Dear Father, Today, I discovered that there is more to this Scripture than the natural occurrence of Joseph being sold to Potiphar and the jealousy of his brothers. It reveals a known pattern the enemy operates to destroy a man. The Scripture says: “And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh. Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit; and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.” The pattern is, “Afflict the man, and he will lose sight of his dreams.” Strangely, afflictions may arise in various ways: frustration from the cosmos, discouragement from loved ones, betrayal and unreasonable offences, lack, distractions, losses, or even death. The point is, if it would make him lose sight of his destiny, let us bring it before him. With this, we are naturally ushered into the responsibility of discerning and prayerfully engaging with circumstances that bear natural patterns but may be inspired by demonic forces. Because how do we explain the inspiration behind the thought, “Kill the man, and his dreams will fade”? So, the wrestle does not really seem to be against the man, but against his divine destiny. Through this story, I have learned that we should not go wrestling with a person over their obvious displays of envy, or be discouraged by the hostility of the people we love. If destiny is the plan, its fulfilment must remain the focus, because there will be no fulfilment of destiny without spiritual warfare. Translations: Slide 1: English Slide 2: French Slide 3: Bengali Slide 4: Hindi Slide 5: Urdu Slide 6: Portuguese #LettertoGod #destiny #afflictions #Josephstory #patterns

Dear Father, Sometimes I wonder about the ordeal with Potiphar’s wife, where Joseph experienced a quick transition from being trusted by his master to becoming the offender, with evidence that seemed impossible to deny, even though the accusation was false. The Scripture says, “She said unto her husband, The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came in to mock me: as I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment with me, and fled out.” How would he defend himself to a man against his own wife? How strange would it feel to say, “I am the servant, but you can trust me, not your wife”? And so, Joseph was thrown into prison. Innocent, yet factually guilty. I wonder how many have found themselves in such situations, where there seems to be more evidence to prove their guilt than there is to prove their innocence. Sometimes, it may not be something as grave as an accusation of sexual assault or prison sentence, but something else with just as much tension: a wrong judgment or perception of us, false accusations, with evidence in our defense that does not stand a chance of being presented. To be considered innocent a person must prove himself not guilty. And so, we strive with intention to correct the perceptions of loved ones: “There is more to this than you realize,” yet without sufficient evidence. But Joseph walked right into prison. Perhaps he knew that some perceptions are not ours to correct, but Yours. And some accusations are not nullified by immediate evidence that contradicts them, but evidence that is solidified through process and time. Translations: Slide 1: English Slide 2: French Slide 3: Bengali Slide 4: Hindi Slide 5: Urdu Slide 6: Portuguese #LettertoGod #Josephsstory #guilt #perception #evidence

Dear Father, Whenever I come across the Scripture where Jacob wrestled with a divine being and prevailed, I am amazed, and I leave thinking that he must have possessed some supernatural strength. There have been many interpretations as to whether it was Jesus incarnate or an angel whom he wrestled with, but the Scripture says, “Then he said, ‘Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.’” This clarifies it for me. Although this is not the reason I write to You, I write because I have gained some clarity from this Scripture: wrestling with You does not necessarily imply that Jacob possessed supernatural power, and wrestling is not unique to Jacob’s life. The passage may seem far-fetched until we consider what it actually means to wrestle. The Scripture recounts, “Then he said, ‘Let me go, for the day has broken.’ But Jacob said, ‘I will not let You go unless You bless me.’” I would therefore like to infer that, wrestling with You can involve insisting on something different from Your will. And so, I think about the various ways we wrestle with You: through the choices we make that are misaligned with Your plan for us, our manner of living, our resistance to the assignment You have placed in our hands, or even our reluctance to develop the talents You have entrusted to us. The appalling difference is that Jacob wrestled with You for a good cause, and it resulted in a transformation. But what do we wrestle for? And what implications or transformation does our wrestling produce? Translations; Slide 1: English Slide 2: French Slide 3: Bengali Slide 4: Hindu Slide 5: Urdu Slide 6: Portuguese #LettertoGod #transformation #wrestlewithGod #willofGod #obedience

