Perfect Peace

Perfect Peace "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you." Isaiah 26:3 Are you at perfect peace in your life or do you feel that the mountains are closing in on you? If you cannot identify with the scripture above, which tells us that God will keep in "perfect peace" all that believes and trusts in Him, then you are not trusting in God and having the faith that you need. Peace in your life only comes when you turn everything over to God, and put your complete faith and trust in Him. There are many scriptures throughout the Bible that tells us to be content, and that He will provide all that we need. We see many times when God provided for His people, as He did many miracles when the people of Israel were being led to the Promised Land. He provided all their needs. He let them defeat their enemies when everything seemed hopeless. With all the times that God provided for His people, why do you doubt that He will not provide for all your needs? Just as the scripture states, when your mind is steadfast, you will be at perfect peace, and not be worried about the things that confront you on a daily basis, because you will know that it is in His hands. You won't be worried about the future, and thinking about what might happen, because you will know that God will provide for you. You see, when you and I worry about what the future holds for us, we are denying God the right to lead us forward in confidence and peace. We should not cause God to grieve over us because we are indulging in worry, but should trust everything into His all caring hands. God wants us to be at peace about our life and in all things, as when we worry about things, and are not at peace, we become distracted and do not focus our lives totally on God. If you want perfect peace, God will provide. My Daily Devotional Volume Six June 30 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Conquering Pride

Conquering Pride "The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children." Romans 8:16 God loves us so much that He sent His son Jesus to die on the cross for all our sins, and to let us have the promise of His salvation, and a path that will lead to an eternal life in Heaven. This path to Heaven means that we must be faithful and trust in the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us in the way that god wants us to travel. One of the obstacles that we will all face as we travel this path is the obstacle of humility. Most of us, whether we accept it or not, are very prideful people. We have the attitude that we can do all things ourselves, and make the right decisions throughout our lives, and why do we need God. Our pride can get in the way of developing the close relationship with God that He so desires from us. It deceives us into thinking that we can do God's work, without His help and intervention in our life. When we turn everything over to God, even the small things that may seem insignificant, can be turned into great things, with God's help. God is interested in everything that we do, and when our pride gets in the way, and we forget to ask Him to help us deal with our situations, we so often find out that the outcomes are not what we desired, or what God desired. If you are dealing with situations in your life that are not what you want, I want you to think about whether you took it to God to ask for guidance, and whether it was what He wanted for you. Did you put your faith and trust in Him to provide the answer? God is at work in your life, but until you turn everything over to Him, and let Him take control, you will not enjoy the joyful life that He wants for you. Even if your path seems dark, you must trust in Him to provide and give you victory. Don't let your pride stand in the way. My Daily Devotional Volume Six June 29 Robert William Brock, Jr.

God's Great Gift

God's Great Gift "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." Romans 14:17 We often forget that when we ask Jesus into our hearts, that God gives us the Holy Spirit, which is the source of our strength and power, as without this to lead and guide us, we could not face the battle alone and be victorious over the world. The Holy Spirit is the source of the power that provides us the ability to escape the weakness of the flesh, that would take control over all that we do. It gives us the power to withstand evil, and turn to good as we yield ourselves to it. We need this gift badly to live in the world we live in, and if we wish to live a victorious life, we must trust in it to lead us on the paths of righteousness, peace and joy. God freely gives us this great gift, when we ask Jesus into our hearts. This great gift lets us turn away from all sin, and gives us the strength to withstand Satan's fierce attacks against us. It allows us to move forward and fulfill God's plan for our life. But better yet, it provides us with the promise of an eternal life in Heaven. We cannot get to Heaven any other way, than to accept God's gift of forgiveness for all our past sins, and then to live our life, making God first in all that we do, and obeying and following His commandments. One of my old pastors used to tell me that "I need Jesus Christ for my eternal life, and the Holy Spirit for my internal life." When we put our trust and faith in God, we can live a life of righteousness, peace and joy, and can live our external life to the fullest. It is so important that we recognize just how much we need God in our hearts, and the Holy Spirit to help us meet the challenges of this world, but most of all we need them to secure our future home in Heaven. My Daily Devotional Volume Six June 28 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Living In Peace

Living In Peace "Lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence." 1st Timothy 2:2 I am amazed at all the trouble that many Christians seem to be dealing with in today's world. They can't get along with their neighbors, their coworkers, friends, and often their own family members. There always seems to be disagreements that often lead to broken relationships. The Bible tells us that we aren't to isolate ourselves from the world in which we live, but to live in it in peace. We are part of society, and we share in the harmony, and also in the difficulties and problems. The Bible tells us much about how we are to handle our social responsibility. The Old Testament prophets condemned those who ignored the poor and those who exploited the weak. As Christians, we know that our society is more affected by sin than at most other times in our history, and our efforts can make a difference in someone's life. We must all make an effort to alleviate whatever suffering we can, and also must make an effort to be an example of what a Christian should be. We are to lead a quiet and peaceable life, but not neglect others that we encounter, who are in need. The Bible tells us that we are to love others as we love ourselves, which means that we are to be concerned about others, their needs and also help with their problems. We are not to be enablers, but when others have troubles, we are to be there for them. God loves our suffering world and tells us in Matthew 9:36 "Jesus saw the crowds and was moved with compassion." We are to be compassionate for the suffering around us, just as Jesus was, and reach out and show our compassion. We must learn to do this at the same time as we are teaching others to also live in peace with all godliness and reverence. My Daily Devotional Volume Six June 27 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Are You Christ's Ambassador

