Cry Out

Cry Out "When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" Mark 10:47 This scripture tells us the story of Bartimaeus, a blind man that was healed by Jesus as He passed by, as he cried out to Jesus to heal him. I wonder whether Bartimaeus, would have been healed by Jesus if he had simply sat in silence when Jesus walked by. Would Jesus have stopped and turned toward him and touched him? Perhaps, but we do not know, but Bartimaeus cried out for his healing. There were a lot of blind people around during Jesus' earthly ministry. There were a lot of deaf people. There were a lot of people with leprosy. There were a lot of people with all kinds of physical problems. But Jesus didn't heal all of those people. In fact, we usually find in Scripture that Jesus responded to the people who called out to Him. In the case of Bartimaeus, he cried out, and his voice was heard. It probably helped that he shouted. We do not need to shout in our prayers, necessarily, but we do need to be persistent. What is your need today? Do you need a touch in your body, like Bartimaeus did? Then call out to Jesus. Do you have a child who needs to be healed? Do you have a marriage that needs help? Then call out to Jesus. And don't give up if the answer does not come quickly. Jesus said, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened" (Matthew 7:7-8 NKJV). When Jesus stopped to restore Bartimaeus' sight, He was on His way to the cross. He was on His way to die for the sins of the world - and for your sins and mine. Do you need His forgiveness today, or for some other need? Then call out to Jesus. "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" (Romans 10:13). Robert William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven August 31

Making A Change

Making A Change "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" 1 Corinthians 2:9 Often when someone comes to a coach for golf lessons they come with the idea to get better. They believe that their golf swing just needs to be tweaked a little, and that the coach will instantly make them play better. However the real fact is that in most cases the coach will completely tell them to forget what they have been doing in the past and start over. You see a good coach often causes his clients games to fall apart and regress before they get better. He will tell them to forget what they have done in the past, as they have picked up bad habits, and it is usually better to start over. The coping mechanisms developed over time to hide the weaknesses in their game have to be exposed. Next comes the shaping and making of the new skills. Naturally they like everyone who learns a new skill become a beginner. Once these two stages are done, only then the pupil, will begin to play golf the way it is meant to be played. When we ask Jesus into our hearts, we must start over as well. We have to forget the past, forget our bad habits, and begin anew. We must change our life, we must not continue to sin, we must let the Holy Spirit lead us to develop new habits. We become beginners in this journey of grace, and we will inevitably learn the wisdom of God, by reading His Holy Word, and begin to apply it to our daily life. We will start over, become a new creation, and develop new attitudes, new lifestyles, forget our selfish desires and will make God first in our lives. The old desires, which were selfish desires, will be replaced by ones where we place others first. We will become servants, thinking about others first and making God first in all that we do. Our lives will be changed as our new coach will now control all that we do, and lead us to do His will, not ours. Robert William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven August 30

Don't Stop Trying

Don't Stop Trying “The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.” Psalm 145:8 I have always loved to cook and have several recipes that I am really proud of and enjoy making for my family. The majority of the time everything turns out just the way I want it to, but there have been some exceptions. I remember one time that I had an experience in the kitchen that reminds me so much of the meaning of the above scripture. It was one morning many years ago on my wife’s birthday that I wanted to surprise her with breakfast in bed. I usually get up before her and this morning I got out of bed and went to the kitchen and was going to make her something really special. I had never made biscuits before as I always let her make them, but this morning I decided to try as it looked easy when she made them. I finally found the flour but in my haste to get it open I spilled a cup of it on the floor. Just as I was starting to sweep it up, Trajan our Black Lab came in, and flour and a Black Lab don’t mix very well. As I tried to get Trajan cleaned up pretty well I also knocked over the milk which didn’t make things any better. I then gave up and made toast to go along with the rest of breakfast which turned out good. The point of this is that sometimes we try to do something good in life, but it turns into a mess. We can insult a friend and not realize it, we can do something wrong in our job and not know it, or our health can cause us to react in a bad way to someone we love. When these things happen we sometimes can’t think of what to do. That’s when God picks us up and loves and forgives us, and helps clean up our mess. It is so nice to have a God that can overlook our mistakes, and still love us. We must not give up just like we can’t stop trying to make biscuits, because sooner or later we’ll get it right, and then God will be pleased with us. Robert William Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven August 24

Jesus Calms The Storm

Jesus Calms The Storm “He replied, You of little faith, why are you so afraid? Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.” Matthew 8:26 As I was reading the above scripture it reminded me of my grandfather and an incident we had a long time ago when I was a small boy and we were fishing in the river near our house. We had a small boat which we used to travel up and down the river, but this one day we had paddled quite a distance from the normal place where we tied our boat on the river bank, when the skies started to darken and it started to thunder. My grandfather wanted to start back, but I didn't want to go, and he reluctantly agreed as he also wanted to keep on fishing. About 15 minutes later the wind started blowing harder and it began to thunder even louder. Our small boat was blown towards the middle of the river and it was impossible to paddle against the wind. A few minutes later we were several hundred yards down the river and had very little control over the boat. My grandfather however knew what to do and proceeded to begin paddling the boat with the wind at an angle instead of against it, and in a few moments we were at the bank, however several hundred yards down the river. I know I was pretty scared during this time and could imagine how the people who were with Jesus felt. But my grandfather knew what to do in this situation as did Jesus. God can control any situation we find ourselves in today, if we will have faith and trust in his guidance. He can calm any storm that we might find ourselves in and can protect us. So often we try to go against the wind, and also against the path Jesus wants us to follow. When we follow the will of God, obey His commands and make Him first in all we do, we should have nothing to fear, as God will lead us in the right paths, He will make our storms of life easier to bear, and will give us peace. My Daily Devotional Volume Seven Robert William Brock August 23

