Dear Father, When You made Solomon king instead of David, he made a very reasonable request. He said: “O Lord my God, give therefore Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and bad; for who is able to judge this Your great people?” He was a leader, and with the opportunity to have one request granted, his concern was for his people. I am pondering what my own request would be if I were granted just one. This raises a question: what shapes our requests? Need, desire or purpose?The average man may first ask for wealth before considering anything else--yet this reveals a distortion of order: the kingdom of God first, and all other things afterward. Though it may sound vague--this idea of seeking Your kingdom, but it is not. Requests shaped by the kingdom reveal needs that are rooted in purpose. Solomon was a leader, and he had concern for his people. This challenges us to examine the kinds of requests we persistently make, and how closely they align with kingdom actualization. Yet You give priority to kingdom-centered requests, because all other things are added, not pursued. Perhaps leaders must seek wisdom, writers must walk in clarity, business men must pursue right direction, the wealthy must embrace stewardship, the worker must cultivate diligence, and the gifted must submit to discipline. Yet if only one request were granted, what would we seek? Translations: Slide 1: English Slide 2: French Slide 3: Bengali Slide 4: Hindu Slide 5: Urdu #LettertoGod #KingdomofGod #purpose #need #request

Dear Father, I take time to reflect on certain occurrences in my life and how they could have been avoided, and I realize that some troubles I encountered were the result of disobedience, negligence, or spiritual inattentiveness. Many situations of regret begin where instruction was ignored. Obedience to You would make my life much easier. Today, I read a passage that says, “If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river,” and I remembered a time in church when I planned to buy a banana cake, as I always did. That day, I heard You say, “you will not like it,” but I insisted, saying, “I’ve eaten it before; it’s nice.” Unfortunately, the banana cake had spoiled, and I could not eat it. Although I still wonder why You did not simply say it had spoiled--perhaps I would have heeded that caution, yet trust is proven most when instructions are obeyed without detailed reasons. And this applies not only to little things like cakes, but also to delicate matters. First, I am privileged that You speak to me as a man speaks to his friend. I did nothing to earn that, yet I desire to obey whenever I hear You speak. But do we not all struggle with this? With an instruction, an inner voice, a knowing that could save us stress, if only we listened. With time, I learned that this privilege is made available to everyone in Christ through the Holy Spirit, though its application often requires guidance, care, and sufficient knowledge of Scripture. Still, the truth remains: peace like a river belongs to those who obey. Translations; Slide 1: English Slide 2: French Slide 3: Bengali Slide 4: Hindu Slide 5: Urdu #LettertoGod #instruction #obedience #disobedience #trust

Dear Father, When envoys were sent to Hezekiah bringing him gifts after he recovered from a terrible illness, he was so pleased that he showed them all the items of value in his palace, and this act exposed his descendants to trouble. Prophet Isaiah said to him, “The time will surely come when everything in your palace, and all that your predecessors have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left..." This occurrence illustrates how the very idea of revealing what should remain concealed exposes it not only to public scrutiny and unsolicited opinions, but also to the danger of loss. This applies not only to items of value, but also to confidential information and the appealing stories and achievements along our life’s journey. Unnecessary revelations often come from a place of insecurity or low self-worth. Yet this is the world we’ve found ourselves in--a place where applause and likes on social media for our commendable results are valued more than silent growth, regardless of whether or not these things should be revealed. Nothing stays concealed, and so nothing stays safe. I’ve learned that ultimate secrecy and care should be given to great and delicate matters, and that timing must be considered if ever they are to be shared. For secrecy, very often, is the first preservative of greatness. Translations; Slide 1: English Slide 2: French Slide 3: Bengali Slide 4: Hindu Slide 5: Urdu #LettertoGod #greatness #secrets #secrecy #value

