The power of Bismillah

A preacher was once giving a sermon to a large audience in the mosque.
In the course of it he said: "O People! I tell you the truth. If only you knew the power of the sentance 'Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem' (In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful), you would say it before every action of yours. Whoever says these words before beginning any act will see wonders. One will even be able to walk on water."
A poor villager, who was sitting close to the pulpit, listened to this sermon attentively. He was a regular visitor to the mosque although his journey from his home was a very difficult one because he had to cross a large river on the way. The man did not have a boat and often had to wait until someone appeared who could transport him across. The route around the river was extremely long. However, when the man heard this sermon, he realized that he had found the solution to his problem.
When he reached the river on his way back, he did not hesitate, but recited 'Bismillah...' and stepped onto the water. By the grace of Allah he was able to walk on the water and soon reached the other side. This became a regular practice for the man, until one day, as he was crossing the river, it occured to him he had not thanked the preacher who had given him the solution to his problem. He decided to invite him to his house for a meal as a way of showing gratitude to him.
The preacher accepted the invitation and both of them began walking back to the mans house. On reaching the river, the man recited 'Bismillah...' and stepped out onto the water, as was his normal routine. He expected the preacher to do the same. But when he looked behind, he found that the preacher was still standing on the bank looking at him in bewilderment.
The man told him to recite 'Bismillah...' just as he had preached. “My dear man, I lack the faith that you have," replied the preacher.
We must inculcate the habit of reciting 'Bismillah.' before everything that we say or do in this life. Imam Ja'ffar ibn Mohammed al-Sadiq (a.s) has said, "Do not forsake Bismillah even if you write one line of poem." (Payaam-e-Qur'an)