Dear Father, In several places throughout Scripture that narrate the story of Samuel, Scripture recounts, “And the LORD said unto Samuel.” You spoke very often to him, and there was no question as to whether or not it was Your voice he heard. Except for his very first experience, when he went to Eli, thinking it was he who had called him. But Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth.” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. He had to go back, lie still, and listen again for Your voice. Would I, then, be correct to assume that everyone we look up to as spiritual giants today once walked in ignorance? The prophets whose words never fall to the ground, writers whose articles are both Kingdom related and globally recognized, teachers who rightly divide the word of truth, Kingdom financiers who once could not afford a meal, the list goes on. And like Samuel, perhaps one notable point that helps us build mastery from ignorance is the willingness to go back, lie still, and listen for Your voice. Perhaps one of mankind’s greatest challenges is stillness. The world is moving, and so are we. Who wants to remain in an atmosphere of prevailing silence, darkness, and what seems like nothingness? Yet, isn’t this often the very place where we find You? Isn't this where we are first taught how to build mastery? The world is moving, and so are we. But perhaps the greatest movement does not begin when we move, but when we lie still and listen for Your voice. Translations: Slide 1: English Slide 2: French Slide 3: Bengali Slide 4: Hindu Slide 5: Urdu Side 6: Portuguese #LettertoGod #mastery #voiceofGod #stillness #fellowship

Dear Father, Apostle Iren read a scripture in church yesterday, and I realized how rarely we even discuss it. It says, “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” After reading it, the first thing that may cross our minds is the desire that we prosper, but we do not often pay attention to the conjunction “even as,” translated from the Greek word kathōs, to mean “in the same way.” It does more than join the two ideas; it introduces a comparison between them and relates it to the prayer. Sadly, there seems to be any balance in the life of an average man that reflects the message of this scripture. If our approach and commitment to increasing our financial wealth and maintaining our physical health were equal, or nearly equal, to our commitment to spiritual growth, I wonder how balanced our prosperity would be. Perhaps this scripture admonishes us against the imbalance that exists when we prosper financially while lacking spiritually, because really, what is the gain if, in the end, we lose our soul? Herein lies the subtlety of humanity and prosperity: the pursuit is naturally geared towards the visible aspects of life, as though mortality is all there is to our composition. And although the prosperity of the soul may not be as visible, the prosperity of the whole largely depends on the prosperity of the soul. So I pondered the question: as much as I desire prosperity, at what rate is my soul itself prospering? Translations: Slide 1: English Slide 2: French Slide 3: Bengali Slide 4: Hindu Slide 5: Urdu Slide 6: Portuguese #LettertoGod #prosperity #thesoul #health #wealth

Dear Father, Before Noah built the ark, You gave him precise instructions about its dimensions, materials, compartments, window, door, and covering. The Scripture records, “Noah did everything just as God commanded him.” So I thought: If Noah, for some reason, had not followed the exact specifications You gave him in building the ark and missed something very important, when faced with the tempestuous storm, would it have sunk? Perhaps if that had happened, there would be no humans in existence to discuss the disobedience that led to the destruction of humanity. Maybe describing it as disobedience is a stretch; perhaps partial obedience would be a better description. I am grateful that he did exactly as he was commanded, but what if he had not? Doesn’t this illustration reveal that how we go about an assignment is equally as important as completing it? When I ponder this, I become afraid of the inconsistency in our dealings with destiny. We may not be faced with dire consequences like where the survival of humanity hangs on the thread of one man’s obedience, but what would be the result if we consistently imposed our excuses and inconsistencies on destiny’s requirements? Like situations where we study, but not as we should; pray, but sometimes cease; do church, but without commitment; and strive to do just enough to water down the guilt of doing nothing, yet never apply ourselves to meeting the required standard. I do not write to You about grace, but about responsibility. To build an ark that would withstand a grievous storm, our obedience must perhaps, first, be complete. Translations: Slide 1: English Slide 2: French Slide 3: Bengali Slide 4: Hindu Slide 5: Urdu Slide 6: Portuguese #LettertoGod #Noah #theark #obedience #destiny

