Dear Father, When I was little I always thought when Jesus said; "Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove”-- to mean that faith as little as a mustard seed could move mountains. And I wondered why my faith which I thought to be bigger than a mustard seed produced little or no results. And although some translations also use the word “little" the initial translation depicts something different. In my research, I found that the original Greek translation conveys the idea of effective faith and compares it to a mustard seed. This metaphorical connection between faith and the mustard seed happens to relate more to its nature than to its size. In the days of old, the mustard seed was a proverb used to depict something that is alive and possessed great growth potential. In reality, mustard seeds are known for how aggressively they grow and spread, such that they overtake gardens when left unchecked and within a short period of time. In essence, Jesus was referring to faith with capacity to grow. Perhaps the reason many of us are still unable to move mountains or bring about change that we desire is because we don't think of growth as much as we think of size, however, when Jesus spoke of mustard seeds He spoke of growth. Translations; Slide 1: English Slide 2: French Slide 3: Bengali Slide 4: Hindi Slide 5: Urdu #LettertoGod #MustardSeed #Faith #Growth #EffectiveFaith

Dear Father, There are people who steal, perhaps with what they consider good reasons to steal. There are people who tell lies, and, sincerely, telling the truth in certain situations may seem to result in more chaos. There are also those who are not ignorant of what You would have them do, but perhaps the world has sold the narrative that obedience often costs more than rebellion. Today, I pondered situations where what we know about Your will is not in agreement with what we do concerning what we know about Your will. I read about Jeremiah when the Israelites came to him, committing to do whatever he said if he enquired of You on their behalf. The Scripture says, "...Pray for us unto the LORD our God; and according unto all that the LORD our God shall say, so declare unto us, and we will do it." Yet later, Jeremiah declared, "And now I have this day declared it to you; but ye have not obeyed the voice of the LORD your God, nor any thing for the which he hath sent me unto you." Usually, I get offended whenever I read about outright rebellion, but in reality, this is a cycle that has not ended. I would begin by acknowledging that disobedience often appears advantageous, while obedience often appears costly. But what becomes of both in the end? So, we would rather tell lies than maintain integrity, or do otherwise than commit to doing Your will, repeating the very cycle the Israelites upheld. What audacity we employ in refusing to obey the voice of the One who has given us breath. Translation; Slide 1: English Slide 2: French Slide 3: Bengali Slide 4: Hindu Slide 5: Urdu #LettertoGod #obedience #willofGod #disobedience #rebellion

Dear Father, There's something common about the account of the Israelites as they journeyed from Egypt to the Promised Land-- they grumbled throughout the journey. The Scripture says, "And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness: And said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt." For hunger they grumbled; for thirst they grumbled. And each time, they desired to return to Egypt. Every time they grumbled, their needs were met supernaturally. Yet, when another need arose, they grumbled again. Nothing about the previous miracle seemed to impact their mindset, all they knew to do was complain and desire to return to Egypt. Why did You seek to bring freedom to people who would rather remain slaves? Although I am more concerned that, in their pursuit of the Promised Land, they became so consumed by what they did not yet have that they forgot what it meant to live. How often do we still get caught in this web? With eyes fixed on the goal we often neglect the present. Satisfied only when we acquire the certificate, the role, the spouse, the house; and every other day, we hope again. As though we are unaware that even the days that seem ordinary are memories worth treasuring. We may not openly grumble like the Israelites, but we are often no more grateful than they were. And like the Israelites, in reaching for the goal, we have forgotten what it means to live. Translations; Slide 1: English Slide 2: French Slide 3: Bengali Slide 4: Hindi Slide 5: Urdu #LettertoGod #Gratitude #Contentment #TheJourney #Faithfulness

Dear Father, For some time, we have become far too conscious of evil. Perhaps this is a side effect of the prevalence of evil in the world today, or maybe because tragic occurrences often make the biggest news headlines. As a result, our warnings, teachings, and training have become subconsciously aligned toward preventing repetitions of evil, and slowly we may be drifting away from the place of good. Not because evil is not worth preventing, but because good is an entirely different pursuit that requires just as much attention, if not more. I came across a Scripture that says, "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." This reveals that sin is more than the evil we refrain from; it is also about the good we neglect. We do not tell lies, but do we conceal important facts? We do not steal, but do we withhold what rightfully belongs to another? We do not hate, but quietly harbor resentment. We may not abuse authority, but do we neglect our responsibility? We are not unbelievers, but do we ever testify of You? So focused on preventing evil, we have forgotten how to do good. The Law was often expressed as, "Do not." Jesus revealed that its fulfillment was, "Love." One restrained evil; the other produces good. For where love reigns, righteousness becomes more than our refrain from sin-- it cultivates in us the unrelenting motive to always do good. Translations; Slide 1: English Slide 2: French Slide 3: Bengali Slide 4: Hindu Slide 5: Urdu #LettertoGod #evil #good #authority #responsibility

