All InSample

 I love math. If you think that makes me a nerd, you would be right. 

Many of us do our best as often as we can, and sometimes we even do great works. But, let’s say that you do 2 great works a month. If we keep doing 2 great things a month, over time we might see some solid results. If we do 2 great works a month over 1 year, we would get a result of 24 great works at the end of the year. Which is solid, but nothing compared to what happens when we go all in and invite God into the equation. When we invite God in, our works are multiplied. 

Everything you multiply gets exponentially bigger. 

Adding 2 great works a month for a year = 24 great works

Multiplying (exponentially) 2 great works for a year = 4,096 great works 

When we leave God out of the equation it makes bad math.

We all know in our head that God is more capable and powerful than us. However, if we are honest, when we do not give to God what we care about most, we are missing out on an infinite amount of His work in our lives and the lives of others. 

Jesus told His disciples, “if you have faith the size of a mustard seed and tell a mountain to move then it will move.” So why do we struggle with the mountains in our life? Could it be that we are attempting to do things under our own power rather than through the power of God? Too many times in my life, I have been guilty of not even stopping to pray about something at all. I just go after it with everything I have because I think that I can do it on my own. Then I struggle, and, if I am lucky, barely complete the task at all—or fail completely. 

Here’s another miscalculation many of us make: praying but not doing. 

God may be a multiplier, but if we are not willing to do our part, then why should we expect a return? Again in mathematical terms, 

0 x 1,000,000,000,000 = 0 

I am not saying that God cannot do anything without us. God is more than capable to do anything without us. However, His design and desire for us is to be His Hands and Feet, His ambassadors, His change agents in this world. 

God’s math is simple, but we must make sure not to skip any steps. If we attempt to do it on our own or get caught up praying and neglecting what God is calling us to do, we shouldn’t be surprised when there are fewer results.  God’s design and desire to zero-out pain and problems, solve sin and shame, and produce new and more life, works best when diligent and faithful works are met with fervent and faith-filled prayers. 

When this happens, nothing can stand in the way of what God will do.