Are You Christ's Ambassador "We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us." 2nd Corinthians 5:20 Just this week, there was news that one of our United States ambassadors was killed by terrorists in the country that he was serving. An ambassador is a representative and servant of his government in a foreign land. He cannot make his own laws or develop policies that are not approved by his government, but must carry out the will of the government and authority he represents. As I read the information about him, I was reminded of the scripture above, which tells us that we are also ambassadors of Christ, when we accept Him as our savior. We cannot change His laws or His commandments, but must remain faithful to carry out and obey all of His scriptures. In other words, we are to live under the authority of the Word of God. We cannot do our will any longer, but must do the will of God in all that we do. As I look at our world today, I see a lack of ambassadors that will represent God to all the people that do not know Him as their savior. There is a lack of holy men and women today, who live under the authority of God and His Holy Word, and represents Him to all the people they come into contact with. An ambassador of God will be a person beyond reproach, and will back up the authority of God by the way they live their lives. This means that they must take the Word of God and live it in their daily walk, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. A Sunday morning Christian is not a true ambassador of God, as they must commit their life fully to do God's will. The Bible tells each of us who have asked Jesus into our hearts, that we are His ambassadors, to this lost and dying world. Are you a faithful ambassador for Christ to those around you? My Daily Devotional Volume Six June 26 Robert William Brock, Jr.

A New Creation

A New Creation "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come." 2nd Corinthians 5:17 My grandfather was a carpenter, and I also have always enjoyed working with wood and building things. An old carpenter saying is that it is always better, and usually more economical, to build a new house than, to patch up an old one. This old saying is even more true in the spiritual realm and in our own lives, as the old nature of man with its sin, its depravity, and its wickedness, must give way to a new nature. The Bible says, "God will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you." Ezekiel 36:26 It is impossible to accept Jesus as your Savior, and continue to do the same sinful things you were doing before. When you commit your heart to serving God, you must leave the old behind, and as the scripture above states "you are a new creation." This is quite a challenge, as God does not want to patch us up, but wants to remake us completely into His likeness. When we accept Jesus into our hearts, He also gives us the Holy Spirit to help lead and guide us to be the person He wants us to be. Without God, we cannot change anything, but with Him we can and will become a new creation. You see God will begin to change us from within, not from the outside. We can paint an old building, and have it looking good from the outside, but if the foundation is rotted and not secure, it is just a matter of time until it will rot and collapse. But when the foundation is firmly planted on solid rock, which is what God will give us, the winds and the weather will not destroy it. Jesus wants to come into your life and begin to change you from within. He wants to make you into a new creation, one that will have this solid foundation, one which will secure your eternity in heaven. My Daily Devotional Volume Six June 25 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Is God Providing Your Needs

Is God Providing Your Needs "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4:16 Are all your needs met today? If not, you should be asking yourself, why not? According to the Word of God, it’s either because you’re not praying about them at all, or because when you do pray, you’re praying wrong. What does it mean to pray wrong? In many cases it simply means to pray without expecting results. Many believers do that, as they pray not expecting God to really answer their prayers. They just play around with it. “This probably won’t do much good,” they think, “but who knows? It won’t hurt to give it a try.” If that’s your attitude, then change it! Start getting serious about prayer. Stop praying just because it’s proper. Stop praying just because you always pray at this point in the church service or before you go to bed, and start praying to get results. Start praying in the name of Jesus, according to the Word of God, and expecting to receive what you ask for every single time. Isn’t that a little presumptuous? No, but it is bold, and you have a scriptural right to be bold. According to the scripture above you should approach God with confidence, and expecting to get your needs met. You should pray with a thankful heart, that God has given you all that you need. So often we can pray, asking God for our wants and desires, and things that we don't really need. It would be nice to pray and have all our wants and desires met, but these things may not be in the plan that God has for us. God knows what we need, and will provide it in his time frame. We must remember that God's time is not our time, but He does promise that in His time He hears our prayers and will provide all that we need. My Daily Devotional Volume Six June 24 Robert William Brock, Jr.

In God's Presence

In God's Presence "The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving to all that he has made." Psalm 145:13 What would you do if you were about to meet the President of the United States, and have dinner with him? I'm sure you would go out of your way to dress correctly, and to make sure you were properly equipped to have the proper etiquette during dinner, so that you didn't say the wrong thing, or act in an improper way. You would try to do all the right things so as not to embarrass yourself. Some day you and I will meet someone that is more important than the President, as we will be standing before our almighty God. This is the meeting we should all be preparing ourselves for, because His dazzling glory far exceeds that of any earthly mortal, and in His presence we can only bow in humble worship and praise. This is the only time in our life where we must be found worthy, as God will know our hearts, and will either find us acceptable or find us unworthy. This meeting will determine where we will spend all our eternity, as He will judge us based on one fact, and that is whether we have accepted Jesus into our hearts, and have asked Him to forgive us of our sins. On that day, our cry will be that of Salvation: "You are worthy O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power." Revelation 4:11. Are you preparing for that day, when you will meet the King of kings face to face, and will you be prepared to accept His judgment? We do not know the year, the day, or the hour this meeting will take place, but we do know that we all will face this final judgment and this final meeting. The time to prepare is now, by committing your life to Christ, and beginning to live as a child of the King. The Bible gives us a step by step guide to prepare for this meeting where we will be in God's presence. My Daily Devotional Volume Six June 23 Robert William Brock, Jr.

