God Is In Control
"When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you."
Psalm 73:21
When I read the scripture above, I pictured someone who was very troubled, having problems, and not knowing where to turn for help. I am sure many of you are going through situations in your life today where you could relate to this scripture, as you do not see any way out of your dilemma, and don't know where to turn to for help. If you are in this situation, there is an answer which was found in the very next scripture. "Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory" Psalm 73:22-24. This is so comforting as no matter what situation you may find yourself in at the present time, no matter how down you may be, no matter how threatened you may feel, no matter how fearful you may be of what lies ahead, God is telling you that He is always with you, loving you, guiding you, and leading you. You may wonder why these things are happening to you right now, but God knows, and He also knows what you are feeling inside, and just how insecure, and how afraid you may be. He is feeling your pain, and knows that you cannot do this alone. In fact, in the midst of all the concerns the psalmist had in the scripture above, the scriptures goes on to say. "Whom have I in Heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalm 73:25-26. So even though you may feel depressed, afraid, and don't know where to turn, God has told you that He loves you, cares about you, and will let you overcome any of your troubles, and give you victory.
My Daily Devotional Volume Six
March 19
Robert William Brock, Jr.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
A Healthy Marriage
A Healthy Marriage
"However, each one of you also must love his wife, as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband."
Ephesians 5:33
Almost on a daily basis, I hear from my readers about problems they are having in their marriages. Statistics show that almost half of all marriages today will end in divorce. This is alarming, as there is much advice in the Bible as to what a healthy marriage should be like. Many times people jump into relationships outside of God's timing, and end up paying a big price. In most failed marriages there is not a spiritual base. I realize that money, communication, and other issues can be the cause of many problems in a marriage, but if there is no spiritual base there is little foundation to build on, and most marriages will end in failure. This is why God placed such an emphasis on having a strong spiritual base, and gave us scriptures like the one above. This base starts with the personal walk each person has with God, and is solidified by both people bringing their faith together as one. The Bible tells us the man needs to be the spiritual head of his home, and he must take this job seriously. When two people lay a solid foundation, the everyday issues that arise will never become major problems in their relationship. Other than God, your spouse must become the most important person in your life, and you must learn to sacrifice your wants and desires, and fulfill your spouse's needs. You must be patient with each other, and show your love and respect in all situations. Both of you will make mistakes, but you must learn to forgive, and not let these continue and turn into major issues. A healthy marriage is something that God blesses, and will bear much fruit, but without God being present most will fail.
My Daily Devotional Volume Six
March 18
Robert William Brock, Jr.
"However, each one of you also must love his wife, as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband."
Ephesians 5:33
Almost on a daily basis, I hear from my readers about problems they are having in their marriages. Statistics show that almost half of all marriages today will end in divorce. This is alarming, as there is much advice in the Bible as to what a healthy marriage should be like. Many times people jump into relationships outside of God's timing, and end up paying a big price. In most failed marriages there is not a spiritual base. I realize that money, communication, and other issues can be the cause of many problems in a marriage, but if there is no spiritual base there is little foundation to build on, and most marriages will end in failure. This is why God placed such an emphasis on having a strong spiritual base, and gave us scriptures like the one above. This base starts with the personal walk each person has with God, and is solidified by both people bringing their faith together as one. The Bible tells us the man needs to be the spiritual head of his home, and he must take this job seriously. When two people lay a solid foundation, the everyday issues that arise will never become major problems in their relationship. Other than God, your spouse must become the most important person in your life, and you must learn to sacrifice your wants and desires, and fulfill your spouse's needs. You must be patient with each other, and show your love and respect in all situations. Both of you will make mistakes, but you must learn to forgive, and not let these continue and turn into major issues. A healthy marriage is something that God blesses, and will bear much fruit, but without God being present most will fail.
My Daily Devotional Volume Six
March 18
Robert William Brock, Jr.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Spiritual Warfare
Spiritual Warfare
"Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand."
