Keep Pressing Forward

Keep Pressing Forward “For he says, in the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you. I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” 2nd Corinthians 6:2 Did you know that you are in God's favor, and that He wants to bless you in all that you do. You are special and He loves you. Today, I would like to tell you that no matter what you may be facing, keep pressing forward. Don’t let the challenges of daily life detour you, keep pressing forward. In the midst of the battles you are fighting in your life today, keep pressing forward. One of the big ways Satan neutralizes many Christians is by throwing so much at them each day, and by the end of the day you are just happy you made it, and looking forward to getting some sleep. Satan has you so conditioned to just making it through the day that you start to make that your goal each morning. You wake up and your prayer is, “O Lord, just help me make it through the day.” My friends, we aren’t here to just make it through the day, we are here to make a difference through the day. Each day is a special gift from God. It isn’t promised to us, and if our goal is simply to make it to the end of the day, we are not being good stewards of that wonderful gift. We usually think of stewardship in regard to how we handle our money. I want you to understand that good stewardship also entails how we handle the time God blesses us with. God doesn’t give us a new day to simply make it through another 24 hours. He blesses us with that day, so that we can serve and glorify him, and make an impact with our life for the Kingdom. God will hold you accountable for how faithful you have been with each minute. He gives everyone resources, He gives everyone talent, and He gives everyone time. Be a good steward of your time today, and make God number one in your day and you will be in God’s favor. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven June 30

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. Satan is out in the world tempting you to make choices that will lead you astray, and away from God. He is fearless and persistent in his attacks. 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. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven June 29

The Brevity Of Life

The Brevity Of Life "What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." James 4:14 As I read this scripture this morning, I am amazed just how fleeting my life has been. It seems like only yesterday I was young, my wife and I were starting a life together, our children were playing in the house with their toys, we were in the spring of our life, with our life in front of us. However, I now realize that I am nearing the twilight of my life, and these things are but memories of the times that have flown by too fast. I am amazed at the brevity of life, as almost before I knew it, the years have passed, and my life on this earth will soon be over. Thinking back on the years that have passed, I now realize that the brevity of life should challenge us, as if ever we are to live for Christ and share Him with others it must be now. Now is the time to warn others that now is the time and the place to share the fruit of the Spirit with others. Jesus said, "The night is coming when no one can work." John 9:4. But life's brevity should also comfort us, as life may be short, but ahead of us is eternity. When sufferings overwhelm us or difficulties assail us, we know they will soon be over. We can endure the storms that this life brings, by knowing that there will be a rainbow at the end, which is going to appear after our storms are over, and this gives us hope that there is something better awaiting us. There are better things that await us only if we know Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Paul wrote, "Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day." 2nd Corinthians 4:16. These are comforting words, as even though our earthly bodies are slowly wasting away, there is a new life awaiting us, a new body that will endure for all eternity, one that will never die. I am looking forward to my future, with no regrets about my past, as my eternity in Heaven is secured. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven June 28

How Do Your Pray

How Do You Pray “One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught the disciples.” Luke 11:1 Many people pray only in times of great stress, danger, or uncertainty. During the time I was flying each week to Illinois on a consulting job, when we would encounter bad storms, I found myself surrounded by some people praying for the first times in their lives. It is instinctive for us to pray in times of trouble. It is during these times that we realize our helplessness. We should not pray only in times of distress or trouble, but should be lifting our voices up to Jesus all throughout our day. We should be praying and thanking Him in the good times, as well as the bad times. We need to continually pray and thank God for all the things He gives us daily, such as our health, our jobs, our families, our homes, our material possessions and all the blessings that we receive each and every day. Jesus likes us to thank Him for the things He provides. The disciples had noticed Jesus’ prayer life and they yearned to be in touch with God as Jesus was. The prayer He taught them covers all the bases as far as what we need to pray for in our everyday life. We need to go to God in prayer each and every day as this is the way we can communicate with Him. We need to go to Him in our times of trouble and ask Him to help carry our burdens. We also need to go to Him in the good times, thanking Him for the blessings He bestows upon us. Have you ever said, “Lord, teach me to pray”? Prayer shouldn’t be casual or sporadic, dictated only by the needs of the moment. Prayer should be as much a part of our lives as breathing. With all the things that are happening in our world today, we have never experienced a time where people have a greater need to band together and pray for our country and our leaders. Begin praying to God daily. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven June 27