Dear Father, There was a period in the life of King Saul, when he was pursuing David to kill him, after which he acknowledged that David did not deserve to die. For Saul said, “Is this thy voice, my son David?” And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. He said to David, “Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil. And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king…” Yet even after this, Scripture records that Saul once again took three thousand chosen men to hunt David. Why was he unable to stand by his good decision not to harm David? His words reflected what he knew, but time revealed who he had become. Is this not the gap that exists between knowledge and transformation? Sometimes, knowledge is not the problem, application is; even with a rich understanding of life’s principles, Scripture, and truth, we still experience the frustration that comes from an unfulfilled desire to become. But what good is knowledge without transformation? And see how this applies to every walk of life. Sincerely speaking, Father, if we all applied what we knew to be right, perhaps the world would be a better place. But sadly, the process of becoming has lingered too long in the realm of desire, rather than determination. If we all examined the gap in our own lives, would we be proud of what we discover? Translations; Slide 1: English Slide 2: French Slide 3: Bengali Slide 4: Hindu Slide 5: Urdu #LettertoGod #knowledge #transformation #application #saulanddavid #gap

Dear Father, It is very possible to go through a passage in Scripture, trying to understand its full content, and in the process miss the very word that gives meaning and context to the entire passage. For instance, the Scripture which says, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned…” In this passage, the word “when” was not randomly repeated three times; it was deliberately repeated to establish a fact: that “when” is not a probability, but an appointed season every man will face. And it does not only reveal certainty, but also introduces the intensity of that season through forces like rivers and fire. To poetically analyze these words, I would liken passing through the rivers to a person with little or no swimming ability being forced into deep waters, with swimming as the only option to survival. And the fire? A painfully intense situation where every attempt to escape only seems to increase the discomfort. And through it all, one truth remains--“when” is inevitable. However, this same Scripture assures us that though this process is real, it is not designed to overcome us. There is, however, a limitation to what the mere sight of fire can do to our minds; for in reality, we do not overcome by fully understanding what fire can do, but by our awareness of Your presence in our lives. Translations; Slide 1: English Slide 2: French Slide 3: Bengali Slide 4: Hindu Slide 5: Urdu #LettertoGod #seasons #hardtimes #tryingtimes

Dear Father, My heart is grieved whenever I hear about Your children who continually engage in sinful acts while still publicly proclaiming Your Name. Even more troubling is that this questionable behavior affects not just them, but also the testimony of every believer who genuinely calls on Your Name. So I ponder: what could be the problem that causes a number of believers to continually entertain sin without remorse? Could it be a misunderstanding of grace--or a convenient misuse of it? Today, I read a passage which says: “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions…” If Your grace is misunderstood, then it is taught from an unbalanced perspective. It is not merely a concept that begins and ends with forgiveness and the thorough cleansing of sin, but also one that both demands and enables a transformed life. This reveals that we are not truly partakers of Your grace if, under its cover, we continually entertain sin, because grace itself teaches us to say “No” to sin. What then is the value of grace if it leaves a man unchanged? What good is it to confess grace if our lives deny its power? Perhaps the concept is misunderstood, or perhaps it is not. Still, I wonder, Father: why do those who call on Your Name still make peace with the very thing Your grace came to destroy? Translations; Slide 1: English Slide 2: French Slide 3: Bengali Slide 4: Hindu Slide 5: Urdu #LettertoGod #grace #graceofGod #transformatiom #sin

Dear Father, There is a name often used for those whose dealings with others consistently reflect lack of empathy and manipulative tendencies: we call them narcissists. It is often easy to identify a narcissist when we are aware of the related traits; even so, we are sometimes too quick to label people as such. Yet, we have our own shortcomings. Although none of us is entirely free from these traits, what distinguishes narcissism is its extreme and persistent expression. But should we raise alarms over extremes and remain silent about subtler expressions, when people are still affected? Unfair, indirect, or deceptive ways of influencing people, usually to serve our own interests is described as manipulation. Paul understood this when he said, “But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary.” I reflected on related situations: times when people’s love, and their inability to say no to us, have led them to do favors they would rather not do. When we share just enough distress to make someone feel responsible to fix it; when we withhold communication so the other person feels uneasy or obligated to reach out; when we praise someone mainly to influence their decision; when we do favors to create an unspoken and dangerous debt; and so on. How often do people suffer from our quiet, subtle, seemingly harmless acts of manipulation? Translations; Slide 1: English Slide 2: French Slide 3: Bengali Slide 4: Hindu Slide 5: Urdu #LettertoGod #narcissism #manipulation #deception #extremes