God's Secret Angels

God's Secret Angels "For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways." Psalm 91:11 As I was growing up my grandmother always told me that the angels would watch over me and take care of me. I believe the angels did protect me at least two times in my life, that I am aware of. A large tree fell on me when I was several years old, and everyone could not believe I survived. Again when I was in college, I was involved in an automobile accident, where all that saw the wrecked car could not believe that there was any way I could have survived. There is much that has been written about angels, but I believe that angels are real, as the Bible tells us that they are, and God also tells us that he has commanded them to watch over us. Only in eternity will we know how many accidents they prevented, or how often they intervened in our lives, to keep things from happening to us. In the meantime, we can take comfort in their presence, and thank God for the love He expresses for us through their service. I do know that God tells us that He has a plan for our lives, and that all our days were ordained before we were ever born. God's secret angels guard us just the same as a secret agent is the one who seeks to protect his country, or the president against evil forces that are opposed to the one he serves. The American Secret Service is charged with protecting the president of the United States. They do an excellent job, but even they fail, and our presidents are killed. God's secret agents--the angels, are unseen and unrecognized by the world, they never fail in their appointed tasks. God loves us so much that His secret angels, are constantly watching over us, and protecting us. Just as the scripture above states God's angels will guard us in all our ways. My Daily Devotional Volume Six June 22 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Let God Speak To You

Let God Speak To You "The mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints." Colossians 1:26 I can remember our first television set when I was about 15 years old. The family would gather around the screen, which was so snowy that the faces of the people could hardly be recognized. It was, however, a very exciting time for us, knowing that somewhere out there, was a world that we could now experience, and be a part of. We knew that these people existed, because we could see them on this small screen, as they were talking to us. This memory of this memorable time, reminds me that God is also trying to contact us, and talk to us. He wants to speak to us, and tell us that He cares for us, and that He loves us. The problem in Him communicating with us, is not with Him, but is with us. He is continually talking to us in gentle whispers all throughout our lives. He is constantly bringing people into our lives, who can tell us about the message of His Holy word. In our society today, the name of God is always before us, as there is almost a church on every street corner. It is not God that keeps us from turning our life over to Him, but it is our stubbornness and selfishness that keeps us from talking to Him. There is no reason for our nation to not know God, as He has revealed Himself to us. He has revealed Himself in the world He created. He has revealed Himself in His written Word, the Bible. Centuries ago He spoke to the prophets and the apostles, and by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, they wrote His Word for us. God is trying desperately to reach you, and to save you, and give you an eternal life in Heaven, but you must "tune in" and listen to Him. I urge you today, to let God talk to you, before it is too late. My Daily Devotional Volume Six June 21 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Thirst For God

Thirst For God "My soul thirsts for God, for the living God" Psalm 42:2 In our world today, I am sure these words from the Psalmist would sound strange to many people, as we live in an age that is preoccupied with the things of this world. But the Psalmist had discovered what most people discover sooner or later, which is that the things of this world don't mean a thing if God is not in your life. The Bible tells us that all things of this world will rust and rot away, as death is the great equalizer, and we cannot take our money, our wealth, our titles, or anything else with us when we die, and all are destined to face death. The things of this world can never satisfy the longings of our souls. Only God can meet our deepest yearnings. I remember a statement by St. Augustine centuries ago, which said, "You have made us for Yourself, O God, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in You." This statement is so true as we are never satisfied with the things of this world, and can never get enough. There is a longing to have more and more, as we try to achieve peace and joy, by all the material things. King Solomon, stated in the Book of Ecclesiastes 1:2, "Meaningless! Meaningless! Everything is meaningless." Nothing in this life will matter, and is meaningless, if you don't have Jesus in your heart, and be saved by the blood of Jesus. Like the Psalmist stated, it is when you are thirsting for God, this is when you will have peace and joy in your life. When your life is centered around God, and your complete faith and trust is put in His hands, it is only then that you will be where God wants you to be. Take a few moments today to see what is crowding out your thirst for God. What is keeping you from making Him first in your life, and receiving the peace He has for you. Thirst for God today. My Daily Devotional Volume Six June 20 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Perfect In Weakness

Perfect In Weakness "When I am weak, then I am strong." 2nd Corinthians 12:10 In the Old Testament God repeatedly told the leaders of Israel to reduce the size of their armies, and announced how their victories would be won. He sent a small weak man, David, out to fight the mighty giant Goliath. Why do you think that God would have done this? The answer is that God wanted the people to place their trust in Him, and not in their own strength. God's work, done in God's way, will never lack for God's provision. The Lord told Paul, "My strength is made perfect in weakness." 2nd Corinthians 12:9. Having learned this lesson, Paul could then believe the scripture above. Only when Paul admitted his own weakness, and was willing to get out of the way, and trust and have faith in God, could God take over and give him victory. If we try to do God's will in our own strength, then we will want to take the credit for whatever gets accomplished, and will begin to think that we don't need God. We begin to think that we have the answers for all our problems, and want to do things our way. We need to realize that all things that we do, all the successes we may have, are not done by our own strength, but by God letting us succeed. There is nothing that we can do, that God could not stop instantly if He chooses. There is also nothing that can stop us from succeeding in all things, if this is God's will for us. The lesson we should all learn from these scriptures, is that we must trust and have faith in God, in all things, as according to His will, everything that He has in store for us will be accomplished. Our job is to trust in Him for the victory, in the way that He provides. When we let His strength work through us, then He alone will get the glory, not us, as this is the way it should be. My Daily Devotional Volume Six June 19 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Let God Rescue You