Think About Others

Think About Others “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10 Have you ever imagined facing the worst event of your life, knowing exactly what is coming and how difficult it will be, and at the same time thinking about others and helping someone during this time? This is the example Jesus gave us in the Garden of Gethsemane, as he was being betrayed by Judas with a kiss. In an effort to protect Jesus, Peter pulled a sword and cut off the ear of one of the soldiers. But Jesus touched and healed the soldier’s ear. I can recall the night before my grandfather died, he knew that he was in his last hours, and saw that I was upset. He spent several hours just talking to me that night as I sat on the side of the bed, reassuring me and comforting me. I was only about 14 years old at the time, but I will always remember that he was concerned about me and was trying to comfort me and prepare me. He did not talk about him dying, but we talked about a lot of things, all of which he knew I loved to talk about. We talked about hunting and fishing and our dogs; things that were happy and times where we had enjoyed ourselves together. I have always remembered this time as afterwards I felt very good, and as I have gotten older I have realized that he was concerned about me and was trying to give me a good memory of him. I believe that God would have been pleased with this kind of behavior, and that each of us should think about others instead of ourselves when situations like this occur. Jesus set the example for us, and I believe he was pleased with the example of my grandfather and his compassion for me. So often we only think about ourselves when bad events happen, not realizing that others may also be hurting as well. We all need to use the example Jesus gave us and think about others. My Daily Devotional Volume Seven Robert William Brock August 22

Bank Of Happiness

Bank Of Happiness "A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit." Proverbs 15:13 Today I want you to open a bank account, no not with money, but a bank account of happiness. Do your friends, neighbors, the people you work with, your school mates, anyone you meet know that you are happy, and have Jesus in your heart? Also did you know that God wants you to be happy all the time. If you are not happy, you will never be the kind of witness you need to be, showing others you have Christ in your life. How would you respond to someone who is miserable, always having a look on their face, like they have lost their best friend. Would you want to be like them. Of course you wouldn't. This is why God wants you to be happy. If you go around with a smile on your face, a friendly attitude, not grumbling about things, you are being an example to others who will want what you have. I have always felt that happiness is something that we all decide on ahead of time. It is a decision we make each morning when we wake up. You have a choice to either spend your day in bed recounting the difficulties that are going on in your life, or putting them aside and trust in God that He knows what is going on, and will deal with them for you. There are many blessings that God gives us each day, but so many of these we take for granted, and do not thank Him for. We need to wake up each day and thank God for all these blessings, and not dwell on our problems, but rather turn them over to God. He tells us to give our burdens to Him, and that He will provide all that we need. I believe that each day is a new gift, and as long as my eyes open each morning, I will focus on the new day, and all the happy memories I've stored away. Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you've put in. My advice is to deposit a lot of happiness in your "bank of happiness." My Daily Devotional Robert William Brock Volume Seven August 21

Carry Someone's Burden

Carry Someone's Burden "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." Galatians 6:2 When I read this scripture, I always remember a dear friend of mine, who truly lived this important message in his everyday life. His daily routine, after he retired, was to visit the hospital, where I worked and visit with the patients. He always stopped by my office each day and we would talk for a few minutes, then he would go throughout the hospital visiting patients. He knew that many of these patients were dealing with serious issues, and that the time he spent with them helped lighten the load they were carrying. In many of my devotionals I talk to you about being in the will of God. This can be difficult at times, determining exactly what God's will is for our life. There are some basics, however that God expects each of us to do, and one of these is to help bear the burdens of others. I want to really challenge you today, to put aside your own cares and help someone you know, that is struggling to carry their load. My dear friend said many times that after he helped others, that his own burdens didn't seem as heavy. I realize that you may be dealing with some difficult issues yourself, but there is someone God has placed in your life, a family member, neighbor, schoolmate, coworker, or a friend that is really hurting and struggling under the weight of their problems. God is telling you to go help that person carry their burden. The Bible teaches us in the scripture above that when we are about our Father's business, He will be about ours. Reaching out with the love of Christ to someone who is hurting, is the ultimate ministry anyone can perform in this life. You can do that today, by finding someone in need and helping them carry their burden. That is God's will for you, and I can assure you that your own burdens will be lighter as you help others carry theirs. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven​ August 20

