easier it becomes to make Godly choices. Today, I want to encourage you to consciously think about the choices you are making, and ask yourself if this is a choice that honors God, and is this a choice that a follower of Jesus would make. If you know Jesus as your Savior, you have the Holy Spirit dwelling within you. To not take advantage of asking the Holy Spirit to guide you and help you make the right choices is foolish. It is God who gives you the ability to make choices, and it is God who will guide you, if you let him.
My Daily Devotional Volume Six
March 25
Robert William Brock, Jr.

Just Say No

Just Say No

"A good man obtains favor from the Lord, but the Lord condemns a crafty man."
Proverbs 12:2

Back in the Ronald Reagan Presidency, there was a campaign against drugs with the buzz words "Just Say No". It was a simple but powerful statement, since it zeroed in on the fact that we all have the ability to say "No". God created us with the free will to make our own choices, and throughout each day, we are confronted with hundreds of choices. Every time we make a choice we are making the decision to do the right thing, or the wrong thing. If you are tempted to do the wrong thing, you can "Just Say No." You will be tempted daily by Satan to go along with the crowd, to do things that will bring satisfaction to yourself at the expense of others, to always put yourself first, or just to do evil and follow Satan. We live in a world that tells us to never say "No". The world teaches that you only live once, so don't ever deny yourself whatever pleasure comes your way. Don't forget that Satan's stated goals is to "kill, steal, and destroy." Satan wants you to say "yes" to all things evil, that will show your rebellion to God. But just remember that you have a choice, and can "Just Say No". To withstand the temptations of this world and Satan, I would encourage you to begin your day with prayer, and spending a few minutes alone with God. He will equip you with the strength and wisdom to make the correct choices during your day. Just remember that God loves you, and only wants the best for you. When you say "No" to sin, and follow God, you are not only honoring God, but also honoring yourself, since our blessings follow our obedience. When you are confronted with sin, I pray that you will have the courage and strength to say "No".
My Daily Devotional Volume Six
March 24
Robert William Brock, Jr.

Loving The Unlovely

Loving The Unlovely

"A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed."
Proverbs 11:25

Over the past ten years I have been actively involved in a food distribution program, where we distribute food at a community resource center to the needy. During this time I have had the opportunity to minister to many people, and tell them about God. During this time, I have always invited these people to come to church with me, and many have taken me up on this opportunity. Unfortunately, many do not come, and will openly tell me that they do not feel accepted by the local churches, because of the way they dress. Most of these people do not have new clothes, and feel out of place in the churches, where many people come to church dressed in their finest attire, and someone who is shabbily dressed is often avoided, and not accepted. The churches that do not openly accept the poor, need to remember the ministry of Jesus, as He spent much of his time with the poor, unappealing people of His day. He talked with them, ate with them and genuinely cared for them, and He expects as much from us. "I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me." Matthew 25:45 Most Christians go to their big churches, and attend their Bible Study meetings, and hear their preachers talk about the churches outreach ministry, but do very little in reaching out even in their own churches to the needy people in their midst. These are the people the church should be reaching out to, and take time to listen, to encourage, and to see how they could meet an immediate need. A smile, a kind word, a listening ear, will show these people the love of God, and demonstrate your concern about them. Be God's ambassador, and reach out to these people today.
My Daily Devotional Volume Six
March 23
Robert William Brock, Jr.

God's Gentle Whispers

God's Gentle Whispers

“Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.”
1st Kings 19:11-12

This scripture means a great deal to me, as it describes the way God has spoken to me throughout the years. He did not tear mountains apart, or cause earthquakes, or fire to get my attention. There were no sudden sounds of thunder or lightening when He spoke to me, as He spoke to me in gentle whispers. All through the years God has been speaking to me, as He spoke to me through my wife, my children, and numerous other people I encountered. God has spoken to me when I had difficulties and trials in my life, as He put these in front of me to change the direction I was going. These were not thunderous words where the earth trembled, but were the words of a gentle whisper. These gentle whispers eventually got my attention, and I began to ask myself the question: What is God’s purpose and will for my life? When I began concentrating on knowing what God’s plan was for me, the gentle whispers became more and more clear, and I began to understand what God was saying to me. These gentle whispers became all that I wanted to hear, as they began to direct me and control my life. They became the things that I yearned for, and wanted to commit myself to following and obeying. My life finally began to be meaningful as I began to understand more and got closer to God. Those gentle whispers from God changed my life.
My Daily Devotional Volume Six
March 21
Robert William Brock, Jr.