Let God Rescue You "The righteous man is rescued from trouble, and it comes on the wicked instead." Proverbs 11:8 Do you go around each day with a chip on your shoulder? Are you harboring anger and bitterness against someone that has hurt you, and are unable to forgive them? If you find yourself in this situation, this is not where you need to be in your walk with God. The Bible tells us that we are to be happy and content in our daily life. This does not mean that we will not have problems or struggles, but during these times we should let our faith and trust in God see us through even the darkest times. Anger and resentment, and the inability to forgive others, will sap your happiness quicker than anything, make you bitter, but most of all will keep you from being a witness for God. We all meet people each day that seem to have no joy or happiness in their life. They have let their struggles rob them of the peace and joy that God wants for them. The Bible tells us that God will always provide what we need, and we must have the faith and trust in Him, that whatever trials we will face that He will see us through, and give us victory over them. God wants our light to shine each day, so that others will see the presence of God in our life. We always notice people that have a good attitude, that always seem to be happy, and who are always letting others know that God is in control of their lives. We also know the people who are constantly complaining, grumbling about situations in their life, and who seem to be unhappy with everything. The anger and bitterness inside anyone, and this unforgiving attitude can create a miserable existence, that can rob anyone of the peace and joy we should have. The solution to this is to begin to trust in God for all things, and have faith that He will see you through. My Daily Devotional Volume Six June 18 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Slow Down

Slow Down "The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it." Proverbs 10:22 When my little dog Teddy and I drove out this morning to get out daily cappuccino and his doggy bone, I was reminded just how busy everyone is. People were out going to and fro, and into their daily routines of going to work, school and attending to their daily business. I can remember growing up in Kentucky, and the lifestyle my parents and grandparents lived, which was never a hurried lifestyle, but one that was calm, and where everyone was contented and at peace. Today, the lifestyle of almost everyone is busyness, and everyone's schedule is so tight that most do not have time to stop for one minute to stop and smell the roses. It appears that the busy lifestyle of our society today, is affecting people's spiritual walk with God, as they don't have time for others, don't take time to pray, to read their Bibles, or even to spend time with their families. The focus of their lives is to accumulate money and wealth, and not on the things that should matter most to them. When I talk to many of my friends, their calendars are so filled with meetings and other commitments that very little time is left for what should really matter, their families, spending quality time with God in prayer, and Bible study. The Bible tells us that all our efforts should be focused on serving God, making Him first in all that we do, not relegating Him to the few minutes we have left after our other commitments. We should have learned from our ancestors, the important things in life that gives us peace and joy, instead most have priorities today that prevent them from enjoying the things that matter most. I would encourage each of you to "slow down", get your priorities straight, and make God first in your life. My Daily Devotional Volume Six June 17 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Don't Wait Too Long

Don't Wait Too Long "He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts" Romans 4:5 I was reminded today by the obituary of a young man who died of a heart attack, just how fragile life really is, and how suddenly it can end. The obituary listed his wife, his children, his parents and other family members, but did not mention the church he attended, as the chaplain from the hospital was to preside over his funeral. When I see this in any obituary, I wonder if these people had a close relationship with Jesus. They woke up in the morning, not realizing that this would be their last day on this earth. All the planning they had done, all the money they had made, all the wealth they had accumulated, all the titles they had by their name doesn't mean anything if they did not have Jesus in their hearts. The Bible warns us that we only have until we take our last breath, to make the choice where we will spend our eternity. Our life on this earth is only for a season, and could end at any time, and it is so important to make the choice to ask Jesus into our hearts, so that our future beyond this earth is secure. It is such an important choice, but one that so many don't take the time to make. It is so easy to live in the present, enjoying our hobbies, doing our own thing, accumulating wealth, enjoying life and the luxuries and pleasures it can afford, and not looking ahead and preparing ourselves for the day of judgment. We will all someday die, some sooner than others, as we are not promised tomorrow. If there is one thing I could ask you to do today, it would be to make sure you are right with God. He is the only judge that you will face when your time on earth is over, and if you have not asked Jesus into your heart, you will spend your eternity in Hell. Secure your future, do it today. My Daily Devotional Volume Six June 16 Robert William Brock, Jr.