Are You Ready

Are You Ready “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.” John 5:24 My friends take just a moment to read this important devotional. Having worked in health care all my life. I have had experiences that have remained with me over these many years. I can recall my first experience in visiting the morgue in my hospital with the attending physician who was signing a death certificate for a patient I had gotten to know, and had talked to many times before they died suddenly. This patient was a very wealthy man in our community, and was on my Board of Directors. He was a well liked and respected man, and had a very large family who were all grieving outside the morgue. But here lying naked under a sheet was this man, who in life seemed to have it all. He had great material wealth, a large luxurious home, several expensive cars, a large boat, and most any other luxury that one could have accumulated. His wife, his children, his grandchildren and all his other family members could do nothing in his behalf, or help him further in any way. His wealth, his bank accounts, his retirement plans, his insurance policies did not matter anymore. His membership at the local country club, his attorney, and any other of his influential friends could do nothing in his behalf. This man however did not go to church, and although no one can judge the heart of anyone else, had appeared to have not accepted Jesus as his Savior. Lying next to this man was another man who had just died. This man had not accumulated any wealth during his life, did not own a house or automobile, and had very few possessions, and was declared as an indigent patient having no assets. He had lived a very humble life, but was known in the community as being a devout Christian man, who had accepted Christ as his Savior. Everywhere he went he was a witness for Jesus, telling others about Him and the way to salvation. He always had a smile on his face, and always greeted everyone and showed his love for them. His wife, his children and grandchildren all were grieving outside in the hall as well over their loss. As I have come to know Christ as my Lord and Savior, and His plan of redemption for me this experience had become even more important in my life, as I witnessed firsthand the real meaning of what our life should be all about. Someday each of us is going to be lying on a table such as these two men. None of our money, wealth or worldly possessions is going to matter anymore, and none of our family, friends, pastor or anyone is going to be able to help. We will be all on our own. The only thing that will matter is whether or not we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. We will all stand before the throne of God at this time, and be judged on how we have lived our lives. All aspects of our life will have been recorded and brought to light in front of God. God will then judge us, and either let us spend all eternity with Him in Heaven, or send us to eternal damnation in Hell. Are you prepared for this day? It could come today, tomorrow, next week, or next month, but inevitably this day will come, and you will be in this same position as these two men, as no one will be able to escape this fate. I would encourage each of you to think about this day, and determine if you are ready to be judged by God. Have you accepted Christ and asked Him for forgiveness for your sins, or have you kept putting off thinking about this day, saying to yourself that I still have time; I will think about it tomorrow? None of us have the promise of tomorrow, and many will wait too long to make things right with God. There is nothing in your life more important than turning your life over to God today, not tomorrow, but right now, as none of us knows when our time will come. This is the most important decision you will ever make, and many of you may not have time to sleep on it and make a decision tomorrow. God is waiting for you and will welcome you with open arms. Ask Jesus to come live in your heart today, right now, and you will be ready. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven​ August 19

Are You Walking With God

Are You Walking With God “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. No one who is born of God will continue to sin.” 1st John 3:5-9. Are you walking each day with God in your life? Better still, let me rephrase it and ask you, if God is walking with you? There is a difference, as the Bible tells us that God will not be with you if you sin, as He does not condone sin. When you asked Jesus into your heart, he forgave you of all your past sins, and if He abides there, there cannot be any sin in your heart. God will not live in a heart where sin, Satan and evil is present. "We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him." 1st John 5:18. I believe that there are many people who don't understand the sacrifice that Jesus made for us, the sacrifice He made in suffering and dying on the cross, and all the agony and pain that He bore, just so that we could be saved and our sins could be forgiven. Do you think for a moment that Jesus would have suffered and died in this manner to forgive our sins, and then allow us to continue to sin daily. What would be the purpose of all His sacrifice, if we continue to lie, cheat, steal, curse, commit adultery and all the other sins. Do you think Jesus would have died, and allowed us loopholes or escape hatches, where we could continue to go on sinning sometime. There are no "what if's", no "sometimes", or any other conditions which allow us to continue to sin. What has changed in our lives, if we continue to sin after we asked Jesus to save us? What would have been the purpose of Jesus dying for us, and still allowing us to continue to sin? All the scriptures tell us when we accept Jesus as our Savior, that our lives are to be new, we are to be transformed, and we are to be changed into a new creation. This does not mean that we are just changed a little bit, maybe 50% better, or even 85% better, and that we still obey God 50% of the time, or 85% of the time, and Satan the other 50% of the time or the other 15% of the time. There is no part time Christian, as either we follow God or we don't. We can't obey God in the morning and Satan in the afternoon. God commands us to obey Him 100% of the time, and there is no room for us to obey Satan any of the time. There is no wiggle room for us to obey Satan some, and God some. We either have to choose to obey God, or to obey Satan. We can have only one master, and we have to choose between God and Satan. This is what Jesus told us, "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Matthew 5:48 These are some pretty high standards that Jesus gave us, and if you are thinking that you have been doing ok, and have been good most of the time, this may not be good enough to get you to heaven. When the Bible tells you that "no one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him" this is a powerful statement, and should make you think, is God walking with me, as I am still committing sins daily. You have the choice to submit yourself to God and follow His commands and flee from sin, or you can follow the devil. If you choose to resist the devil, he will flee from you, or if you choose God He will come near to you. It tells you to purify your hearts and wash your hands of your sins. However, you have to make the choice to either follow God or Satan. You are the only one that can eradicate sin from your life, or the only one that can keep it in your heart. God is careful who he walks with. He will not walk with the sinner or the ungodly, nor with those who profess to know him, but deny Him in their actions. To escape God's wrath, and to be in the Rapture, you must walk with God. There is no other path He'll walk on than the Straight and Narrow path that His Son paved with His righteousness and holiness. Ask God into your heart today, let Him change your life, and give you an eternal life in Heaven. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven​ August 18