Ephesians 6:13
When you go out into the world today, you are going to do battle with the evil forces of Satan. Satan will do everything in his power to rob you of your peace. There will be things that will go wrong, and in most instances these will be things that will irritate you and cause you to be tempted to sin. You may get cut off in traffic, or you might be late for an appointment. The waitress in the coffee shop might be rude and upset you. Regardless of what the problem might be, Satan will be there to create havoc in your normal routine, just enough to get you off track in your daily walk with God. The scripture above warns you that you need to go out prepared to do battle against all evil forces, and need to put on the full armor of God, so that you can withstand these evil forces of Satan. You must start your day with God, and be committed to let the Holy Spirit lead and guide you to withstand these evil forces. You must be willing to get your mind off yourself, and let the Holy Spirit be in control of your life. You must be strong, and committed to forget self, and do it God's way. It will not be easy, but if you want victory in your life, you must not compromise any aspect of what is right, even though you will be tempted. Don't live in fear, but live in faith, and trust in God in all the trials you will face. Fear can defeat you, but God will never fail you. You can fail when you try to do things your way, but when you are following the Holy Spirit, you can never fail, as Christ is always victorious. Just remember to put God first in all things, put on His armor and you will prevail in all things.
"Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand."
Ephesians 6:13
When you go out into the world today, you are going to do battle with the evil forces of Satan. Satan will do everything in his power to rob you of your peace. There will be things that will go wrong, and in most instances these will be things that will irritate you and cause you to be tempted to sin. You may get cut off in traffic, or you might be late for an appointment. The waitress in the coffee shop might be rude and upset you. Regardless of what the problem might be, Satan will be there to create havoc in your normal routine, just enough to get you off track in your daily walk with God. The scripture above warns you that you need to go out prepared to do battle against all evil forces, and need to put on the full armor of God, so that you can withstand these evil forces of Satan. You must start your day with God, and be committed to let the Holy Spirit lead and guide you to withstand these evil forces. You must be willing to get your mind off yourself, and let the Holy Spirit be in control of your life. You must be strong, and committed to forget self, and do it God's way. It will not be easy, but if you want victory in your life, you must not compromise any aspect of what is right, even though you will be tempted. Don't live in fear, but live in faith, and trust in God in all the trials you will face. Fear can defeat you, but God will never fail you. You can fail when you try to do things your way, but when you are following the Holy Spirit, you can never fail, as Christ is always victorious. Just remember to put God first in all things, put on His armor and you will prevail in all things.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Giving Your All
Giving Your All
"But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny."
Mark 12:42
This is the account of a poor widow giving her last two mites, which teaches us that God looks not to the quantity of the gift but to the quality of the giver. Jesus set the example of how we are to give, as he gave his all. How can we see the needs of those around us and do nothing? Most people do well in giving to the Church, but our giving should not end there, as there are many outside the Church walls that are suffering, and Jesus does not want their cries to go unheard and unanswered. When we look at the ministry of Jesus, we see that He ministered out in the public where the people were. He went to them, and they came to Him. Most people who need help do not come to church on Sunday, and it is our call to search them out, to find them, to minister to them, and just show them that we love them. The command that Jesus gives us is found in 1st John 3:17 "If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." When you begin to reach out to people in this manner, this is what Jesus commands of you. When you begin going to the people outside the walls of the church, this is putting the real principle of giving in the proper perspective, and fulfilling God's command of "It is more blessed to give than to receive" Acts 20:35. Just remember that all that you have is not due to your ability to have accumulated it, but is due to God allowing you to have it. God owns all that you have, and expects you to give back part of what He has given you, as He loves a cheerful giver. The poor widow gave everything.
My Daily Devotional Volume IV
March 16
Robert William Brock, Jr.
"But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny."
Mark 12:42
This is the account of a poor widow giving her last two mites, which teaches us that God looks not to the quantity of the gift but to the quality of the giver. Jesus set the example of how we are to give, as he gave his all. How can we see the needs of those around us and do nothing? Most people do well in giving to the Church, but our giving should not end there, as there are many outside the Church walls that are suffering, and Jesus does not want their cries to go unheard and unanswered. When we look at the ministry of Jesus, we see that He ministered out in the public where the people were. He went to them, and they came to Him. Most people who need help do not come to church on Sunday, and it is our call to search them out, to find them, to minister to them, and just show them that we love them. The command that Jesus gives us is found in 1st John 3:17 "If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." When you begin to reach out to people in this manner, this is what Jesus commands of you. When you begin going to the people outside the walls of the church, this is putting the real principle of giving in the proper perspective, and fulfilling God's command of "It is more blessed to give than to receive" Acts 20:35. Just remember that all that you have is not due to your ability to have accumulated it, but is due to God allowing you to have it. God owns all that you have, and expects you to give back part of what He has given you, as He loves a cheerful giver. The poor widow gave everything.