Are You Ready

Are You Ready "And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years." Revelation 20:1-2 Our world is in turmoil and we can see the evidence that we are in the last days, from all the unrest and the threat of wars all around the globe. We are seeing a growing trend towards big government, and less and less power for the people, as our freedoms are slowly being taken away. People are becoming simply pawns of the government who want to control their life and control everything they do, and make them dependent on someone else. The days where people depended upon themselves for food, shelter, clothing and other necessities is slowly disappearing. The governments debts are increasing astronomically, and when the demand for payment comes due, there will be a great economic crisis on a world wide scale. We are seeing trouble in the middle east increase, and nations are coming under the control of those who have great hatred for the Jewish people, and the state of Israel. Chemical weapons are close to being used, and Iran will soon have nuclear capabilities. The world is looking for a savior, and one will come. He will be the Anti-Christ and will have great sway over the nations, and will have favor with all the peoples of the world. As Christians, we have the awesome opportunity to pray and to witness to those who are blinded as to what is going on in the world. We are not wrestling against flesh and blood but against the forces of evil. This should not be news to you however, as the Bible warns us this time is coming. It also tells us that Jesus will also return to claim all that have asked Him into their hearts. We will meet Him in the air, and He will reclaim the earth and all that have accepted Him as their savior. Our task is to be ready. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven June 26 Robert William Brock, Jr. This is one of the 365 devotionals from my book. It is published by Amazon.com and is available at Amazon.com under the book section.

Find The Truth

Find The Truth “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will know them” Matthew 7:15 Someone sent me a story about a man who went into a fried chicken place and bought a couple of chicken dinners for himself and his date to take on a picnic lunch. But instead of chicken, the young woman at the counter inadvertently gave him the proceeds from the day—a whole bag of money. After driving to their picnic site, the two sat down to enjoy their meal. But they discovered a whole lot more than chicken—over $800 in cash was in the bag. The man quickly put the money back in the bag, got in the car, and drove all the way back to the restaurant. The manager was thrilled to death. He said, "this is fantastic, I’m going to have your picture put in the local newspaper. You’re the most honest man I’ve ever met.” The man quickly responded, “Oh no, don’t do that.” Then he leaned closer and whispered, “You see, the woman I’m with is not my wife... she’s somebody else’s.” You probably loved this man up until the last sentence, and now, you probably think he’s the scum of the earth. Isn’t it amazing what can happen to our impressions of people once we know the full story? This is why the Bible warns us to never judge someone as only God can judge, as we never know what is in someone's heart. God, however, knows all about each of us, He knows the good and also knows the bad. Often the people we meet, and think we know, put on a good front for others to see, but so often this hides what is really in their heart. In much the same way, many “spiritual leaders” today look good on the outside, but when you find out what they’re really teaching, you discover they may not be all they proclaim. So be careful what you allow yourself to be taught by others. Find out the truth yourself from God's Word. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven June 25 Robert William Brock, Jr. This is one of the 365 devotionals from my book. It is published by Amazon.com and is available at Amazon.com under the book section.

Forgiveness Is Necessary

Forgiveness Is Necessary “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Matthew 6:14 I have written many devotionals about forgiveness, but it is such an important issue that I need to write one more. All of us have had instances where someone has done something that has harmed us in some way, and we have had trouble forgiving them. God is very specific in His instructions as to how we are to handle these types of situations. The scripture above is pretty plain as to how God views us not being able to forgive someone. Forgiving someone is one of the more difficult things to overcome in most of our lives, but if we are not able to overcome this obstacle, it will be difficult for us to have real peace in our life. For our emotional and spiritual health, we must let the past go. It doesn’t do any of us any good to go around hating somebody, nor does it make any sense to stay angry for something somebody did to us in the past. We need to be careful that our bitterness and lack of forgiveness does not contaminate others around us, as they are influenced by the way we handle a bad situation in our lives. If we are going to be happy with ourselves we have to learn to forgive others as Jesus commanded. When we don’t forgive, we’re not hurting the other person and we’re not hurting God. We’re only hurting ourselves. If we want to have the peace and happiness in our lives that God wants us to have, we must forgive. Bitterness and pent up anger for something that has happened to us will keep God from operating in our lives and will keep our prayers from being answered. Once we decide to release the bitterness that we have stored and let it go, we will then be able to reap God’s full blessings for our lives. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven June 24 Robert William Brock, Jr. This is one of the 365 devotionals from my book. It is published by Amazon.com and is available at Amazon.com under the book section.