Christopher Thomas Brock, Jr.

Christopher T. Brock, Jr. Four years ago I was sitting here anxiously waiting on a call from my youngest son who was at the hospital, as we were waiting the birth of our sixth grandchild Christopher Thomas Brock, Jr. Although I could not be there to experience the excitement of his birth, as we were keeping his big sister Emma Rose, but as the moments passed, I was praying and thanking God for letting me live to see this day. I know that my father felt these same emotions, over 74 years ago, as he was far away in the Philippine Islands during World War II, as I was being born. I can only imagine what was going through his mind during this time, knowing that he had no chance to see me, or experience the excitement that accompanies the birth of your first born child. My father never got to hold me in his arms, as he was killed two years later, and only got to see a picture of me. This is why I am thanking God for allowing me to be here tonight, and in a few hours get to see and hold in my arms, my dad's great grandson. I will cherish this moment as I have so cherished all these moments when my children were born, and all my grandchildren, and claimed all of those moments for my father. I will be holding this precious baby for my father, and in some way I believe he will know these are his moments also. I know my dad would have been so proud of my son, just as I am so proud of him, and to know the loving and kind hearted man he has become, and feel the pride in knowing that he has given his heart to God. What more could a great grandfather and father want, than to know that their children are now God's children. Someday I will get to see my dad, and my dad will also get to hold me and my son and now Christopher Thomas Brock, Jr. in his arms, and feel the same excitement and joy that I feel tonight. I thank God for this wonderful blessing of my new grandson, and long for the day that I will be reunited with my dad, and he can see what a wonderful family he had. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven​ July 17

Where Is God

Where Is God "This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence. Whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything." 1 John 3:19-20 During this life we all have felt far from God at some point in our walk. Doubts start to settle in when our prayers are not being answered as quickly as we like. Or when adversity arrives on our door step. ie: death of a loved one, loss of a job, difficulty in a marriage or relationship, etc During the storms of life, we may ask, where was God? However we need to understand that God was always there with us, we may not have always felt "His" presence, but through faith, we knew "He" was there. Most often, we don't see God's purpose or presence till we move past whatever crisis we were facing.. We will each go through various stages of emotions during difficult times. Depression, anger, guilt, etc .. the very same emotions we feel when we think a friend or family member has betrayed us. We may think that, "He" might have had more important matters to attend to, or that "He" loved some more than us, or maybe that He just doesn't care. There is an old saying; "We can't see the forest for the trees" It may be we couldn't see or feel God, because we allowed our problem to become bigger than our God. Thank God our relationship with Him doesn't depend on our feelings. Whether or not you feel close to God, you need to realize that He's with you, and promises never to leave you. You don't need to work yourselves out of a spiritual depression, because Jesus has done all the work for you on the cross. When your hearts condemn the sin that still clings to you, God is greater than your hearts. He declares you "not guilty" for Jesus' sake. He will never turn away from you, no matter what your feelings are, as He is with you always. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven​ August 16

The Meaning Of The Cross

The Meaning Of The Cross "God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins. He canceled the record that contained the charges against us. He took it and destroyed it by nailing it to Christ's cross. In this way, God disarmed the evil rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross of Christ" (Colossians 2:13–15 NLT). My wife loves to watch programs such as QVC and The Home Shopping Channel. I can hear the television from my office and last week they were selling jewelry, and a caller had called in about a cross they were selling. She said, "I like these, but do you have any without this little man on them?" That's what so many people want today: a cross without Jesus. They want a cross without any offense, one that will look cool with their outfits. But if we could travel back in time and see the cross in its original context, we would realize that it was a bloody and vile symbol. It would have been the worst picture imaginable to see someone hanging on a cross. The Romans chose crucifixion because it was meant to be a slow, torturous way to die. It was designed not only to kill someone, but to utterly humiliate them as they died. Crucifixions outside Roman cities served as warnings to anyone who would dare oppose the rule of Rome. If there was any other way, do you think that God would have allowed His Son to suffer like this? If there had been any other way we could have been forgiven, then God surely would have found it. If living a good moral life would get us to heaven, then Jesus never would have died for us. But He did, because there was, and is no other way. At the cross, Jesus purchased the salvation of the world. The scripture above tells the divine transaction that took place in those terrible moments when Jesus suffered for our sins: If you are ever tempted to doubt God's love for you, then take a long, hard look at the cross. Nails did not hold Jesus to that cross. His love did. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven​ August 15