My Mountaintop

My Mountaintop

"Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies."
Psalm 36:5

As I was growing up, I spent a lot of my time hunting in the mountains with my grandfather. We would climb the mountains to the very top, where we could overlook the valleys below. Many times, early in the morning, we could look down and see the fog in the valleys below, that seemed like clouds, floating in the air, with the brilliant rays of sunlight shining above them. These were beautiful scenes, and they have been etched and engrained in my mind all these years. On my mountaintop it seemed like we were on top of the world, as we couldn't get any higher, but could see everything around us. When I was on these mountain tops with my grandfather, all the cares of the world were forgotten, and everything seemed at peace. This is what I envision heaven to be like, as I will be above all the cares, the hurts, the worries, the struggles, the trials, the pain and all the other things that weigh me down on this earth. They will lay at my feet, and be below me, and cannot get to me, and destroy my peace and my joy. So often people live deep in the valleys, where the worry, trials and struggles of life keep them mired down, and they see very little hope for the future. They are constantly looking up at their problems, which seem like mountains, with cliffs too steep to climb. When you are in the valleys, often you only see the sides of the hills, but can't see the view from the mountaintops. On top of the mountain there is hope, peace, joy and contentment. So if you are down in the valleys today, there is a mountaintop experience just waiting for you. Ask God to help you climb to your mountaintop, and experience His love, peace and joy in your life.
My Daily Devotional Volume Six
March 20
Robert William Brock, Jr.

God Is In Control

God Is In Control

"When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you."
Psalm 73:21

When I read the scripture above, I pictured someone who was very troubled, having problems, and not knowing where to turn for help. I am sure many of you are going through situations in your life today where you could relate to this scripture, as you do not see any way out of your dilemma, and don't know where to turn to for help. If you are in this situation, there is an answer which was found in the very next scripture. "Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory" Psalm 73:22-24. This is so comforting as no matter what situation you may find yourself in at the present time, no matter how down you may be, no matter how threatened you may feel, no matter how fearful you may be of what lies ahead, God is telling you that He is always with you, loving you, guiding you, and leading you. You may wonder why these things are happening to you right now, but God knows, and He also knows what you are feeling inside, and just how insecure, and how afraid you may be. He is feeling your pain, and knows that you cannot do this alone. In fact, in the midst of all the concerns the psalmist had in the scripture above, the scriptures goes on to say. "Whom have I in Heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalm 73:25-26. So even though you may feel depressed, afraid, and don't know where to turn, God has told you that He loves you, cares about you, and will let you overcome any of your troubles, and give you victory.
My Daily Devotional Volume Six
March 19
Robert William Brock, Jr.

A Healthy Marriage

A Healthy Marriage

"However, each one of you also must love his wife, as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband."
Ephesians 5:33

Almost on a daily basis, I hear from my readers about problems they are having in their marriages. Statistics show that almost half of all marriages today will end in divorce. This is alarming, as there is much advice in the Bible as to what a healthy marriage should be like. Many times people jump into relationships outside of God's timing, and end up paying a big price. In most failed marriages there is not a spiritual base. I realize that money, communication, and other issues can be the cause of many problems in a marriage, but if there is no spiritual base there is little foundation to build on, and most marriages will end in failure. This is why God placed such an emphasis on having a strong spiritual base, and gave us scriptures like the one above. This base starts with the personal walk each person has with God, and is solidified by both people bringing their faith together as one. The Bible tells us the man needs to be the spiritual head of his home, and he must take this job seriously. When two people lay a solid foundation, the everyday issues that arise will never become major problems in their relationship. Other than God, your spouse must become the most important person in your life, and you must learn to sacrifice your wants and desires, and fulfill your spouse's needs. You must be patient with each other, and show your love and respect in all situations. Both of you will make mistakes, but you must learn to forgive, and not let these continue and turn into major issues. A healthy marriage is something that God blesses, and will bear much fruit, but without God being present most will fail.
My Daily Devotional Volume Six
March 18
Robert William Brock, Jr.

Spiritual Warfare

Spiritual Warfare

"Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand."
Ephesians 6:13

When you go out into the world today, you are going to do battle with the evil forces of Satan. Satan will do everything in his power to rob you of your peace. There will be things that will go wrong, and in most instances these will be things that will irritate you and cause you to be tempted to sin. You may get cut off in traffic, or you might be late for an appointment. The waitress in the coffee shop might be rude and upset you. Regardless of what the problem might be, Satan will be there to create havoc in your normal routine, just enough to get you off track in your daily walk with God. The scripture above warns you that you need to go out prepared to do battle against all evil forces, and need to put on the full armor of God, so that you can withstand these evil forces of Satan. You must start your day with God, and be committed to let the Holy Spirit lead and guide you to withstand these evil forces. You must be willing to get your mind off yourself, and let the Holy Spirit be in control of your life. You must be strong, and committed to forget self, and do it God's way. It will not be easy, but if you want victory in your life, you must not compromise any aspect of what is right, even though you will be tempted. Don't live in fear, but live in faith, and trust in God in all the trials you will face. Fear can defeat you, but God will never fail you. You can fail when you try to do things your way, but when you are following the Holy Spirit, you can never fail, as Christ is always victorious. Just remember to put God first in all things, put on His armor and you will prevail in all things.

