Ep. 31-Seeking Strength in Scripture: A Personal Journey of Faith and Financial Struggles

Standing firm when enemies attack isn't just a biblical concept—it's the daily reality for believers drawing closer to God. This raw, unfiltered episode takes you through my personal battleground of faith amid serious financial setbacks and spiritual warfare.

The heart of this journey begins with Psalm 27, where David's unwavering confidence becomes our blueprint for facing opposition. "The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?" These aren't just beautiful words but practical armor when life knocks us down. After receiving my first commission check of $5,000, an old lien resurfaced and the state of Georgia froze my account, taking everything. Starting again from zero feels devastating, yet even here, God's presence remains constant.

A surprising bright spot emerges with my scholarship to attend Nikita Koloff's weeklong Man Up Camp—a spiritual immersion that promises transformation. I share an exclusive recording with the former wrestling champion himself, who explains his remarkable journey from the ring to ministry. His powerful perspective that this isn't a "retreat" because "God's army doesn't retreat" perfectly captures the offensive rather than defensive position believers must take in spiritual warfare.

When everything looks bleak financially and spiritually, where do you turn? The answer remains unchanged through centuries—Scripture, prayer, and community. As Psalm 28 reminds us, even when we feel like those "who go down to the pit," God hears our cry for mercy. Our circumstances may change, but our rock never will.

Have you experienced spiritual attacks when pursuing greater faith? Share your story in the comments or reach out through my website. Remember, the closer you draw to God, the more Satan trembles—and that's exactly where we want him.

Transcript

Sunday Reflections

Reading Psalm 27

Speaker 1 0:00

Hey guys, b-rob here, it's the Food for Thought podcast. It is Sunday, march the 16th, and it's another day that the Lord has made. It's a beautiful day. We had some storms come through in the middle of the night and, thank the Lord, I didn't hear it, but I heard it was pretty bad. But everybody around here looks pretty safe, so that's a good thing. Thank the Lord for allowing us to all wake up and be on this side of the concrete this morning. A lot of things been going on, a lot of negative things. I've had things I've had. I've been attacked lately because I am actually going to a week-long men's Bible camp called man Up Camp. We will talk about that shortly, but first I just want to go into the good book, the Bible, and read from Psalm 27, the Psalm of David. Um, read from Psalm 27, the Psalm of David because, um.

Speaker 1 1:06

This is. This is the truth, the way in the light. The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The Lord is a stronghold in my life. Of whom shall I be afraid when the wicked advanced against me to devour me? It is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall Though an army beseech me. My heart will not fear Though war break out against me, even though I will be confident.

Speaker 1 1:45

One thing I ask from the Lord. This only do I seek that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all of my lives, all the days of my lives, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling. He will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon the rock. Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me. At his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy. I will sing and make music to the Lord. Hear my voice when I call Lord, be merciful to me and answer me.

Personal Financial Struggles

Speaker 1 2:27

My heart says to you seek his face. Your face, lord, I will seek. Do not hide your face from me. Do not turn your servant away in anger. You have been my helper. Do not reject or forsake me. God, my savior through my father. Though my father and mother forsaken me, the Lord will receive me. Teach me your way, lord. Lead me in a straight path Because of my oppressors. Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witness Rise up against me, false witness rise up against me spouting malicious accusations. I remain confident of this. I will seek the goodness of the Lord and, in the land of the living, wait for the Lord, be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Man, it says it all. Right there. Right. When your enemies come against you, you let the Lord fight your battles. That's what this is about. That's what that. That's about Lord, and we all know David had some enemies.

Speaker 1 3:37

We all have enemies. We all dwell in a place this is Satan's playground here. Dwell in a place, this is Satan's playground here. So we are. The more we become spiritual and closer to God, the more we'll be attacked.