It's Time To Wake Up

It's Time To Wake Up "The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed." Romans 13:11 I am sure that many of you who have read my daily devotionals for some time, know that I feel strongly that the church has been silent for decades, and has allowed our government to pass laws approving abortion, and same sex marriages, We have allowed God to be taken out of our schools, and in many areas of society. This silence has gone on since a little known law passed by congress in 1954 stated that churches can no longer take a political issue before their membership, and if they do any donation made to the church would not be tax deductible on the congregations income tax form. So for greed and 40 pieces of silver churches sold out the way our forefathers had kept the Godly values of our great nation in our government. We now kill 1.2 million babies each year in abortion mills, we have now legalized same sex marriages, and taken God out of our schools and government. It is time that our churches wake up, and begin to take our nation back. Do you know what Napoleon said about China? “There lies a sleeping giant, and let him sleep, because if he awakens, he will shake the world.” I believe the devil says that about the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. And I believe the church is just that, a sleeping giant. We’re asleep because we have been chloroformed by the spirit of this age. We have allowed ungodly politicians to be elected that have taken our once great nation on the path to destruction. We are slowly compromising our values to the point that we are simply a modern day Sodom and Gomorrah, and if we continue down this path God will send the same judgment he sent on them. It is time for the church to wake up and be the catalyst of change before it is too late. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven​ August 14

We Must Confess Our Sins

We Must Confess Our Sins “I said, I will confess my transgressions to the Lord—and you forgave the guilt of my sin.” Psalm 32:5 During our life we all make mistakes, many times, rather innocently. I recall an incident where I borrowed a tool from one of my neighbors to use for a few hours and forgot to return it until months later when I was cleaning the garage and found it. I had promised him I would return it within a few hours. I apologized and it caused no great harm. It was just an innocent mistake, but many times we make mistakes that are not innocent mistakes. We speak words that hurt people, do deeds that are wrong, have thoughts that are inappropriate, deceitful and or hurtful, are slow to forgive, show our anger, just to name a few. According to the Bible these non-innocent mistakes in thought, word or deed is called sin, and the consequences of these mistakes are always negative. God wants us to confess our sins to Him, as stated in the above scripture. We are to openly acknowledge these mistakes and admit the truth about ourselves to God, who is both holy and loving. Each of us need to examine ourselves, and spend some time reflecting on our own lives, and ask God to help us see ourselves as we really are. We may find that sometimes we do not like what we see, and may need to ask God for forgiveness. We may need to confess our sins and commit ourselves to the Lord, when we discover that we have “missed the mark” and made mistakes. We may find that we need to ask God to help us walk in a manner that is pleasing to Him, and guard our thoughts, our words and our deeds so that we do not continue to do things that are not pleasing to Him. God will forgive us of all our sins, as He is a forgiving God. 1st John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven​ August 13

Are You Happy

Are You Happy "Death and destruction are never satisfied, and neither are the eyes of man." Proverbs 27:20 Are you happy with your life? J. P. Morgan (1837-1913), the renowned financial and industrial magnate was once asked what it would take to make him happy. His reply? "Just a little bit more." By his response Mr. Morgan was affirming the truth of the scripture above. Through my years of Bible study I believe there are five key principles to living a contented life. 1. Contentment is achieved when we make God and His kingdom our first priority:"But first seek his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well." 2. Contentment is achieved by believing God will meet our needs: "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5) 3. Contentment is achieved by graciously accepting what God allows into our lives: "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances… whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:12,13). 4. Contentment is achieved through a life of simplicity over greed: "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it." (1 Timothy 6:6-7. 5. Contentment is achieved by enjoying hard work and its remuneration: "Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work—this is a gift of God." (Ecclesiastes 5:18, 19). If you are not happy and content where you are today, study these 5 principles, apply them to your own life, get free from the chains of worry and fear, and let God take control. My Daily Devotional Volume Seven Robert William Brock August 12

Are You Free

Are You Free "Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered." Romans 4:7 This morning as I was doing my Bible study I was reminded of a story I heard years ago. There was a king who was taking a trip on a ship which was being rowed by many slaves chained to their rowing stations. One day he went down where they were and asked all of them this question, “Why are you in chains?” One replied, “I don’t know. I was in a crowd when a crime was committed. I am innocent.” He asked another who said, “I am not guilty, but am a victim of false witnesses.” The king proceeded to ask each man the same question and each had a reason why he was innocent. That is, until one man responded, “I am here because I deserve to be here. I have sinned against my God and against my king. And now I am paying the penalty.” The king stepped back and said, “What are you doing here among so many honest men? Guards, release him.” This story is so true as it is not until we admit our sin are we going to know the mercy and the forgiveness of our God. We can go through life depending upon our own strength and ability and think that we can do all things by ourselves. We can continue to live a sinful life, enjoying the selfish pleasures of wealth and all the material things of this world. We can overlook what the future holds for us and live in the here and now, and the comforts of this world. But what so many don't realize is that this life will one day come to an end, as we are not promised tomorrow. The choices you make during your time on earth will determine where you will spend your eternity, either in Heaven with God, or in Hell with Satan. The choice is yours and yours alone, as no one can make these for you. However we have a forgiving God, one that will forget all the sins you have committed. He can remove the chains and set you free. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven​ August 11