Dear Father, Pride is often a psychological response that is inspired not necessarily by wealth or high standing, but by insufficiency. Positions and authority do not always satisfy the soul's need to feel valued. Sometimes, pride is something people express subconsciously; in assuming control rashly, they reveal how wounded their self-esteem actually is. So, whenever I go seeking someone who lacks, I first look for those who try so hard to prove they own something, because the need to prove is often evidence that we have not yet possessed what has come to us. Little wonder James, in his Epistle, said, "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up." This reveals that nothing we own or acquire for ourselves has the capacity to bring us to the emotional state of acceptance and worth we desire. So often, we desire wealth, fame, and power for the satisfaction we imagine they will bring. Yet, even after acquiring them, we discover that we are wealthy and still feel empty. In an attempt to elevate our self-esteem to match our bank accounts or positions, we introduce pride. Yet, once again, nothing satisfies the soul's need to feel valued. No one but You. The test of a healthy self-esteem begins with examining what we continually shine the light on, even to an unhealthy degree. It is revealed in how we treat those under our authority, how we respond to correction, and how we treat people who have nothing to offer us. It begins with recognizing that kingship is more a matter of the heart than of position, and only You can place a man there. Translations; Slide 1: English Slide 2: French Slide 3: Bengali Slide 4: Hindu Slide 5: Urdu #LettertoGod #pride #psychology #sufficiency #humility

Dear Father, Hannah prayed and did not stop praying until she received her miracle. I love how intentional our fathers were about unanswered prayers. They would probe, seek the ministry of prophets, request mercy, and search for reasons whenever any request remained unanswered. They operated from the place of the knowledge of Your abundance: "You could do anything, and if You didn't do it, they were never entirely ignorant of the reason." In this age, I've noticed that, on average, our approach seems different. We often make requests, hoping we will receive answers, and when we don't, we either seek something different or seek help from somewhere else. The way we respond to unanswered requests often reveals the deficiency in our knowledge of Your sufficiency and will. Walking away confused, as though we have a Father who has left us without answers. A Scripture says, "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts." It seems, then, that our requests and petitions are weighed for the right motives and alignment with Your will. It also seems that we succeed better at obtaining requests when we first succeed at cultivating a relationship with You. For how can we separate alignment from knowledge? How can we remain on the right path when we do not even know what the right path is? In reality, our persistent prayers are often fueled by our most pressing needs, desiring that You move certain mountains regardless of whether it is in Your plan for us. Isn't this what it means to ask amiss? To separate knowledge from requests, and requests from relationship. Translations; Slide 1: English Slide 2: French Slide 3: Bengali Slide 4: Hindu Slide 5: Urdu #LettertoGod #requests #unansweredprayers #petitions #knowledgeofGod

Dear Father, While reading through the book of Jeremiah, I came across his prophecy against Babylon. It says, "Therefore wild beasts shall dwell with hyenas in Babylon, and ostriches shall dwell in her. She shall never again have people, nor be inhabited for all generations." It has been almost 2,700 years since this prophecy was made, and Babylon, which was once the greatest city of its age, is no longer a living city but is filled with archaeological ruins. How deeply profound, Father. After 2,700 years! I've come across several other biblical prophecies that are now our reality, and it almost feels right to ask, how did You not forget? How has everything fallen into place just as You said it would? And whenever there was a change, a word from You preceded it. How are You so detailed, and yet so faithful? Look at what this implies. Time has a way of convincing us that silence means forgetfulness. So much that our greatest temptation in seasons of waiting is amnesia. We forget Your goodness long before You ever forget Your word, and we act as though the God who governs galaxies might overlook one small life. So we stop counting the days, stop expecting, and slowly stop believing. But do You forget? I think unbelief is a side effect of our humanity. We often measure divine promises with human scales, forgetting to put our humanity aside. So, in our limitations, we try to measure You, concluding that the weight of the world has somehow pushed our story to the bottom of Your priorities. Yet, do You ever forget? Translations; Slide 1: English Slide 2: French Slide 3: Bengali Slide 4: Hindu Slide 5: Urdu #LettertoGod #Prophecy #faithfulness #goodnessofGod #seasonofwait