The Hour Is Near

The Hour Is Near "The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed." Today, I want to ask you some simple questions. How much time do you spend with God each day? Do you pray each morning for God to lead and guide you during the hours ahead? How much time do you spend reading your Bible each day? How many people at your job know that you are a Christian? The Bible tells us that God's greatest commandment is to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. We are to make Him first in all that we do. The way we show our love for Him, is to do all the things I mentioned above. If you are not praying each day; if you are not reading your Bible each day; if you are not being a witness for Him each day, you are not showing your love for Him. God sent His son Jesus to die on the cross for you, and to give you the opportunity to accept Him as your savior, but in return expects you to do these things I mentioned above. If you are going your own way, and doing your own thing, and leaving God out of your daily life, you are falling short of doing your part. Take a moment this morning to evaluate your life, to see if you are deficient in any of these important questions. If you find that you are lacking, it may be time to make room for God, by adjusting your schedule to find time to pray, read your Bible, and time to let others know about God. You should not be trying to squeeze God in between other commitments, as He should come first. Your life should revolve around Him, and everything else should come after. There is nothing in life that should come before your time with God, as you are working for your eternal future, not to earn enough money for today, or to fulfill your own desires. The hour is near, and your future is at stake. My Daily Devotional Volume Six June 15 Robert William Brock, Jr.

God Is The Final Authority

God Is The Final Authority "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established." Romans 13:1 In another three years we will be electing a President of our great nation, and this is a critical time where we can again have a part in this process. During our lifetime, we have set back and watched the morals of our society decay, to the point that God has almost been removed from our everyday life. Abortion mills continue to prosper, and the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman, has pretty much been removed as a way of life. For generations our forefathers kept God in the forefront of their lives and their families. Today, over half of all marriages end in divorce, and families do not have the right foundation, on which to build their lives. We can see throughout the Bible that when a society deteriorates to this point, that God took drastic action to punish the people. He destroyed the entire earth by a great flood, and only spared the family of Noah. He destroyed the great cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, when they turned their backs on Him, and His laws and commandments. Is our society facing God's wrath and judgment because of our transgressions? Will God soon unleash His punishment on our nation because of our unwillingness to follow His laws? We should have learned our lesson from reading the history of the Bible, but we haven't. When we take God out of the family, the government, and all aspects of our life, we are dangerously close to God sending His wrath and His judgment against us. When you vote for any elected official, look at the principles and character of the people who are running. Vote for a man that makes God first in his life, as God will govern through him, and provide him wisdom to lead us. My Daily Devotional Volume Six June 14 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Let Your Light Shine

Let Your Light Shine "Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord." Romans 12:11 Today, you will go out into the world, and will be faced with making the right choices. If you are a businessman, you will make choices that will define you as a leader, and the choices you make are not just about you. They’re about the positive impact you can have on your organization, your community, and beyond. The world needs everyday leaders, who will choose to make it a better place. You can make these choices on your own, or you can ask God to give you the wisdom and understanding to make good choices. If you try to do it by yourself, you may make some good choices, but they may not be ones that benefit the people around you, as your selfish instinct will begin to come into play, and eventually the outcomes may not be what you had in mind. God wants you to be the light to the world where ever you are, even in your business life. The role God wants you to play is to be a fisher of men in all that you do. You cannot just go to church on Sunday morning, and think that you have done your part. If you are truly a follower of God, your light will shine brightly where ever you are. People should know that you follow God, as they should see your actions, speech and behavior as a constant reminder that God is in control of your life. You have many opportunities to witness for God throughout your day, and you must take advantage of all of them. This is what God expects from you. Always remember that God's greatest commandment is to love Him, and also to love others as yourself. Don't let this day go by, and not let someone know about your God. Let your light shine brightly, to show others that God is in control of your life, and that He can also be their guide. My Daily Devotional Volume Six June 13 Robert William Brock, Jr.

God's Plan For You

God's Plan For You "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Romans 12:2 Throughout the Bible God tells us that He has a plan for every life, and that if we live in constant fellowship with Him, He will direct and lead us in the fulfillment of this plan. To fully experience the plan that God has for us means that we can no longer continue to live in the world, and continue to live a sinful life. We must leave the world behind, and remove all the sin from our daily life, and then God will reveal the plan He has for us. God does not reveal His plan through fortune tellers, astrologers, soothsayers, or workers of hocus-pocus. This perfect plan is only revealed to those who have accepted Jesus Christ's plan for salvation. God only shares His secrets with those who are redeemed and transformed, and who humbly seek His will for their lives. You cannot know the will of God for your life unless you first ask Jesus into your heart, confess that you are a sinner, and receive Christ as your Lord and Savior. When you make this commitment, you will begin a whole new life, one where you will be transformed, and one where you will make God first in all that you do. From this moment on God will begin to show you His will and the purpose He has for your life. You will become a new creation, and will have the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you on the right paths. All your previous sins will now be forgiven, and you can begin your new life with a clean slate. Such a wonderful new beginning is only due to the shed blood that Jesus gave for you on Calvary's cross. You have the opportunity today to make the most important choice you will ever make, and that is to accept this grace of Jesus. Ask Him to reveal His plan for you. My Daily Devotional Volume Six June 12 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Making The Right Choices