Speaker 1 3:52

And I just want to say I mean, it's, it's, it's been a, it's been a rough week. Um, I did sell six cars, thank the Lord, in five days. Cars, thank the Lord, in five days. I've actually sold 10 cars in two full weeks. Thank the Lord. Has nothing to do with me, it just has to do with him. He give me the talent. He give me the talent to sing, play, music, talk, give me the gift of gab. The Lord is so good. This is a beautiful Sunday.

Speaker 1 4:29

I just want to say I know everything looks good on the outside, but B-Rob's hurting. B-rob is going through some things Financially. I got my first draw check $5,000, and guess what? An old lien came back to haunt me and Georgia froze my bank account, took all my money. So here we go again, starting back over at zero.

Man Up Camp with Nikita Koloff

Speaker 1 4:59

But, um, that's my own personal problems and um, we all have those. And, uh, I've just asked that you pray for me and I will pray as well. If you have anything you want me to pray specifically about, please leave a comment in the section below. Also, if you feel led to contribute or donate, you can go to wwwberobmusiccom. That's B-E-R-O-B musiccom. There is a digital tip jar down there. You can donate. If, if, if, just 500 of my friends donated five dollars, I mean that would solve all my problems right there. But I'm not begging, I'm just if you feel led to donate, please do. Um, let's move right along.

Speaker 1 5:50

Um, I want to talk a little bit about why I'm being attacked so bad. I got a scholarship from Nikita Koloff to go to his men's Bible camp, which is called the man Up Camp, and it changes lives. I'm sure it changes lives because I've been to shorter retreats and he doesn't call it a retreat because God's army does not retreat, and I like that. I like when he said that that was really, really good. This Bible camp is Master's Week. It's a whole week. I won't have a cell phone, it'll be me, the Bible and listening to testimonies of Lex Luger and Nikita Koloff, the Russian nightmare from NWA, five-time world champion. But I'm going to play a little snip of him talking about it. It was only four of us in the room, including him, um, brian johnson uh, the detail guy, and I cannot remember his name to save my life and nikita koloff, and I am recording this. So, uh, enjoy it.

Speaker 2 7:08

It's only about two minutes long and I'll see you right back and I do these camps together man Camp Every spring and every fall. We have guys from all over the country and around the world that come into Augusta Georgia now or, excuse me, I'm in Augusta Georgia, just outside of it, royston Georgia, a little town called Royston Georgia, and we do these camps. So go research man Camp with Lex Luger and Nikita Koloff, and maybe I'll see one of you men some spring or fall at our camp.

Speaker 3 7:40

I'm glad you mentioned that too right Before I go. That was a question that I was going to ask you. You know, like a lot of people they retire, you know, from whatever sports they partake in or whatever, and people like to know, like, what are you doing now that you're not a part of the business? Yeah, what are you doing now? That you're not a part of the business. Yeah, where are they now? Yeah, where are they?

Speaker 2 7:56

now. Yeah, I think that's awesome. Yeah, and that was wrestling wasn't on my radar growing up. Being a minister wasn't on my radar growing up. But 11 months after I left wrestling, 17 October 1993 is when I they said your name. Well, I injured my name. It wasn't career ending, but I did injure it. They kind of promoted it as career ending Vader, big Van, vader, vader time.

Speaker 2 8:18

In the same night, though, I got a hernia picking him up. Right, he was legit 450 pounds. So I got a hernia. I had a hernia surgery. It was rehabbing my neck, but I just made an executive decision at the age of 33. I just said I'm done, I'm done. And then, little did I know, 11 months later I'd find myself at an altar giving my life to Jesus, yes, sir. And since that time it's been a whirlwind of a journey. I mean from book writing to camps and conferences, to podcasts and radio shows, and I've been to 36 different countries now currently Testimony, all 50 states. Yeah, what is your podcast? The man Up Show, the man Up Show. Just go to the App Store. Yeah, whatever. Spotify, pandora, apple, all of that yeah, they should be on all the different platforms. The man Up Show, the man Up Podcast.