God Is With You

God Is With You “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 Throughout your life you are going to find yourself in situations that are difficult and demanding. It can be easy to become discouraged and terrified during these times, and wonder if God is really paying attention, or has forgotten you. God however tells you that He is there with you always, and will comfort and protect you. He will never let you bear more than you can stand. Sometimes your friends, spouses, and parents don’t really understand what you are going through, but God knows and He cares. As He told Joshua in the above scripture, He will be with you where ever you go, and in whatever you do. He will give you directions to follow throughout your life to lead you on the right path and make your life worth living. Isaiah 26:7 “The path of the righteous is level; O upright one, you make the way of the righteous smooth.” God tells you that when you obey His commands and ask Him into your heart, He will take away your cares, and will bear your difficulties and burdens. There is nothing that God doesn’t know or can’t do for you. He is there with you every hour and moment of the day. The next time you face a difficult decision in your life ask God to take charge of the situation, and give you guidance and wisdom to deal with it. You will be amazed as when you begin to trust God for everything, the peace and assurance you will have in handling the situations you will face. There is nothing too small or too large for God to handle in your life. It is only when you put your complete trust and faith in letting God take control of your life, that you will have the peace and joy that He promises. It is only then that you will be prepared to fulfill the plans that He has in store for you. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven June 23 Robert William Brock, Jr. This is one of the 365 devotionals from my book. It is published by Amazon.com and is available at Amazon.com under the book section.

Is Trouble Knocking

Is Trouble Knocking "For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows." 2nd Corinthians 1:5 Are you worry free today, with nothing troubling you, or do you feel like the storms are closing in on you, and you don't know what to do? Do you know that God is not sitting in Heaven saying, "What kind of trial and troubles can I send down on my children today?" We all know that trials and troubles comes in all forms. They can be financial, health, relationships, jobs, or a multitude of other issues that are facing you today. God is not the one that is sending these issues in your life, but He is the only one that will make a way of escape from these issues for you. I currently have several friends who are facing some major trials. One family is dealing with their children, who are heavily into drugs. Another family is dealing with an alcoholic father. Another friend is having a difficult problem in his relationship with his wife. Another friend has lost his job and is having severe financial problems. Another friend has just been diagnosed with cancer. These are typical examples of the kind of issues many people are facing today. The answer to all of these issues rests in the fact that they all need to be turned over to God. God can make a way of escape to heal and remove all these issues. The Bible gives us many scriptures, such as the one above, that tells us that our comfort is to be found in Christ. We are not to cope with our troubles, but rather we are to turn them over to God. "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." 1st Peter 5:7 The Lord will comfort you, and provide a way out, but so often we want to handle these issues ourselves, and unfortunately we usually don't have the right answers, or make the right choices. If you have trouble knocking at your door today, don't answer it yourself, send Jesus to answer it for you. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven June 22 Robert William Brock, Jr. This is one of the 365 devotionals from my book. It is published by Amazon.com and is available at Amazon.com under the book section.

Whiter Than Snow

Whiter Than Snow "Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow." Psalm 51:7 We had about 5 inches of snow one day this winter, where it covered just about everything, even the tree branches. The sun came out and it was so bright that I could hardly look at it without closing my eyes. Have you ever thought just how white the snow is. Snow is so white that one can see almost anything that is dropped on it, even at great distances. We can take the whitest object we can find, like newly washed clothing, but when we place it next to snow it still looks dirty by comparison. Our lives are like that. At times we may think of ourselves as morally good and decent; we are content that we are not like other people, but compared to God's purity, we are defiled and filthy. We would stand out like a lump of coal against the whiteness of a new fallen snow. This is how I imagine that God sees us, as we are so obviously sinful, that we stand out in comparison to the purity of what He wants us to be. However, in spite of our sins and uncleanness, God still loves us, and because He loves us, He decided to provide for us a purity we could never attain on our own. This is why He gave His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for forgiveness of our sins. Without this great gift, we would be forever filthy and unclean in the sight of God, but when we accept His gift we can become "whiter than snow". It is only when our sins have been washed in the blood of Jesus Christ will be appear as white as snow in the eyes of God. "But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." 1st Corinthians 6:11. How does God see you today, are you dirty and filthy? He is patiently waiting for you and will wash your sins away so that you can be "whiter than snow". Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven June 21 This is one of the 365 devotionals from my book. It is published by Amazon.com and is available at Amazon.com under the book section.

A Season For Everything

A Season For Everything “He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.” Psalm 1:3 Every season is different, spring is a season of newness and new beginnings, summer is a season of uplifting and a time for growth, fall is a season of harvesting, and winter a season of reflection. and rest. As I am entering the winter of my life I have realized that God has a season for each of us. In each of our lives I believe that God has things that He has planned for us to do and accomplish in our lives, and a time when these plans are to be fulfilled. During our lives we learn and grow and experience many things, some happy and joyful things, while others may be disappointments and hurts, but all of these experiences are part of God’s plan for us. God knows all things, and knew us before we were born, and what our path in life would be. As we go through all these stages, or seasons in our life, He is preparing us to fulfill His plan for each one of us. During our hurts and disappointments, He is walking with us, and allowing us to withstand the buffeting of the winds and the storms, and during our times of joy and happiness, He is allowing us to flourish and blessing us. But each of these experiences is part of His plan to let us grow and become what He wants us to be. I believe that in God’s plan, as we grow older, that He expects each of us to use the wisdom and knowledge that we have learned during our lives, to reach out and touch others around us. All of our life’s experiences were there for a reason, and that is to mold and make us the people we are today. As we grow older we enter our harvesting season, a time where all the seeds that God has sown in our lives begin to mature and bear fruit. God has planted us by His streams of water, and has tilled us and worked us, and our good works now need to bear its fruit in season. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven June 20 This is one of the 365 devotionals from my book. It is published by Amazon.com and is available at Amazon.com under the book section.