Invite Jesus To Live With You

Invite Jesus To Live With You "I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you." Ephesians 1:18 Early in my career in hospital administration there was a story published in one of the medical magazines. I copied it and have kept it for years, and now want to share it with you. There was once a ward in a hospital with extremely handicapped people in it. These people were sent there as they were unable to communicate or even function properly in society. They were the product of extreme mental trauma suffered at the hands of others, either from childhood or in adulthood. The hospital had tried everything they knew to help these people recover, but not much progress was made over the years. The patients were mainly sedated most of the day, and lived isolated and lonely lives. One day a new doctor was hired to lead the department. Unlike all the other doctors that had gone before him, he told the hospital that he would like to move into the ward permanently, and live with the patients. The doctor moved in his things and started to live with these people. At night he would often sit with them and just talk to them. He would cuddle them and hug them and would show them love like they had not seen in their lives. After six months people that had not spoken in years began to speak. Others began to smile and others began to recover. Most of the patients eventually stopped their sedation and in time many of them returned to their normal lives. Through Jesus, like this doctor, God can move in with us. He can share our reality from within and not from a distant. He doesn't use medicine or a third party to heal us and show us the way, but instead He will come Himself and became one of us. So today no matter what you are facing ask Jesus to come live with you. You will never be the same as He can change your life. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven​ August 10

Resist The Devil

Resist The Devil "Submit yourselves then to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7 Several weeks ago a friend send me a funny story about a man and his experience at the zoo, which I want to share with you. A man was looking at the cage of a ferocious looking lion when an attendant entered the cage through a door on the opposite side. He had nothing in his hands but a broom. Carefully closing the door, he proceeded to sweep the floor of the cage." The man observed that the worker had no weapon to ward off an attack by the beast. In fact, when he got to the corner of the cage where the lion was lying, he poked the animal with the broom. The lion growled at him and then lay down in another corner of the enclosure. The man remarked to the attendant, "You certainly are a brave man." "No, I ain't brave," he replied as he continued to sweep. "Well, then, that lion must be tame." "No," came the reply, "he ain't tame." "If you aren’t brave and the lion isn't tame, then I can't understand why he doesn't attack you." The man chuckled, then replied with an air of confidence, "Mister, he's old - and he ain't got no teeth." We should be like the attendant, as he knew that lion couldn’t hurt him. Satan also may seem ferocious, he can make a big ruckus, fussing and growling all he wants, but when you keep your eyes focused on God, he cannot harm you. Making God first in your life, following His commandments, and letting the Holy Spirit guide you in your daily life is all you need to keep Satan at bay. Just remember that If God is for you, who can be against you. Let Satan roar all he wants to roar, but understand that he also has no teeth, and can't hurt you, when God is with you, as God will protect you from the temptations and the snares of Satan. As the scripture above says, with God's help you can resist the devil and he will flee from you. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven​ August 9

All Things Are Possible With God

All Things Are Possible With God "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God." Mark,10:27 In the previous devotional I told you that there is nothing too hard for God, and in this devotional I want to expound on this. There are many great and precious promises in the Bible. In the Book of John Chapters 14, 15, and 16 we are told by the Lord that God will give us what we ask for in the name of Jesus. In Matthew Chapter 7 we are told, "Ask, and it shall be given you." The 37th Psalm tells us that He will give us the "desires of our heart." Today, I want you to look at the last 6 words in the scripture above as these six words can literally transform your life. They are six words spoken by Jesus that can make all the difference in your life this very moment. Individually, they are just six common words but put together as they were by our Lord, they give us one of the greatest promises we have in God's Word. This is your promise today, and I want each of you to claim this promise and make it personal just for you. Jesus didn't say some things are possible, He didn't say a few things, He didn't say a couple of things, He didn't say selected things, He didn't say certain things, He said "All Things Are Possible With God". This means if you are sick in your body, God can heal you. This means if you need a financial miracle, God is your source. This means if your marriage is in trouble, God can restore it. This means is you need a job, God can open the doors for employment. This means if you are in some form of bondage, God can set you free. This means if your children are away from God, God can bring them home. This means if you have lost a loved one, God can ease the pain. No matter what your need is today, God is able to meet that need. Your promise today is six words from Jesus, "ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD." Believe this promise and claim it as your own. My friend when you ask Jesus into your heart, and ask him to be your Savior, and make Him first in all that you do, He forgives all your past sins, and you start anew. Then when you begin to obey His commands, read His Holy Word, and make Him first in your life, He hears your prayers, and will provide all that you need. Yes, with God all things are possible, but most of all He loves you so much that He promises you an eternal home in heaven. All things are possible with God, so ask Him into your heart today. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven August 8