Speaker 3 9:10

So my sister Noka, she's probably going to watch this video. She ain't going to like it because I used to imitate your moves on my little sister.

Speaker 2 9:20

Oh sorry, honey, that you had to be on the brunt end of that signal. I'm sorry about that.

Speaker 3 9:23

But I appreciate your time. One more thing ask him what he drives. Yeah, what do you drive?

Speaker 2 9:29

And where did you get it from? Well, everyone drives a Crescent Hello, come on. And where did you get it from? Well, everyone drives a Crescent, hello, come on.

Speaker 3 9:39

I'm cruising thanks to Brian and Jamie Johnson in a Genesis which I've never had before. That's my boss man right there. There's the man right there.

Speaker 2 9:41

There's the man right there. Everyone drives a Crescent and you should too.

Finding Strength in Scripture

Speaker 1 9:46

Facts Well, there you have it, folks. Nikita Koloff, right there, live at the dealership at Crescent Automotive. I got to meet him and I even have his phone number and we talk usually every couple days. I don't try to bother him too much. I wasn't a huge wrestling fan growing up. It's entertaining, yes, very much. I you know it's entertaining, yes, very much. I was always more into music and basketball and football, but anyway, once again, my name is B-Rob and you're listening to the Food for Thought podcast on this beautiful Sunday, march 16th.

Speaker 1 10:32

And, guys, if you get down I know it's a hard time right now Everything's expensive, everybody's going through it. Guys, if you get down in the dumps, go to the Bible, go to your prayer closet. Seek the one who created you. He's such a good God. I mean, he gave his only begotten son so that we could live, so that we could have life. I don't know any father that would do that. It's so good, and Satan trembles when you do things like that. He's so good and Satan trembles when you do things like that. He trembles at the thought. The demons Tremble At the thought. And so, guys, lift your heads up and keep going. And I'm going to read one more.

Speaker 1 11:35

Psalm, psalm 28 of David. To you, lord, I call. You are my rock. Do not turn a deaf ear to me, for if you remain silent I will go. I will be like those who go down to the pit. Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help, lord, as I lift up my hands toward your most holy place. Do not drag me away with the wicked, with those who do evil, who speak cordially with their neighbors but harbor malice in their hearts. Repay them for their deeds and for their evil work. Repay them for what their hands have done and bring back on them what they deserve, because they have no regard for the deeds of the Lord and what his hands have done. He will tear them down and never build them up again. Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and my shield. My heart trusts in him and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy with my song. I praise him. The Lord is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed ones. Save your people and bless your inheritance. Be their shepherd and carry them forever.

Prayer and Musical Closing

Speaker 1 13:05

Guys, it's been a great, great time. Thank you for listening. I'm going to leave you in a word of prayer, dear Heavenly Father. We come to you today. Lord, please lift us up. Lord, please lift our heads high. Lord, we come to you and thank you for just allowing us to worship. We come to you. We thank you for your grace, lord. We thank you for your mercy. Lord, we thank you for everything that you do, all the good that you do, lord. We thank you for the truths that you show us. Lord, we thank you. Please be with us today, please be with our families. Please lift us up to the heavens, lord. I love you. Lord, it's in Jesus' name we pray Hallelujah, guys, I love you. God bless you. Make it a good day, make it a good week. It's in Jesus' name. We're going to do it in Jesus' name. Hallelujah, we're going to do it in Jesus' name. See you, guys, next time.

Speaker 4 14:33

How many times have I turned away? The dawn is the same as I sat on a show. Every time you're taking me back now, I pray you do it once more. Do it once more. Please take my life when I don't have the strength to give it away to you. Please take my life when I don't have the strength to give it away to you. My life, and I don't have to stray To give it away to you, jesus. How many times have I turned away? The number is the same as the stars in the sky. But every time you're taking me back. Now, I pray you do it too. Now, please take my life when I don't have the strength and give it away to you. Please take my life. I don't have the strength to give it away to Jesus. Give it away To Jesus.