Just Say Yes To Jesus

Just Say Yes To Jesus "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 encourages us to say "Yes". 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". You also have the choice to say "Yes" to Jesus, as He wants to save you from your sins, and give you an eternal life. Say "Yes", today. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven June 19

God Is In Control

God Is In Control "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." John 12:46 Have you ever thought just how little lack of control you have in the world around you. You have no control over the wind, the clouds, the air that you breathe, you can't make it rain, you can't make the sun shine, you can't make the birds sing, you can't make the grass grow, you can't put a rainbow in the sky or control any of the things that God has created. Even though many scientists claim that God didn't create the universe, that everything evolved from who knows what, they have no control over anything either, they can't create anything. The amazing thing is that we can't survive without any of these things, yet neither can we control them using our bare hands. As I think about all God's creations are we guilty of "trying to control God in our lives much the same way". Every time we think we have God figured out He shows up in a new way. When we think we have second guessed Him, He shows us something new we didn't even know was possible. He is particularly good at this with scientists that think they have found out things, like how big the universe is, or how or if, the big bang theory happened. There are people that think they can gain His favor by what they do or don't do. There is a reason why there are all these things that we can't control. Maybe what God is trying to tell us is that though we can't live without them, the only way we can have them is if we just receive them and are happy to let them be who and what they are without trying to control them or manipulate them. We need to understand that there is only one God, who loved us enough to give His son to die for us, and give us the opportunity to have an eternal life. We only need to accept His gift of salvation and depend on Him for all our needs. Our God is in control of all things. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven June 17

He Is Risen

He Is Risen "He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay." Matthew 28:6 This past Easter I read this scripture, and it has been on my mind since. During Easter we all sing songs such as He Lives, He Arose, At Calvary, and At The Cross. It is the only Sunday that most churches sing these songs. Everyone wears fancy clothes, and most children are caught up with the Easter bunny and hiding Easter Eggs. It is usually a happy time as spring is just around the corner, and spirits are high. However, I know Easter Sunday in a much different way. I now realize Easter is about death, burial, and resurrection. Jesus the Son of God was born so that one day He would die. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" John 3:16. By faith we simply believe in the great price that was paid for us. We sinned, Jesus died on a cross to pay for our sins, and on the third day rose from the grave. He is seated at the right hand of God making intercession for us. He gave His life. He suffered so that we can live forever with God. If we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, we are saved. There is no condemnation for the things we have done, and with each mistake we now make, forgiveness is still ours to receive. The tomb where Jesus was buried, and from where He rose, was left empty. Only the grave clothes were left behind. Because of His great love for us, and the power of God living in us, we too will one day be caught up with Him in the air. Jesus is coming again for those of us who have asked Him to forgive us of our sins. We are waiting for that day when the heavens will open, and we will meet Him in the skies. So you see, Easter isn't at all about Easter baskets full of candy, pretty clothes, or spring flowers. It's about an empty tomb. He is Risen, He is Risen Indeed. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven June 16

Don't Turn Your Back On Jesus

Don't Turn Your Back On Jesus "They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road." Luke 19:35-36 This is the description of Jesus' Triumphal Entry into the city of Jerusalem. The people were shouting, dancing, throwing their palm branches down, and bowing before Him. What a scene that must have been. They had stopped previously at the Mount of Olives before they got to the town where He sent two of his disciples to get a donkey. They told the owner that the Lord needed it. They put coats on the donkey so Jesus could ride him comfortably, and this is how He arrived in the streets where the crowd gathered for the festivities It appeared that the people knew how great He was. A few days later, however, He was accused of treason, and apprehended by the Roman soldiers in the middle of the night, because the high priests said that He was rebelling against the government Those same people who cheered, applauded, bowed and shouted praises to Him, suddenly changed their minds about Him. Did they forget He was kind, gentle, loving, full of mercy and truth? Did they dismiss His teachings and forget the miracles they had seen with their own eyes? Yes, they thought they had been betrayed, and would not have Him as their King to fight their battles and to bring the spoils of wealth back to them. Within days, these same people would become part of a mob shouting, “Crucify Him. Crucify Him.” Perhaps we are no different than those people. When all is going well and blessings fill our lives, we shout and sing His praises. Then when we can’t feel Him with us, we begin to accuse Him of not caring or we even turn our backs on Him. We must never be like this when it comes to Jesus. Don't be erratic, especially with regard to your affections, and never waiver in your love and Devotion to Him. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven June 15