My Daily Devotional Volume IV
March 16
Robert William Brock, Jr.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Love Never Fails
Love Never Fails
"For mans anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires."
James 1:20
This morning my wife and I spent almost two hours talking to a young man whose father, in anger, had said some very nasty things to his son. The son has been rebelling and not obeying his mother and father, and I am sure this moment of anger was sparked by another rebellious act. Parents often become frustrated because their children don't follow their directions and orders, and this kind of anger grows out of frustration and the effort to force compliance. However, this young man was more upset by his father's anger than he was by him not following his father's orders. Instead of helping, anger had hindered the situation. In a moment, it may seem like a raised voice would help achieve desired results, but in the end a raised voice will only create a more defensive position, and will hinder the resolution of any problem. Any outburst of anger will damage respect and the desire to please will be damaged and diminished. Even though some people may accomplish conformity and compliance by a burst of anger, it will undermine the other desired results, and many times can destroy relationships. Acts of anger can tear down the relationships we work so hard to build, especially if they occur frequently. The Bible tells us in the scripture above that a "man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires". The Bible does tell us in 1st Corinthians 13:6 "Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." Don't let anger rule your life; replace it with love. Love is patient, love is kind, and love will never fail you. Replace your anger with love and change your life.
My DailY Devotional Volume Six
March 15
Robert William Brock, Jr.
"For mans anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires."
James 1:20
This morning my wife and I spent almost two hours talking to a young man whose father, in anger, had said some very nasty things to his son. The son has been rebelling and not obeying his mother and father, and I am sure this moment of anger was sparked by another rebellious act. Parents often become frustrated because their children don't follow their directions and orders, and this kind of anger grows out of frustration and the effort to force compliance. However, this young man was more upset by his father's anger than he was by him not following his father's orders. Instead of helping, anger had hindered the situation. In a moment, it may seem like a raised voice would help achieve desired results, but in the end a raised voice will only create a more defensive position, and will hinder the resolution of any problem. Any outburst of anger will damage respect and the desire to please will be damaged and diminished. Even though some people may accomplish conformity and compliance by a burst of anger, it will undermine the other desired results, and many times can destroy relationships. Acts of anger can tear down the relationships we work so hard to build, especially if they occur frequently. The Bible tells us in the scripture above that a "man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires". The Bible does tell us in 1st Corinthians 13:6 "Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." Don't let anger rule your life; replace it with love. Love is patient, love is kind, and love will never fail you. Replace your anger with love and change your life.
My DailY Devotional Volume Six
March 15
Robert William Brock, Jr.
Friday, December 2, 2011
The Sabbath Day
The Sabbath Day
"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy."
Exodus 20:8
Over the years, I have noticed a very disturbing trend in our culture that is having a dramatic effect on the values of our Christian lifestyle. During the era I grew up, Sunday was always a time of rest, and a day where people went to church and worshipped God. It was a day where people took the day off from their busy schedules and strengthened their relationship with God. The day was focused on God, the family and building family relationships. There were no activities that kept people from attending church, and then coming back home and being with their family and friends. In today's culture, the focus of honoring the Sabbath day has been replaced by using Sunday as a day to get caught up on the things that were not done during the week. Instead of spending the day going to church, and worshipping God most people get their shopping done, or go to sporting events with their children. The secular world has invaded the Sabbath day, as Sunday is now becoming the big day each week to have numerous sporting events that children participate in. This keeps the family from going to church together, and does not give them any time to rest and to spend quality time together. The hustle and bustle of getting prepared and travel to attend the sporting events, and getting caught up on all the odd jobs and projects, has made Sunday a hectic day, instead of a day of rest. When we look at the life of Jesus, He always took time to rest, and one of the commandments tell us to take one day each week as our Sabbath. If you find this to be your weekly routine, I would encourage you to make a change, and again make Sunday the day to go to church and spend worshipping God.