Making The Right Choices "So I say, live by the spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature." Galatians 5:16 Each day we make choices to follow the will of God or not. We are confronted with decisions where we choose to do wrong, or to do what is right. Many times it is easier to do the things that are wrong, than it is to do the right things. If someone gives us the wrong change at the grocery store, it is easier to keep the money than to give it back. If we are late for work, it is easier to lie, than to tell our boss that we simply overslept, or did an errand before clocking in. If we get an unwanted phone call, it is easier to tell the caller that someone is at the door, as a way to keep from talking. We make excuses to try to justify our behavior, rather than to tell the truth. To walk in the way of the Lord, means to place one foot in front of the other, and to go forward one step at a time, making the right decisions each time. If you stop doing this, and begin to make the wrong choices, you are no longer moving forward. You are standing still, or worse, going backward. Walking forward, means you are doing God's will in all things, not compromising it, and doing things that will gratify your sinful nature. Doing what is right means to walk with God, in all your ways. It means to move forward in step with Him, confident that the way He is leading you is best. The Bible tells us that we are to live by the spirit, which means that we are to follow the will of God in all that we do. One of the highest commandments in the Bible is found in these words about Noah: "Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God" Genesis 6:9. We should all be like Noah, and strive to do God's will in all that we do, and this means making the right choices in all our everyday decisions. Could this be said of you? My Daily Devotional Volume Six June 11 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Do You Have Doubts

Do You Have Doubts "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." Romans 3:23-24 If you died right now do you know for sure that you would go to Heaven? Do you have any doubts where you will spend your eternity? There are only two choices, either Heaven or Hell. God loves you very much. He doesn't want you to go to Hell. In fact, He loves you so much that He sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross for you. The scripture above tells us that we have all sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God. You have sinned and I have sinned, but by the grace of God, we have been given an opportunity to be redeemed by the shed blood of Jesus. Jesus actually lifted the sin from us and placed it upon Himself. When they nailed Jesus to the cross, the blood that came from Him cleansed our sin. When He died on the cross He paid the price for our sin, which was His death. They buried Jesus but He arose from the dead, and conquered death and sin. So through His death, He gave us the promise of an eternal life. You can't be baptized into Heaven, be good to get to Heaven, pay money to get to Heaven. In fact, you can't do anything to get into Heaven, except to accept the payment Jesus made for your sin on the cross of Calvary, and receive Him as your personal Lord and Savior. The only way you can get to Heaven is found in the scripture below. "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:13 So if you have any doubts today about where you will spend your eternity, today may be your last chance to ask Him into your heart. You are not promised tomorrow, and this could be your last chance to make the most important decision you can ever make. Don't delay. My Daily Devotional Volume Six June 10 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Be An Encourager

Be An Encourager "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." 1st Thessalonians 5:11 The scripture above is the word of encouragement by the Apostle Paul to the Christians in the town of Thessalionica. Whenever I see a "therefore" in Scripture I usually ask myself what is it there for? In this case the preceding words have everything to do with why we are asked to build each other up. "For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him." 1st Thessalonians 5:9-10. We live in a time were criticism and complaint is so prevalent, as people are so critical and judgmental of others, but encouraging others is so easy to do, but so few people take advantage to give an encouragement to others. Look at yourself, are you quick to offer words that build others up, or do you offer words that tear others down? What do others think about you? Do the people in your life see you as an encourager, someone that makes them feel good, or do they try to avoid you, because you are so negative and complaining? So encouraging one another makes huge sense. We should be known as a people builder, and others should see us be an encourager instead of as a destroyer. We should build people up, not tear them down. Our words, our actions, our behavior should always be an encouragement to others. We should always offer words of encouragement that will touch others hearts, and let them know that God is in control of our lives. Get rid of your negative thinking, be a positive Christian, let your light shine, wherever you are. May you be aware of our loving God building you up, just as you build others up. My Daily Devotional Volume Six June 9 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Don't Let Wealth Control You

Don't Let Wealth Control You “You may say to yourself, my power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me. But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth.” Deuteronomy 8:18 The Bible gives us so much good advice about the power and use of money, but the scripture shown above is one of my favorite verses. Since time began the importance and value of money has been such a controlling influence in the lives of man, that God has over 2,350 references to money and material things in the Bible. Money is intoxicating; it is like a drug and can be addictive and can change people’s lives forever. We can be consumed by money. It can enslave us. It can consume our thoughts. It can dictate our lives, and it can control our behavior. Money can become our gods, and the Bible tells us to worship no other God, but I believe many people worship their money and material possessions, and it becomes their gods. They become totally dependent upon it. Money and wealth does not bring happiness, but many times can destroy happiness in people’s lives. I can remember growing up in my small town in southeastern Kentucky. We had very little money as I grew up, as my family were farmers and coal miners, but we were content with what we had, and lived a very happy life. We were not dependent upon money and material things for our happiness, but rather enjoyed and depended first upon God, and then on our own abilities to provide our needs. Your success in life is much more than your materialistic possessions, it is your faith in God that will provide you with peace, joy and happiness, and things that mean most to you. Don't make money and wealth your priority in life, as God will provide all that you need. My Daily Devotional Volume Six June 8 Robert William Brock, Jr.