Guard Your Speech

Guard Your Speech “But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:36-37 While I was waiting in line to get my morning coffee at Tim Horton's, there were two men arguing and using some of the worse words I have heard in many years. In our society today so many people utter careless words without thinking about the consequences of what they are saying, but in the scripture above God tells us what the consequences of our speech really means. We are confronted everywhere we look with words that would make our forefathers blush, as our television, our radios, our newspapers and magazines are filled with filth, and we have gradually accepted this kind of behavior over the years, and are even becoming more and more acceptable of this behavior even today. The Bible tells us to speak with a gentle voice, and use words that encourages and builds up our fellow man, instead of words of anger, and words that are meant to hurt and discourage someone. I believe that our speech is important to God, as it is the way that we can communicate our faith of God to others. God commands each of us to be evangelists to others around us, and our speech, and the words we use are an important way to communicate our faith. It is easy to let others know about God, and what He means to us, and many times communicating this to others can make a difference in someone else’s life. When we speak words of love and encouragement to someone, and then follow this up with our actions, we are fulfilling what God wants from each of us. As we go out into the world each day we need to be aware of our speech, so that when we stand one day before God at our judgment, we will be acquitted and God will be pleased. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven June 14

The Majesty Of God

The Majesty of God “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27 Several years ago I attended a small group meeting of our church, where a series called the Truth Project was being discussed. This session was on the differences between evolution and divine creation. As this discussion continued for several minutes, I was reminded of my career in the health field and the knowledge I have learned about the human body. Everything in the human body must function and work together, and in unison for us to be healthy and in good physical condition. If our heart is not functioning, blood will not get to the rest of our body and these parts will deteriorate and we will die. If our brain does not work properly our muscles will not know when and how to move our arms and legs. If our lungs do not pump and produce oxygen the rest of our body will suffer and die. When God created man He made us in His image, His perfect image, and with all the complexities of every part of our bodies working and functioning together. The presence of God is in us because we were made in the likeness and image of God. All we have to do is look at our own bodies to recognize the amazing wonder that God has created. We can also see His majesty all around us in the wonders of nature, when we see birds in flight, the fluffy clouds in the sky, a magnificent sunset, a beautiful rainbow, the feel of the wind on our face. God is all around us and to have someone question His creativity, and suggest that all this beauty was created by a process of evolution is absurd. Just knowing the wondrous creations that God has made is enough to give us a glimpse of what lies in store for us when we enter heaven, to be with Him for all our eternity. The majesty of God will be everlasting and all this is for us. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven June 13

Look To The Future

Look To The Future “This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:21 So often I believe that people become so enamored with material possessions and wealth that they lose sight of what the real riches of this life is all about. The scripture above is a lesson that each of us need to learn and follow. It is the story of a rich man who was a farmer, and whose crops had produced so generously that he had no place to store them. He thought to himself, I will tear down my barns and build bigger barns where I can store all my grain and my goods, and I can lay back, take life easy and be merry. But God told him that this very night his life would be taken from him, and then who would get all his possessions. We must never forget that our material possessions and wealth will some day pass away, as they are only temporary things, and that they are not going to last, but will be here for only a season. Everything that we cherish and love will be left behind for someone else to use and enjoy. The only thing that should matter to us is what is waiting in heaven, as this will be eternal and will last forever. We must look beyond the moment, past our temporal pleasure and into the future. Esau sold his birthright for a bowl of stew that Jacob was cooking, as he saw only a temporal pleasure and failed to look ahead. There are a lot of people like that today. They don’t think about God, or have time for Him unless they have some trials or troubles come against them. Then all at once they begin to think about God, and now have time to pray to Him. Then when their problems and crisis is past they return to their old ways, and no longer think they need God in their lives. I would encourage each of you to seek God, not as a temporary God, but as an Eternal God, one that will last forever. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven June 12

Do Not Fear

Do Not Fear “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” Acts 18:9-10 As we look at our daily newspapers and our television we see more and more trouble all around us, as the spirit of fear seems to be working overtime. With the terror threats, violence in our streets, the threats of war and the crime that is prevalent in almost every community, we have reason to be fearful. This fear is not coming from God but from Satan. The devil wants us to be afraid and on the defensive. He wants us to be so consumed by fear, and so afraid that our thoughts and minds will be so overwhelmed with fear that we will not be able to accomplish the things we need to do. The scriptures, such as the one above can give us strength to stand up and hold fast to the promises of God, that He will not forsake us and leave us alone. He will protect us from our enemies and our fear. We cannot get caught up in the day to day troubles that face our society, and become despondent and begin to have doubts about what the future holds for us. We must realize that the word of God tells us that we must refuse to worry about what “may” happen, as God is going to see us through. He tells us that there will be a brighter tomorrow, even though we sometimes cannot see through the dark clouds that surrounds us. I believe God has angels all around us that are there to protect the ones that believe and trust in Him. We also have our Christian brothers and sisters to aid and comfort us during our times of trouble. When the attacks of the devil begin to drag you down, and fear begins to overwhelm you, you can reach out to your friends, but just remember that God is always there for you and will not let anyone attack you or harm you, as He is always there to watch over you. Do not be afraid. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven June 11