Is Anything Too Hard For God

Is Anything Too Hard For God "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" Genesis 18:14 A little boy was trying to roll a rock as his father watched from a distance. The boy was heaving and sighing, but he couldn’t turn the stone over. His dad smiled and said, “Son, are you using all of your strength?” His son said, “Yes, Daddy, I’m using all my strength.” The father looked at him and said, “No, you’re not, because you haven’t asked me to help you. My strength is your strength.” Sometimes we wrestle with our problems in life and say, “I don’t know what to do, I am exhausted and tired, I have tried everything I know, but my problems won't go away. I don't know where to turn.” If you are struggling with a health issue, a relationship issue, a financial issue, a job issue and you are exhausted this morning, you have not asked the one that can help you. God can help you have victory over your mountains, He can help you win the battle, He can give you peace and take away the worry and the fear. He can calm the raging waters that are surrounding you. All you need to do is ask him to help you, just as the father instructed his son to do. God knows what you are going through this morning, He knows what you are facing, and is waiting for you to ask Him to help you. Your burdens can be taken away, your load lightened, and you can have peace in your life when you turn and run to Him for your help. God does not want you to struggle through life, just getting by. He is there, just waiting for you to ask him for help. You must remember that there is no problem too big for God to solve. The real question you need to ask yourself is, "Do you believe that"? I hope you do, and will give it to God. He can handle it. Look again at the scripture above and have the faith necessary to remove the mountains that surround you. Let God be your strength and give you victory. Remember, "All things are possible with God." Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven​ August 7

Nothing Is Impossible With God

Nothing is Impossible with God “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13 I am not sure how people cope without having God in their lives, but many are, or at least trying. These are not the days to be running around without Him. I know that in my own situation it is Christ who strengthens me, because if I relied on my own strength, I would not be able to do it alone. There is a popular Christian song “I Walk by Faith” which should be the theme song of everyone, as it gives each of us the message that our faith should be built on God and our trust in Him. When troubles beset us and it seems that there is no way out, this song should give us inspiration to put our trust in the only one that can change our lives and give us hope and a future. When we walk by faith, discouragement will burn away like dew when the morning sun comes up. Where there was confusion and bewilderment, there will be clear sailing and calm seas. God is there to give us strength to face any adversity in our life. There is not any problem or obstacle too great for God to conquer. God has also given us this power because of the shed blood of Jesus Christ to overcome our fears and problems. We have been given authority in Jesus’ name, to speak to the mountains that we face, and have them move. As we command the mountains of sickness, despair, hopelessness and discouragement to be removed, they will be replaced with the fullness of God’s blessings. We need to know that God is in control and we can reach out in faith, believing and receiving the resurrection power of Jesus Christ, which will make each one of us completely whole. Matthew 17:20 “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, move from here to there and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven​ August 6

Don't Be A Roamer

Don't Be A Roamer "I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go." Isaiah 48:17 Three years ago, I got a new black lab puppy, which I named Annie. She was only 3 months old when we brought her home. I had just lost my best friend, Trajan, which I had for almost 10 years, and wanted another companion. Annie, was a roamer, not anything like Trajan, who was an inside dog, and one who always wanted to be in the house, by my side. Annie, however, wanted to be outside, where she could roam in our yard and in our neighborhood. Annie reminded me of the scripture above, in that, as Christians we belong to God, and have access to all of His wisdom and knowledge. We live under His protection and authority, and the Holy Spirit is there to lead and guide us in our life. We have it made, living in the presence of God, but like Annie, we are prone to roam and get out of the presence of safety, and God. As long as we read our Bibles, pray and stay in His presence, our lives can be filled with peace, joy and security. So often, however, the pressure and busyness of life, begins to take over, and we don't take time each day to spend with God. We get our minds on ourselves and our wants and desires, and on our own ability instead of depending on God for all things. When this occurs, it becomes easier and easier to roam, and let the world take over, and begin to control our life. Our speech, our actions, and our thoughts, can start to roam from the things that please God, and soon we are out roaming Satan's neighborhood. If you find yourself roaming away from the presence of God in your life, you can make the choice today, to return to the fold. Don't let the busyness of daily life control you any longer. Begin today, to spend time with God, renew your relationship with Him, and let Him again direct your path, as it is there you will find peace and joy. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven​ August 5