It's Not Too Late

It's Not Too Late "When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies." John 8:44 In this scripture Jesus is describing what the devil is like, and calls him the "father of lies". Satan's role on earth is to lead everyone astray, to tempt you, in every possible way to sin. He wants to steal your hope, steal your joy, steal your peace, steal all the abundance that this life can be, but most of all he wants to steal your soul. He wants you to reject God, enjoy your sin filled life so you will be forever separated from God. If you are a Christian, he wants to destroy your testimony, destroy your ability to serve God, destroy the plan and purpose God has for your life. You need to realize that Satan is not playing games, he is deadly serious, as he wants you to spend your eternity with him in the Lake of Fire that will be his and your eternal home if you follow him. Satan doesn't care if you are young or old, if you are male or female, if you are white or black, if you are rich or poor, or if you are intelligent or not. He only wants your soul, and doesn't care how he gets it. I realize that what I say can't force you to follow God, but I want you to think whether a few moments of pleasure in this life is worth an eternity spent in Hell. Eternity is forever, and is never ending. Hell is a place of darkness, spent in a fiery burning lake of fire which will never end, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, that will last forever and ever. I don't want that for you, as you can escape this kind of future, by simply asking Jesus to come into your heart today. Jesus will forgive you of all your past sins, and make you white as snow, and then you will spend all your eternity in Heaven. Take just a few moments today, and ask yourself if you want to follow Satan and risk an eternity in Hell. My Daily Devotional Volume Six June 7 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Hear And Obey

Hear And Obey "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it." Luke 11:28 Do you hear God's Holy Words, and are you obeying them? Throughout the Bible God gives you His commands and instructions that you are to follow, but do you follow these commands, or just go about doing your own thing. Naturally, I am not able to address all of these commands in this one devotional, but I want you to just take a moment and think about God's commands as you go about your daily routine. I have encouraged you repeatedly in prior devotionals, to take time each morning to read your Bible, to pray, and spend a few minutes getting closer to God. It is so important for you to develop a closer relationship with God in your daily walk, as it is only with this closer relationship, that you will begin to hear God speaking to you through the Holy Spirit. God will speak to you through gentle whispers, and lead and guide you on the path He wants you to follow. You will begin to hear the word of God speak to your heart, as you go about your day, when you make Him first in your life. There will be choices and decisions you will make each day, which will be ones that God would approve of, or they can be ones that will lead you toward the ways of the world. If you have the Holy Spirit within you, you will not only hear the word of God, but you will be convicted when you do not obey it. God wants you to obey all His commands, not just some of them. This is not a test where you can get 75% correct and still pass, as God expects you to be 100% right all the time. In other words, God wants you to obey all his commands, not pick and choose which ones to obey. “But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.” 1st John 3:5-6. Actually, I believe the reason why most people do not obey God's commands and continue to sin is that they want to sin, as it is many times more comfortable to sin, than to do what is right. We like our comfort too much, Let me give you an example. If someone pulls in front of you on a busy highway, and then slows down and you miss getting through your red light, it is easy to want to blow your horn and say, "not nice things" about them, as this is easy for you to do. However, it takes more constraint and will power to control yourself, and even say a silent prayer for them. It is much easier to sin in this example, than it is to do what is right. Take a moment to think about other examples that come up in your daily life, where you find that it is easier to sin than resist. Maybe a co-worker tells a lie about you and gets you in trouble. It is easier to hold a grudge, and do everything you can to get revenge, than to forgive them. What if you get a phone call from a good friend who wants to talk to you, but you just aren't in the mood to talk to them right now, do you tell them a little white lie that someone is at the door, or on the other phone and you have to go. It is easier to tell a lie, than it is to tell the truth. All of these are simple examples, which I am sure you have been guilty of at some point in your life. It was easier to commit a sin and not follow God's commands, than it was to do the right thing. These kinds of sins become habits, and become easier and easier the more you do them. I want to encourage you today to seriously think about how you are obeying God's commands in your daily life. All of God's commands are meant to be followed, and there are no exceptions. When you accept Christ as your savior, you are to live a life free from sin. God has given you the Bible to tell you the kind of life He wants you to live, from the moment you asked Him into your heart. Think about all of God's commands today and put them into practice, stop sinning and let the Holy Spirit lead and guide you to victory. My Daily Devotional Volume Six June 6 Robert William Brock, Jr.

The Power Of Hugs

The Power Of Hugs "Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Come near so I can touch you, my son, to know whether you really are my son Esau or not.” Genesis 27:21 Over the years, everyone has always known me to be a hugger, as if I meet a good friend I usually hug them instead of just shaking their hands. I believe this is a much better way to let them know that I care about them. Let me tell you what a hug can do instead of a handshake. A hug is a wonderful thing. It's a marvelous gift to share. It's a grand way to say; "I care." A hug communicates support, security, affection, unity, and belonging. A hug shows compassion. A hug brings delight. A hug charms the senses. A hug touches the soul. Hugs are healthy. Hugs ease pain, reduce stress, cure depression, induce sleep, rejuvenates the heart, yet has no side effects... a true miracle medicine. A hug can say, "I love you." A hug can say, "I hate to see you go." A hug can say, "it's good to have you back." A hug can say, "It's great to see you." A hug can say, "I feel your pain." A hug can say, "let me share your burden." No matter whether you're the sender or receiver, hugs touch the inner being. From friends, to family, to loved ones, to those in need; a hug warms the heart. A hug is truly amazing. It gives conscience and purpose to sharing one's self. It brings generosity to the giver and happiness to the receiver. It brings blessings to those who give it, and joy to those who receive it. Hugs are one of the reasons God gave us arms. So, stretch out your arms to someone today. Reach out to those you love. It will warm the heart of the giver, and give light to the soul of the receiver. Reach out to your neighbor. Reach out to one in need. It will show that you are responsible. Reach out to the world and give them a big hug, it will do wonders for you and also for them. My Daily Devotional Volume Six June 5 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Are You Selfish