Keep God With You

Keep God With You “If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit, apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 As you read this devotional, you may be facing various problems in your life. You may be dealing with a serious health issue, a crisis in your marriage, a major financial issue, a problem in your job or some other problem that is challenging you. Every day, just in the course of living through another 24 hours, there are so many things in our lives that happen. Many of these things are totally out of our control, and simply problems that we never expected but are suddenly confronted with. This is one of the reasons that we must always have a real committed, 24/7 relationship with the Lord. To withstand these kind of problems, I always counsel people to start their day in prayer and in the Word of God. It is not only the best way to start each day, but it will give you the focus and strength to deal with whatever problems life may throw at you. Paul tells us to “pray without ceasing”, and I take that literally as we can pray all during our day. We can pray as we go to work, we can pray as we go to school, at the supermarket, pray anytime and anywhere for God to be with you. Pray for the big things and also the little things. We need to keep the line open to God at all times, as God has given us a direct line to Him. You need to understand that God cares about you and He loves you. There is nothing too small or too large that He cannot handle. When we don’t pray we are depending upon ourselves, and as the scripture above states that “apart from me you can do nothing.” I will be praying for you today, that no matter what problems in life you may be having, that you will find your strength, your hope, and your answers in the Lord. You will be amazed how much easier each day is when you are operating in His strength and not depending upon yourself. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven June 10

The Secret To Success

The Secret To Success “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.” Colossians 3:23 This past fall my oldest grandson Brock, started a new job. He has been going to college and will graduate in two more years, but wanted to get a job to help with his college expenses. The advice I gave him was to read and follow the scripture above I have always had the attitude and related this on to my children, and now my grandchildren, that they could do anything in life, if they wanted it bad enough and was willing to work hard enough. I believe if we are willing to put forth the effort, and trust God for His guidance in all we do, we can accomplish just about anything in life that we want to accomplish, that is within God’s plan for us. Everything we accomplish requires an effort on our part, and how bad we want something, requires us to put forth the effort to obtain it. Great athletes do not get where they are without putting forth the effort and practice. God gives us the platform to build on, and what we build on our platform, depends upon the effort we put into it. There are so many people who have been given a talent from God that are not willing to put forth the effort to develop this talent, and get the most out of it. They may reap some rewards from the use of their talent but could grow this and be rewarded and blessed many times over, if they would only put forth the effort and time necessary to grow their talents. The people who are the successes in life, and who are the overachievers, are the ones that are willing to commit themselves and devote the time and effort to growing their talents. They are the ones that make the difference in our world and have the greatest influence on their fellow man. Make God first in all that you do, and work as if you are working for God, and all your plans will succeed. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven June 9

The Fruits Of The Spirit

The Fruits Of The Spirit “But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.” Galatians 5:22-23 This is one of my most favorite scriptures, as it lets me know when I trust God and follow His commandments and directions for my life, I will experience all of the fruits of the Spirit that He promises. Let me ask you a question today, "Are you reaping the fruits of the Spirit listed above in your own life? These fruits are ones that can make your life a blessing and enjoyable and thankful to be alive, but they require that your heart is right with God. We must make God first in all that we do and keep our minds and energies focused on doing what God’s will is for our lives. It is important to always keep ourselves uplifted on the inside, as working for God and doing His will requires a positive attitude.. We will never be able to accomplish what God wants us to accomplish if we do not feel good about ourselves. What we think about our own abilities, and how we govern our own personal enthusiasm, will determine how successful we will be in meeting our goals and objectives, and God's goals and objectives. If we do not feel good about ourselves, we will never have the confidence in our own abilities to reach our visions, and God's visions, and feel that we have accomplished what we wanted to accomplish. Accepting Jesus into our hearts gives us all these fruits, and makes us feel good inside. Once we reach the point of feeling good on the inside, then we are prepared to fulfill God’s plan for our lives, and will be doing the things that He wants us to do. It is then we will fully enjoy the fruits of the spirit. These fruits will provide all the nourishment that we need to have the joy and fulfillment that we all yearn for. We can all experience this wonderful feeling that only God can provide, by having Jesus in our heart. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven June 8