My Daily Devotional Volume Six
March 14
Robert Wiliam Brock, Jr.
"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy."
Exodus 20:8
Over the years, I have noticed a very disturbing trend in our culture that is having a dramatic effect on the values of our Christian lifestyle. During the era I grew up, Sunday was always a time of rest, and a day where people went to church and worshipped God. It was a day where people took the day off from their busy schedules and strengthened their relationship with God. The day was focused on God, the family and building family relationships. There were no activities that kept people from attending church, and then coming back home and being with their family and friends. In today's culture, the focus of honoring the Sabbath day has been replaced by using Sunday as a day to get caught up on the things that were not done during the week. Instead of spending the day going to church, and worshipping God most people get their shopping done, or go to sporting events with their children. The secular world has invaded the Sabbath day, as Sunday is now becoming the big day each week to have numerous sporting events that children participate in. This keeps the family from going to church together, and does not give them any time to rest and to spend quality time together. The hustle and bustle of getting prepared and travel to attend the sporting events, and getting caught up on all the odd jobs and projects, has made Sunday a hectic day, instead of a day of rest. When we look at the life of Jesus, He always took time to rest, and one of the commandments tell us to take one day each week as our Sabbath. If you find this to be your weekly routine, I would encourage you to make a change, and again make Sunday the day to go to church and spend worshipping God.
My Daily Devotional Volume Six
March 14
Robert Wiliam Brock, Jr.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Expect Big Things
Expect Big Things
"I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do."
Acts 13:22
Do you expect big things from God? I believe many Christians do not live up to their expectations because they think too small. They accept being average, blending in with their environment, being like everyone else, or just doing enough to get by. I don't believe a Christian should accept just being average, as I believe they should stand out from the crowd. We can see the story of David and see how someone can rise above the average and make a difference. David was just a teenager when he faced the giant Goliath, but he trusted God and had enough faith to kill this mighty warrior. He expected big things and they happened. Even before the battle with Goliath, David, as a mere young boy, had killed several large wild animals who were attacking his flock of sheep. Again he rose to the occasion and expected big things, and they happened. David also became King of Israel when only a young man, a great responsibility, because he expected big things and they happened. David expected big things to happen and they did, because of his faith and trust in God. Today, in our society, we are content to just get by, accept the average, and don't expect big things to happen. God is the same today as He was in David's time, and I believe if we expect big things, and have the same kind of faith and trust that David had, big things can also happen today. I know that David was God's appointed but we also must believe in God for God sized tasks. We must live by faith, have no fear, and trust God for all things. We can't do anything on our own, but when we step out in faith, and put our entire trust in God, we can accomplish big things in our lives when we are doing the will of God and can have victory.
My Daily Devotional Volume Six
March 13
Robert William Brock, Jr.
"I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do."
Acts 13:22
Do you expect big things from God? I believe many Christians do not live up to their expectations because they think too small. They accept being average, blending in with their environment, being like everyone else, or just doing enough to get by. I don't believe a Christian should accept just being average, as I believe they should stand out from the crowd. We can see the story of David and see how someone can rise above the average and make a difference. David was just a teenager when he faced the giant Goliath, but he trusted God and had enough faith to kill this mighty warrior. He expected big things and they happened. Even before the battle with Goliath, David, as a mere young boy, had killed several large wild animals who were attacking his flock of sheep. Again he rose to the occasion and expected big things, and they happened. David also became King of Israel when only a young man, a great responsibility, because he expected big things and they happened. David expected big things to happen and they did, because of his faith and trust in God. Today, in our society, we are content to just get by, accept the average, and don't expect big things to happen. God is the same today as He was in David's time, and I believe if we expect big things, and have the same kind of faith and trust that David had, big things can also happen today. I know that David was God's appointed but we also must believe in God for God sized tasks. We must live by faith, have no fear, and trust God for all things. We can't do anything on our own, but when we step out in faith, and put our entire trust in God, we can accomplish big things in our lives when we are doing the will of God and can have victory.
My Daily Devotional Volume Six
March 13
Robert William Brock, Jr.
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