Dear Father, There are certain similarities and differences between the lives of Jesus and Abel that I find compelling. First, the deaths of innocent men; while one death was unexpected, the other was predestined. Next, Abel died because of a sacrifice, and Jesus died as the sacrifice. Then there is the speaking of blood: while Abel's blood cried out for justice against the guilty, Jesus' blood cries out for mercy over the guilty. The Scripture says, "...to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel." Yet there is one more similarity that is not always emphasized. Despite the compelling power, the blood which cries has yet to obtain its response to reason. Cain, who killed Abel, was not remorseful. And many of the men who killed Jesus, even after realizing their wrongdoing, were not remorseful either. Now, it may seem limiting to speak of Jesus and think only of remorse from His persecutors, because justice for Himself was not what He sought. How oxymoronic that He seeks mercy for those who deserve judgment. How convenient it is to speak of the men who crucified Jesus, but not about humanity today. A quick scan of the world leaves me asking, Is this what He died for? Then I turn the question toward my own life. In seeking justice on behalf of the One who seeks mercy, it is easy to overlook the very result His crucifixion was meant to produce in us. How long will we let His blood speak without responding to what it says? How long will we wallow in guilt over a price that has already been paid? Translations; Slide 1: English Slide 2: French Slide 3: Bengali Slide 4: Hindu Slide 5: Urdu #LettertoGod #redemption #reconciliation #sin #forgiveness

Dear Father, I've noticed how easily encouraged I become when conditions are favorable, especially with regard to spiritual exercises. I'd pray better in a cozy atmosphere filled with gentle, audible music. Love, joy, abundance, and comfort all seem to lift my spirit. But I came across a passage in Ezekiel which says: "In my thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth day, while I was among the exiles by the Kebar River, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God." Five years in a foreign land, among the captives, and Ezekiel began to see visions? This is particularly amazing to me because not only do I thrive more in good conditions, I also struggle to maintain fervor as soon as I am taken away from my familiar atmosphere. Yet, in this passage, I see that, first, the atmosphere did not affect Ezekiel's connection to You, and second, it was evident that You were not far from him. The subtlety of familiarity is that it has the potential to condition our minds, often subconsciously. "For how shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?" As though communion were limited by atmosphere, and unfamiliar circumstances could somehow blur our understanding of Your omnipresence. So our relationship with You easily becomes affected by whatever comes or goes around that does not appear favorable to us. So much so that we need not be exiled to feel exiled from You. How stable is this manner of spiritual engagement? I believe that, to attain stability, we must first settle in our hearts that communion with You is not reserved for favorable conditions alone. Translations; Slide 1: English Slide 2: French Slide 3: Bengali Slide 4: Hindu Slide 5: Urdu #LettertoGod #communionwithGod #fellowship #spiritualengagement #comfort

Dear Father, I've come across several questions and concerns regarding the story of the old and young prophet. You gave the young prophet an instruction, saying, "Thou shalt eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that thou camest." But there was an old prophet in Bethel who came and misled the young prophet, saying, "I am a prophet also as thou art; and an angel spake unto me by the word of the LORD, saying, Bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water." But he lied unto him. This false prophecy eventually cost the young prophet his life, and sadly, it seemed as though there were no consequences for the old prophet. This scenario has given room to question Your judgment, but are we judging things rightly ourselves? Empathy has a way of blurring our interpretation, such that we become unable to trace the very same pattern in our own lives: the person who causes you to sin may not necessarily be punished when you are. The person who causes another man's downfall may not necessarily fall with him. A man who murders another may not be killed. I believe this story should serve as a cautionary mirror, reminding us to assume the utmost responsibility for our own decisions and their consequences, regardless of who influenced them. But sadly, we miss the point. In empathizing with the young prophet, we may have forgotten that it may not matter who influences our will; but it matters what decisions we make. Translations; Slide 1: English Slide 2: French Slide 3: Bengali Slide 4: Hindu Slide 5: Urdu #LettertoGod #influence #decisions #consequences #biblestories