Be Happy

Be Happy “A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.” Proverbs 15:13 Are you happy today and is your face cheerful? What kind of impression will you make to the people this morning at your work, your school and when you meet your neighbors? Is it one where you will be a good representative of God? If you start your day with a happy heart each morning, your day will be much more enjoyable. You will be better able to withstand the obstacles that Satan will use to try to destroy your happiness. By putting yourself in the best frame of mind at the beginning of the day, you have equipped yourself to put your best foot forward, and given yourself the best opportunity possible, to influence in a positive manner, anyone you come into contact with during the day. If you get up in the morning in a terrible mood, the best thing you can do is find a place and spend some time with the Lord. Being in His presence will transform you, and can change the course of a day where Satan had negative plans for you. By learning to seek God quickly when you sense any attitude or behavior that is not Christ like, will help you prepare for each day. You want the experience, you have with the people you come into contact with, to be a positive experience instead of a negative one. You can set the tone for yourself and others you meet by being prepared for these people and dealing with them in a positive manner. This requires you to prepare yourself to deal with these situations when they arise, and simply taking a few moments each morning will better prepare you to deal with these in the most positive manner possible. You can make your heart happy by asking God’s guidance, and your day will be brighter and happier, and you will be better equipped to make someone else’s day happier also. Put a smile on your face and be happy. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven June 7

Set Yourself Free

Set Yourself Free "Come near to God and He will come near to you." James 4:8 One day a little boy was playing with a valuable vase. He put his hand in it and could not take it out. He pulled his hand as hard as he could, but still his hand wouldn't budge. He called for his father, who tried everything to get the boy's hand out, but nothing worked. He finally was considering breaking the valuable vase as a last resort as the little boy was now getting upset. The father told his son to try one more time before he broke the vase. He said try to open you hand and hold your fingers out straight as you see me doing, and then I will try to pull the vase off. To the father's astonishment his son said, "Oh no Daddy, I couldn't put my fingers out like that because I would drop my penny." This story may be humorous, but thousands of us are like this little boy, as we are so busy holding on to the world's worthless treasures, that we cannot accept God's freedom. Let me ask you today what worthless treasures are you holding onto that is keeping you from God. Is it your money, your house, your job, your country club membership, your friendships, your addictions, or some other thing? Is it a sin you won't let go of, or an unworthy goal you are determined to reach, or maybe a dishonorable relationship you won't' give up. If any of these examples are ones that is keeping you from becoming free of the things of this world, and keeping you from the saving grace of God, it may be time for you to think and consider, are they really worth it. There is more to life than the things of this world, as soon these will all come to an end. This world is only temporary but your eternal life, which will last forever, should be what you are striving for. If you are still holding on to the here and now, it is time to let go of these things, and surrender yourself to God. Let go of what is holding you back and be free, and let God have His way in your life. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven June 6

My Perfect Son

My Perfect Son "For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." Matthew 7:8 Today is my oldest son's birthday. Rob is my perfect son, and has always been a father and mothers dream.. Most children are not bashful in asking for things. I can remember our daughter Pamela, and our youngest son, Christopher always wanting something. They were not bashful in wanting all the new toys that were on the market, or anything that was the rage of the day. Our middle son Rob, who I have always called our perfect son, seemed to always be content with what he had, and was always happy. I call Rob, "my perfect son", as he was always a parents dream to have a son like him. He was always happy, never causing any problems, always obeyed, always content with what he had, and fit in with both young and old alike. I believe God's favor has always been on Rob, as he gave his heart to Jesus many years ago, and was an example as he was growing up, to all the church family. He was the youngest man to be selected to the church board at the age of 18, and people still talk about him around our town, as he made an impression on people that most, seldom forget. He still is like that today, as he now has his own family, and is passing these same traits down to his children. I have always prayed that my children would be children of God, and I am so blessed that all of them are, and when I asked and prayed that God would bless my children, I believe He has answered my prayers. I have claimed the scripture above for them. "For everyone who asks receives." I would encourage each parent reading this message today, to pray for your children, and ask God to watch over them, and to bless them, and to make them content to be what God wants them to be, "God's perfect son." Happy birthday Rob, I love you and am so proud to be your father. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven June 5

God Will See You Through

God Will See You Through "I can do everything through him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13 This week I was asked by a young woman who was having difficulties in her life, "If I get born again, will all my problems go away?" This is a question many people ask me, as they think if they accept Jesus as their savior that their life will be rosy and they will never have any further problems. The answer to this question is, "No you will still have problems, but you will have the power to deal with them." Once you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, He will give you wisdom and courage. He may even surround you with the presence of others who will provide you encouragement, help you carry your burdens, and even provide you with insight and practical assistance. However your burdens will be relieved when you read your Bible and soak in the wisdom and understanding that it will bring, as so many of the problems of life, and their solutions, are fully explained in its scriptures. When you face the mountains that may surround you, and you see no way out of your distress, just a little time with your Bible, will provide you peace and comfort. When you read the scriptures that state, "God will not leave you, or forsake you," these will give you comfort and assurance that you are never alone, that God is with you. Satan will always try to discourage those who belong to Christ. When problems persist, he may even whisper, "See, God doesn't care about you." But with the Holy Spirit's help, you will be able to combat the evil one and contradict his lies. If God dismissed all our problems with a single stroke, we would be left defenseless and unequipped to meet the inevitable attacks of Satan. God promises us that in the midst of life's problems, and the temptations of Satan that He will supply everything we need to see us through, even through the fiercest storms. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven June 4