Giving Your All

Giving Your All

"But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny."
Mark 12:42

This is the account of a poor widow giving her last two mites, which teaches us that God looks not to the quantity of the gift but to the quality of the giver. Jesus set the example of how we are to give, as he gave his all. How can we see the needs of those around us and do nothing? Most people do well in giving to the Church, but our giving should not end there, as there are many outside the Church walls that are suffering, and Jesus does not want their cries to go unheard and unanswered. When we look at the ministry of Jesus, we see that He ministered out in the public where the people were. He went to them, and they came to Him. Most people who need help do not come to church on Sunday, and it is our call to search them out, to find them, to minister to them, and just show them that we love them. The command that Jesus gives us is found in 1st John 3:17 "If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." When you begin to reach out to people in this manner, this is what Jesus commands of you. When you begin going to the people outside the walls of the church, this is putting the real principle of giving in the proper perspective, and fulfilling God's command of "It is more blessed to give than to receive" Acts 20:35. Just remember that all that you have is not due to your ability to have accumulated it, but is due to God allowing you to have it. God owns all that you have, and expects you to give back part of what He has given you, as He loves a cheerful giver. The poor widow gave everything.
My Daily Devotional Volume IV
March 16
Robert William Brock, Jr.

Love Never Fails

Love Never Fails

"For mans anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires."
James 1:20

This morning my wife and I spent almost two hours talking to a young man whose father, in anger, had said some very nasty things to his son. The son has been rebelling and not obeying his mother and father, and I am sure this moment of anger was sparked by another rebellious act. Parents often become frustrated because their children don't follow their directions and orders, and this kind of anger grows out of frustration and the effort to force compliance. However, this young man was more upset by his father's anger than he was by him not following his father's orders. Instead of helping, anger had hindered the situation. In a moment, it may seem like a raised voice would help achieve desired results, but in the end a raised voice will only create a more defensive position, and will hinder the resolution of any problem. Any outburst of anger will damage respect and the desire to please will be damaged and diminished. Even though some people may accomplish conformity and compliance by a burst of anger, it will undermine the other desired results, and many times can destroy relationships. Acts of anger can tear down the relationships we work so hard to build, especially if they occur frequently. The Bible tells us in the scripture above that a "man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires". The Bible does tell us in 1st Corinthians 13:6 "Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." Don't let anger rule your life; replace it with love. Love is patient, love is kind, and love will never fail you. Replace your anger with love and change your life.
My DailY Devotional Volume Six
March 15
Robert William Brock, Jr.

The Sabbath Day

The Sabbath Day

"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy."
Exodus 20:8

Over the years, I have noticed a very disturbing trend in our culture that is having a dramatic effect on the values of our Christian lifestyle. During the era I grew up, Sunday was always a time of rest, and a day where people went to church and worshipped God. It was a day where people took the day off from their busy schedules and strengthened their relationship with God. The day was focused on God, the family and building family relationships. There were no activities that kept people from attending church, and then coming back home and being with their family and friends. In today's culture, the focus of honoring the Sabbath day has been replaced by using Sunday as a day to get caught up on the things that were not done during the week. Instead of spending the day going to church, and worshipping God most people get their shopping done, or go to sporting events with their children. The secular world has invaded the Sabbath day, as Sunday is now becoming the big day each week to have numerous sporting events that children participate in. This keeps the family from going to church together, and does not give them any time to rest and to spend quality time together. The hustle and bustle of getting prepared and travel to attend the sporting events, and getting caught up on all the odd jobs and projects, has made Sunday a hectic day, instead of a day of rest. When we look at the life of Jesus, He always took time to rest, and one of the commandments tell us to take one day each week as our Sabbath. If you find this to be your weekly routine, I would encourage you to make a change, and again make Sunday the day to go to church and spend worshipping God.
My Daily Devotional Volume Six
March 14
Robert Wiliam Brock, Jr.

Expect Big Things

Expect Big Things
"I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do."
Acts 13:22
Do you expect big things from God? I believe many Christians do not live up to their expectations because they think too small. They accept being average, blending in with their environment, being like everyone else, or just doing enough to get by. I don't believe a Christian should accept just being average, as I believe they should stand out from the crowd. We can see the story of David and see how someone can rise above the average and make a difference. David was just a teenager when he faced the giant Goliath, but he trusted God and had enough faith to kill this mighty warrior. He expected big things and they happened. Even before the battle with Goliath, David, as a mere young boy, had killed several large wild animals who were attacking his flock of sheep. Again he rose to the occasion and expected big things, and they happened. David also became King of Israel when only a young man, a great responsibility, because he expected big things and they happened. David expected big things to happen and they did, because of his faith and trust in God. Today, in our society, we are content to just get by, accept the average, and don't expect big things to happen. God is the same today as He was in David's time, and I believe if we expect big things, and have the same kind of faith and trust that David had, big things can also happen today. I know that David was God's appointed but we also must believe in God for God sized tasks. We must live by faith, have no fear, and trust God for all things. We can't do anything on our own, but when we step out in faith, and put our entire trust in God, we can accomplish big things in our lives when we are doing the will of God and can have victory.
My Daily Devotional Volume Six
March 13
Robert William Brock, Jr.