Dear Father, I have heard of people who, at the initial stage of building their vision, received support from others. Yet, in many cases, the men whose callings, visions, and inventions eventually achieved great or global recognition once had to run alone. Today, I pondered the blessing of multiplication and what it entails, and more significantly, the fact that it often begins with what seems negligible. I came across what You said in Scripture: “Look to Abraham, your father, and to Sarah, who gave you birth. When I called him, he was only one man, and I blessed him and made him many.” Is this not the subtle mystery of multiplication? How can we tell that something in its singular form will one day rise beyond measure? How do we know that, in obeying Your call to come as one, we would one day become a multitude? This illustration reveals a truth: the blessing of multiplication first begins with the courage to obey. There is a period that exists between our obedience and Your multiplication, where it seems as though we are thrown into a pool of doubt, surrounded by naysayers: voices that arise not only externally but also from within our own minds. In such moments, our obedience would, even from a logical perspective, be classified as foolishness. For instance, how do we explain the dream of a flying machine to a world that only knows camels? Or multiplication to a man who has never experienced it? It seems to me, then, that the blessing of multiplication requires more than the initial call to come as one. Translations; Slide 1: English Slide 2: French Slide 3: Bengali Slide 4: Hindu Slide 5: Urdu #LettertoGod #blessing #multiplication #obedience #mystery

Dear Father, There are people who confidently put into action the assignments You have set before them without refrain, while there are others who take time insisting on successful outcomes before ever putting forward a step. Like Gideon, when You sent him on an assignment and promised to save Israel by his hand, he said: “If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said, behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said.” He placed two tests before You before responding to the call. Every one of us is unique, even in the expression of our faith, especially regarding difficult assignments; and in Your mercy, You assured him of success. While there is wisdom in outcome checks, the downside is this: not all outcomes may lead to success. Sometimes, the true success lies in the lessons attained from the failures we so honorably try to prevent. I pondered how hesitation, when prolonged, causes the burden of the assignment to slowly fade. I thought about the assignments orchestrated not to bring us our desired crowns, but rather to shape us into vessels fit to carry those crowns. How long have we refrained in doubt and fear, seeking successful outcomes before ever taking a step? Translations; Slide 1: English Slide 2: French Slide 3: Bengali Slide 4: Hindu Slide 5: Urdu #LettertoGod #success #outcomes #assignment #obedience

Dear Father, Several times, I have had dreams where, by my hand, You opened deaf ears and blind eyes. Whenever I awake, I cannot help but think, “You think too highly of me.” Recently, I joined a meeting organized by a man through whose ministration You opened sixty-seven deaf ears. I listened to him intently and with anticipation for the answer to one question: “How?” This is one of the closest I have been to a man who trusts You for miracles as easily as I trust You to inspire our daily letters. I am aware that the difference in our levels of trust is first found in our priorities, and then in the price we are willing to pay. Still, I needed to know: what price was paid to attain those results? I remembered the part of Scripture where Jesus said, “This kind goeth not out except by prayer and fasting.” When this man spoke, I realized he was one man who desired a height in this Kingdom, knew the cost, and paid the price. He spoke about how often he fasted and how he prayed for a minimum of three hours daily. And as he spoke, I realized again that results in this Kingdom are not accidental; they often accrue to those willing to pay the price. Father, I do not just want to talk and write about Your goodness; I also desire to demonstrate Your power--for the compelling effect that mastery of both will have. And I wonder: can I pay the price? Translations; Slide 1: English Slide 2: French Slide 3: Bengali Slide 4: Hindu Slide 5: Urdu #LettertoGod #miracles #price #healing