WHEN GOD IS NUMBER ONE EVERYTHING ELSE ADD UP!
There's a famous old story about a man who was sleeping at night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light, and God appeared. The Lord told the man He had a work for him to do, and showed him a large rock in front of the cabin. The Lord explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might......... So the man did, day after day. For years he toiled from sunup to sundown, his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the un-moving rock, pushing with all of his might. Each night the man returned to his cabin sore and worn-out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain. Since the man was showing discouragement, the adversary{Satan} decided to enter the picture by placing thoughts into his weary mind: 'You have been pushing against that rock for long time, and it hasn't moved.' He gave the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure. These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man. Satan said, 'Why kill your self over this? just put in your time, giving just the minimum effort; that will be good enough. That's what the fatigued man planned to do, but he still decided to make it a matter of prayer and take his troubled thoughts to God. 'Lord,' he said, 'I've labored long and hard in your service, putting all my strength to do what you've asked. Yet after all this time, I have not even budged that rock by half a millimeter. What's wrong? Why am I failing?'The Lord responded compassionately, 'My friend, when I ask you to serve me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all of your strength, which you have done. Never did I mention to you that I expected you to move the rock. Your task was to push. And now you come to Me with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But is that really so?............. Look at your self, Your arms are now strong and muscled, your back sinewy and brown; your hands are callused from constant pressure, your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much, and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have. True, you haven't moved the rock. But your calling was to be obedient and to push and exercise your faith and trust in my wisdom. That you have done. Now my friend, I will move the rock.
Usually our additions to what He says get us in trouble and cause delays.
When God gives you a word, don't make a paragraph out of it. 'Yes, use the faith that moves mountains, but remember, it's He who will actually do it.'God never made a promise that was too good to be true. God made us, and God is able to empower us to do whatever He calls us to do. With God's strength behind you, His love with you, and His arms beneath you, you are more than sufficient for the days ahead of you. It's my observation and experience that nothing humanistic works out that well. All great things have God at the center of them. The man who put God first will find God with him right up to the last.
In everything you do, put God first, and He will direct and crown your efforts with success, says the Bible.
'Unless it includes believing God, it is not worthy of being called God's direction; every divine direction that we receive from God will include our believing Him. Saying 'impossible' always puts you on the losing side. If you dream big, believe big, and pray big, big things will happen. Most of the things that were worth doing in history had been declared impossible before they were done. The Bible says, Yes, be bold and strong! Banish fear and doubt! For remember, the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Many people believe in God, but not many believe God. One of the most incredible states in which we can live our lives is in a continual position of trusting faith. Look to God, believe God. When you leave God out, you will find yourself without any invisible means of support.