DAILY DISCIPLINE #45
By Colleen Donahue
"I am the Lord...Is anything too hard for me?" Jeremiah 32:27
We are living during interesting times. Almost every country in the world is finding itself responding to environmental crises, war, financial instability, and domestic problems of all sorts. America (where I live) is certainly dealing on all four fronts, but the one I'm personally seeing most is the financial instability. I travel through many states as a sales representative. As I drive through my areas visiting accounts and soliciting new business, there is a different attitude surfacing --- CAUTION & FEAR!
Recently, I had an appointment at a very well established shop near the capital of Pennsylvania. Peter (not his real name) greeted me and said, "Well, are you singing the blues like all the other reps?" I thought a moment and realized that my sales were substantially higher than a year ago. When I told Peter that he just glared at me sternly and said, "You are fighting an uphill battle. You'll be scrambling like all of us before long!"
His comments got me thinking and the outcome is this month's study. Normally...during a recession, it is reasonable to believe that my sales will drop as the economy weakens. But...when God chooses to bless and cause an increase, He'll do it anytime and any way He wants! And that is our theme this month.
NORMALLY.....BUT GOD....!
Day 1- Normally...if you're a woman past 45 or 50 years of age you have lost the capacity to bear children. But...God's purposes can't be stopped by old age!
Genesis 17:15-19 / Genesis 18:10-14 /Genesis 21:1-7 / Luke 1:6-13,57
Day 2 -Normally...God speaks to us through His word. His Holy Spirit in our heart, or a trusted godly man or woman. But...He alone reserves the right to communicate as He wants!
Daniel 5:5-6,25-28
Day 3- Normally...a river flowing naturally, is not disturbed. But...when God needs to get a couple of million people across quickly...
Exodus 14:21-22 / Joshua 3:7-17 / 2 Kings 2:7-14
Day 4- Normally...man grows his food, or hunts it, or raises animals so that it can be sold in grocery stores for our consumption. But...God's been known to feed us even from Heaven at no effort to man!
I Kings 19:5-8 / Exodus 16:6-18 / I Kings 17:2-6
Day 5 -Normally...streams flow from a hidden spring or due to increased rain. But...God can make streams flow in a desert or make water come from a rock!
Exodus 17:1-7 / Isaiah 35:3-7
Day 6- Normally...a young boy does not have the coordination, strength or ability to overtake men or animals larger than he is. But...when God gives the strength...
I Samuel 17:32-50
Day 7- Normally...an army of 300 cannot defeat an army of 135,000! But...God uses what is weak to accomplish great things!
Judges 7
Day 8- Normally...obstacles are overcome by cleverness, hard work, strength, etc. But...God is able to overcome obstacles by His strength alone!
Joshua 6:15-21
Day 9- Normally...a young man does not have the wisdom to instruct those older and considered wiser. But...when God gives the wisdom...
I Kings 4:29-34 / Jeremiah 1:6-10 / Luke 2:43-47
Day 10- Normally...we make something out of something else. But...God makes something out of nothing!
Genesis 1
Day 11- Normally... a man can predict and respond to nature only so far. But...God can control nature!
Psalm 104
Day 12- Normally...when God's wrath is poured out nothing can stand. But...God in His mercy knows how to rescue the godly.
2 Peter 2:4-9
Day 13- Normally...men are smarter than animals. But...God has been known to reverse the roles!
Numbers 22:21-35
Day 14- Normally...a man dies and his family or friends have a funeral and bury him. But...God has been known to bury His own dear friends.
Deuteronomy 34:5-6
Day 15- Normally...our bodies follow the laws of gravity. But...God can override any law that ties us to earth!
Matthew 14:25-31
Day 16- Normally...if you've had an infirmity for 18 years, the world would safely declare that you have a lifetime terminal illness. But...God doesn't go by years.
Luke 13:10-13
Day 17- Normally...if you are born blind you will be blind your whole life. But...God is the giver of light at any time!
John 9:1-7
Day 18- Normally...if we work very very hard at something but still don't succeed at obtaining the results, we can safely conclude that it can't be done - at least by us! But...God can do ANYTHING!
Jeremiah 32:27 / Mark 10:26-27
Day 19- Normally...our human resources can only stretch so far. But God...is able to keep meeting whatever the need long after our own resources are gone.
I Kings 17:7-16 / 2 Kings 4:42-44
Day 20- Normally...our doctors can offer us some help and cures until our time of death. Man does not have the power to give life back unless God gives it!
I Kings 17:17-24 / Acts 9:36-41 / Acts 20:7-12
Day 21- Normally...a disease as devastating as leprosy or Aids is traced to a virus or bacteria or abnormal cell growth. But...God can trace our disease back to its original source - our sin. Read this account of a great but prideful man.
2 Kings 5:1-14
Day 22- Normally...we cannot know what someone else is thinking without them telling us. But...God is able to give supernatural insight when needed.
Daniel 2:25-45
Day 23- Normally...we expect to be judged on "judgment day". But...God reserves the right to judge at any time.
Numbers 16:28-35 / 2 Samuel 6:7 / Acts 5:1-11
Day 24- Normally...the sun rises and sets like clockwork unless God decides to change the clock!
Joshua 10:12-14
Day 25- Normally...it is natural for a man without God to be a man without hope. But...because of the Lord's great love...
Lamentations 3:21-26
Day 26- Normally...the soul that sins will die. But...God is rich in mercy.
Romans 5:6-11
Day 27- Normally...a man or woman that lives in sin is a condemned person. But...God has delivered us and therefore...
Romans 8:1
Day 28- Normally...a man has peace when everything is smooth and easy. But...God gives peace in the midst of our troubles.
John 14:27 / John 16:33 / Philippians 4:7
Day 29- Normally...if we are under great pressure we'll often succumb to despair or depression. But...God always leads us in triumph!
2 Corinthians 2:14-15
Day 30- Normally...men look out for themselves and live by the rule "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth." But...God has a new plan.
Romans 12:17-21
Whatever we can think of that might "normally" occur as a result of something else, we can be certain that God has reserved the right to cut across the normal and show His great power and might. THERE IS NOTHING TOO HARD FOR HIM!
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