Are You Selfish "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets" Matthew 7:12 The above scripture is one of the most important ones we will find in the Bible, as it gives us so much wisdom as to how we are to treat others. When we come into the world, it is all about us, and our wants and desires. We are born thinking only about ourselves, and the things that please us. We are selfish and only think about getting our wants and needs satisfied. God, however tells us that we need to love others as we love ourselves. This means that instead of always thinking about ourselves, that our thoughts should take into account others. This is difficult to do, as we make decisions and choices each day, and the majority of these are what will make us happy and make our lives more enjoyable. Most people seldom consider others, when they make these daily choices. We go to the malls and buy things that bring us pleasure, rarely thinking that the money we spent, could be better used to feed the hungry at the local community center, or to provide shelter to a homeless person. We should consider what Jesus would do in a situation like this. Would He buy the newest cell phone, or would He help feed someone who was hungry. Rarely, do most people think about others, but only think about what would make them happy. The majority of our nation and our people are rich in comparison to the rest of the world. God provides our needs and so much more, but we continue to want the bigger house, the biggest car and all the other luxuries that we can afford. I would encourage each of you to search your hearts, and see if you are following the message in the scripture above and loving others as you love yourself. My Daily Devotional Volume Six June 4 Robert William Brock, Jr.

Choice Words

Choice Words "A wise man's heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote instruction." Proverbs 16:23 The Bible gives us many instructions as to the use of our words, and the encouragement they can do, or the damage they can do. Choosing our words is so important, as I have seen relationships destroyed by poor choices of words, made in the heat of the moment. Words spoken in anger, which are meant to hurt someone, can be one of the most destructive forces that we use to destroy someone's self worth and confidence. I have seen reputations destroyed during my business career, because someone told lies about their fellow employees, and even though they tried to later take back their words, things never were the same. It is like taking a bucket of feathers and tossing them into the wind, and even though we may try to collect all of them, they can never be collected as people will judge others because of these damaging words. It is so important to think before we speak, and select the words we use when talking about others. We should never judge others, as we do not know their hearts, and we must leave God to be their judge. Our words should always be ones to encourage others, instead of being negative, constantly complaining and bringing others down. If we do not have positive things to say we should remain silent and not say anything. Christian's should be positive instead of negative in all that they do, as if we are constantly complaining and griping about things, why would anyone want to be like us. How can we show the love of Jesus if we are sad, unhappy, and constantly being negative. We should be an example, always uplifting others, instead of complaining about our own problems and difficulties. Our words should always show God's love. My Daily Devotional Volume Six June 3 Robert William Brock, Jr.

God Is Waiting

God Is Waiting "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." 2nd Peter 3:9 So often in life we want things done immediately, in our own time frame. The one thing that we need to remember is that God has a time for all things, which necessarily is not what we always want to hear or wait for. Many times we pray when we are in trouble, when we have problems, when our mountains get too high, asking God for help. It is in our bad times that we reach out to God, asking Him for help. If we want God to answer our prayers and to help us, we need to go to Him in our good times as well, thanking Him for all the blessings that He provides each day. God does not want us to reach out to Him only in our times of trouble, but to reach out to Him each day when things are also going good in our lives. God is just, and He is also patient with us, and only wants the best for us. He has a plan for everyone, and that plan is that He wants us to repent of our sins and live our life for Him, and accept His salvation. I know that many of you may be facing some tough issues today that only God can solve, and ones that you don't see how you can resolve on your own. However, God is there for you, He can give you peace and comfort you even in the darkest hours, when there seems to be no hope. God only wants the best for you, and loves you so much that He gave His only son to die on the cross for your sins. Take a few moments today to share your burdens with Him. Let Him comfort you and show you His love, His grace and His mercy. Put God first in your life and He will bless you in all that you do, but most of all He will give you an eternal life. My Daily Devotional Volume Six June 2 Robert William Brock, Jr.

You Reap What You Sow

You Reap What You Sow "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed." James 5:16 As I have studied my Bible, I have seen God's system so often in my life which operates on the principal of sowing and reaping. I have seen that when I have sown seeds of blessings into others lives, that I have reaped more blessings than I have sown. I believe the same thing happens when you pray for one another, as when you pray for someone and their problems, you get your mind off yourself and onto others. You're sowing a seed in someone else's life, but God also does something in return in your own life. The more seeds you sow the bigger your own blessings will be. You can't out give God, as if you sow a hundred fold you will reap a thousand fold. You should not do this to simply want to get more than you receive, but should do it because you want to help someone and show that you love them. God gives us His greatest commandment which Is to love Him with all our heart, mind and strength, and then to love others as we love ourselves. Is there someone in your life that you can pray for? Maybe it's a friend, a fellow employee, a school mate, or someone that crosses your path that may need a prayer. They don't have to be present when you pray for them, as you can pray for them as you go about your day, or even while driving to work. Remember, when you pray for others, you are opening the door for God to also move mightily in your own life. Take just a moment throughout your day to pray for someone, as God has commanded you to do. Direct your thoughts and prayers towards someone that needs God to help them get through a tough time in their life. When you do this you will be honoring God, and His blessings will begin to flow back to you. My Daily Devotional Volume Six June 1 Robert William Brock, Jr.