Humble Yourself

Humble Yourself “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:5 Throughout the Bible we find a theme that I believe God wants each of us to grasp, and make it part of our everyday lives. This theme is being humble. God sent His son Jesus to earth to be born in a manger, a humble beginning. When God picked someone to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt, He picked Moses who was a humble man, who had a speech defect, and who had no previous experience as a leader. When God asked Samuel to choose a king of Israel, He sent him to the house of Jessee to select the king. Jessee had 7 sons who were strong big men, and anyone would have thought that God would have chosen one of the older and stronger sons to be king, rather he chose the youngest son, David, who was the weakest, and who watched over the sheep as the king, another humble man. God took these humble men and through them He gave them the power to do great things. God does not require greatness to accomplish great things, but He can create greatness from humble beginnings. There are many people who are reading this devotional today, who may feel that God does not care about you, that you are too low on the totem pole to amount to much in life, and feel like you are doomed to a life of mediocrity. This is not the case, as God has a plan for your life, and just as He did with Moses and David, He can do the same for you. He only asks that you devote your heart and life to serving Him. If you make God number one in your life, He has great things in store for you, things that you cannot imagine. Even though you might not feel worthy of great things happening in your life, you need to realize that God is in control, and can do great things in your life. Therefore humble yourself and submit your life to doing the will of God. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven​ August 4

All Things Are Possible

All Things Are Possible “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12;32 Do you know that with God all things are possible, and that God cares about you and loves you? There is not anything that God cannot do, as nothing is beyond His power. Each person who reads these words today is battling something in their life. Some are battling finances, others health problems, others marital problems, others need employment, and others with issues too numerous to mention here. My message for you today is that no matter what your battle is today, God is with you. He will not forsake you, and He will walk you out of your valley to the mountaintop of victory. Too often in our life we focus on the battle and not the victory. To often we look only at the circumstances, and not the One who promised us victory over our circumstances. Several of the disciples of Jesus were in a boat one day when a great storm came upon them. As the winds began to blow, the rain began to fall, the sky darkened, and all they could see was the storm. They became so consumed with their circumstances that they woke up Jesus who was sleeping in the boat, and in their fear, they asked Him to help them. Seeing their fear, Jesus in an act of compassion simply made the storm go away. My friends, the same Jesus who made the storm go away for his disciples is the same Jesus who can make the storm in your life go away. Jesus is saying to you today, exactly what He said to his disciples those many years ago. Why do you fear? You see, when you are with Jesus, you don’t have to fear, no matter how bad the storm may look. I pray that despite the circumstances you face; that despite the obstacles in your way, that your hope and faith today is in Jesus. He can change your circumstances and wipe out the obstacles in your way and lead you to victory. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven​ August 3

Facing Difficulties

Facing Difficulties "When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down, but even in death the righteous have a refuge.' Proverbs 14:32 Each morning I get dozens of e-mails from people who are facing very difficult circumstances in their life. As I respond to these people, I almost always tell them that God does not want them to be facing these difficult situations, and that He wants to help them change their circumstances. I always tell them to pray, as this needs to be the first thing that they need to do, and will be a key part in helping them out of their situations. I also tell them to look at their relationship with God, and that they need to make Him number one in their lives. I always tell them to begin to read their Bibles each day and develop a relationship with God. The problems may not magically disappear when you wake up in the morning, as God knows what you are going through, but He will provide you peace and comfort as you battle your problems. Many times, our problems can be traced to sin, and rebellion. Doing things our way, instead of God's way. Once you turn your life over to God, He will help you work your way out of the problems over a period of time. It may not be easy, as you didn't get into the problems you are facing overnight, and rarely will God deliver you from them overnight. However, once you begin to depend on God each day, and trust Him and have faith, you will begin to see things begin to change in your life, for the better. The Bible tells us that we are not to have a spirit of fear. If you are serious about seeing your situation change, you must get serious about trusting God to help you make those changes. I pray today, that any of you who are dealing with difficulties in your life that need to be changed, will heed this special word, and begin to let God take control of your situation. Just remember that the same God that led the children of Israel out of bondage will also deliver you. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven​ August 2

Don't Keep God A Secret

Don't Keep God A Secret "In the same way let your light shine before men." Matthew 5:16 There was a little boy that brought his dog to school for show and tell, as well as all the other children. Many of the dogs the other children had brought were pure bred dogs, and some of them had won blue ribbons in several dog shows. Their dogs had their papers and all the ribbons they had won, and some children even had brought pictures of their dogs that were published in the newspaper. The little boy was surprised at the stories the other children were telling about their dogs, and the awards they had won. His dog did not have any papers or had never been in a dog show, as he was dropped off near his house, by someone who didn't want him anymore, and he had taken him in and rescued him. He was simply a mongrel dog, and he didn't even know what breed he was. When the teacher asked him about his dog, the little boy said, “Well, he’s a police dog.” The other students said, “He doesn’t look like a police dog.” The little guy replied, “He’s in the secret service.” I’m afraid there are many so called Christians who are in the secret service, as unless you saw them coming out the door of the church on Sunday morning you would never know they are a Christian. Today I want to ask you if you are in the secret service. You can tell if you are, if you are ashamed to keep your Bible open on your desk at work? If you are ashamed to bow your head in the cafeteria to pray before you have lunch with your friends? If you are ashamed to invite people to go to church with you, or better still invite them to accept Jesus Christ as their savior? Are you ashamed of the One who died for you? God does not want you to go under cover, and keep your identity hidden. He wants you to openly let everyone know and see your devotion to Him. He wants you to be the light to the world, so everyone will know He is your God. Robert W. Brock My Daily Devotional Volume Seven​ August 1