Others Are Watching

Others Are Watching "Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." Ephesians 6:4 The bible clearly tells us that our children are to honor us and obey us, but we as parents are to nurture them in the admonition of the Lord, and not mislead or provoke them to wrath. We are to teach them in the ways of the Lord, and teach them that all their actions will affect their own lives, and also the lives of all that are exposed to them. The pain of bad actions always hurts more than we intended. We as Christians must seek Spiritual answers in all that we do. We are never to compromise and conform to the world's way of doing things, but rely on God's ways. We will be held accountability for teaching them right from wrong, and will have to face God one day and be judged as to how effective we have been. This is also true as to the effect we have on others in our lives. If a person is strong in the faith then they are responsible for making sure that they build others up, lift them and guide them in the ways of the Lord. When you know someone has not accepted Jesus as their savior, they are still His spiritual children, and if you as a mature Christian cause them to fall you will be held accountable. The bible teaches us that it is dangerous to cause one of His little ones to fall, Mark 9-42, "And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea." God is serious about how we live in front of our children, grandchildren and others even after they are grown. Just because you may be grown in physical stature, and have been a Christian for a long time, does not always mean that you are mature in faith. But if you are, then you need to be careful of your actions and words, as others are watching what you say and do, Let your reactions be Godly because your actions were. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven June 3

Reach Out To God

Reach Out To God "This poor man called and the Lord heard him, he saved him out of all his troubles." Psalm 34:6 My friends, throughout the Bible God makes it clear that our prayers are very important to Him. He loves for us to talk with Him, just as we would our closest friend, and promises to be there for us whenever we call. He says, "Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:13). God wants you to tell Him about your burdens, all of them, both big and small, and to give Him all your cares, so that He can bring hope to your heart, peace to your soul, and strength to your life (1 Peter 5:7). But even when you're at a loss for words, and don't know what to pray, the Holy Spirit Himself speaks on your behalf (Romans 8:26). Yet God is not only interested in your struggles. He wants you to talk with Him about everything, from your smallest victories to your greatest fears and all things in between. Isn't it good to know that you have a direct line to God? That He is available to talk to you anytime, day or night? If you are facing troubles in your life, and don't know where to turn, and don't have the peace you want to have, turn them over to God and let Him lighten your load. In fact, you can talk to Him right now. Tell Him how you're feeling; that you're hurting. Tell Him about your disappointment. Talk to Him about your anger and your pain. Tell Him how you love Him and need Him to relieve the pressure you are under. He hears your weeping, your pain, your requests, your praise, and also your thanksgiving. Prayer moves God. And when He moves in your life, you will feel His presence, experience His peace, and draw from His strength in ways you never thought possible. Reach out to God this morning and have a VICTORIOUS day. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven June 2

Praise God

Praise God "I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips." Psalm 34:1 Each spring I love to see the Robins come back. They always know when to make it back, as God has put something inside His little feathered friends to tell them just when it will be safe for them to come back, and that the spring rains will come, the flowers will bloom, and the worms will be waiting for them. It is amazing how God takes care of His creations. He knows about all His creations, and provides all that they need to survive. So often we overlook all the things such as the Robins in our lives, and do not give God the praise for these. We need to always praise God for these blessings. We always need to Praise God. Praise Him in the morning. Praise Him at noon. Praise Him at night. If you’ve never praised God in your life, then get started right now. Praise Him for freedom. Praise Him for healing and Calvary. Praise Him for the name of Jesus. You ought to be shouting your way to work and shouting your way back home. If there’s anything the devil can’t stand, it’s praise. If you’ve taken territory from the devil and he’s coming against you to get it back, this is not the time to sit down and whine about how things aren’t working out. It’s not time to decide that God has taken His hand off your life. It is time to get into the Word and get yourself re-anchored in God’s promises. It’s time to keep that promise constantly before your eyes and in your heart. It’s time to pray the prayer of faith and take your stand on the basis of His provision. It is time to continue to do the things you know to do. When Satan starts shaking your mountain, don’t retreat and run for cover. Speak to the mountain with the authority you wield in the name of Jesus Christ. Then, when you’re done with that, start to praise and shout the victory. You don’t have to be afraid of Satan. He’ll be afraid of you. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven June 1