Dear Father, When You sent Ezekiel to give a message to the children of Israel, You commanded him, saying, "When I say to a wicked person, 'You will surely die,' and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for their sin..." What concerns me the most is that our harmless reluctance may be the very thing that costs someone else their life. But it gets difficult sometimes. The Scripture points not only to disobedience in carrying out the assignment but also to the possibility that there may be reasons that seem valid behind that disobedience. There may be situations where silence feels safer, for fear that we may be deprived of certain privileges or be seen as the enemy. Some remain silent because they do not want to seem too religious. It gets worse; some are ashamed of the gospel of Christ. I do not write to condemn them. I have my own faults too. But the problem lies in the fact that our silence or hesitation after being sent can be the reason behind someone else's downfall. I've weighed many of the possible reasons for reluctance, and truly, none is as costly as the soul of a man. So, sometimes it is a difficult assignment or a difficult person; sometimes it is fear or shame of being involved in religious activity. But what would we be willing to forgo in order to save a soul from hell? Translations; Slide 1: English Slide 2: French Slide 3: Bengali Slide 4: Hindu Slide 5: Urdu #LettertoGod #assignment #gospel #reluctance #preachthegospel

Dear Father, I listened to Apostle Iren's message where he responded to the question, "Would people who have never heard of You be condemned to hell?" The Scripture says, "For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves." The idea is that there is an instinctive moral law, that at a certain age, a person is no longer without the knowledge of good and evil, and judgment will be based on the choices they made in relation to the level of knowledge made available to them. This has me wondering: if the level of exposure to knowledge and its application can be a basis for judgment, what about situations where we stumble and fall despite the unlimited body of knowledge made available to us, simply because we have refused to pay the price for its acquisition and application? We may fail to take cognizance of the fact that transgressions caused by deliberate ignorance may not go unpunished. In reserving depth for ministers of the gospel, we have refused to take intentional steps toward ours. Concerned about those who do not yet know You, yet for us, the question remains: what have we done with our knowledge of You? If knowledge can be a basis for judgment, would deliberate ignorance be overlooked? The ignorance of a few can be overcome by the heightened knowledge of the majority. Perhaps ignorance persists because those entrusted with the knowledge of You have not faithfully lived it or shared it. The question lingers: what have I done with my knowledge of You? #LettertoGod #Thelaw #hell #knowledge #condemnation Translations French Bengali Hindi Urdu

Dear Father, A man came to Jesus and asked, "What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" Jesus responded, saying, "Go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me." But the man went away grieved, for he had great possessions. It is easy to make an entirely literal interpretation of what Jesus meant when He said, "Sell all you have and take up your cross." It almost as though a man with great abundance cannot successfully combine both his possession and fellowship with You. But this understanding is altered when we look at it through the analogy of the cross. To carry a cross, we need our hands and shoulders. More explicitly, we need our entire body, inclusive of our hearts. It means doing away with whatever can become a distraction. In essence, Jesus wasn't saying, "You can't combine wealth and devotion." He was saying, "Whatever has your heart other than Me can prevent you from following Me." Solidarity is not determined by verbally pledging commitment, but by the structure of our priorities. In school, I was taught about opportunity cost-- what we do when we cannot afford to have both of our desires, and, in choosing one, we let go of the other. It applies differently to every one of us. For some, the exchange may seem insignificant, like the midnight sleep that prevents necessary fellowship with You. So perhaps the best way to look at this is to ask: What can stand in the way of my commitment to You? That thing is the distraction from the cross. Translations; Slide 1: English Slide 2: French Slide 3: Bengali Slide 4: Hindu Slide 5: Urdu #LettertoGod #thecross #wealth #fellowshipwithGod #koinonia

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

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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, It just occurred to me that the story of the woman with the issue of blood, which teaches us about faith, also teaches us about proximity. For she had said, "If I may but touch the hem of His garment, I shall be made whole." In several places around the world, we speak about her remarkable faith, but not as much do we speak about how this miracle took place after a touch. Today, I pondered various scenarios where proximity is an advantage in our dealings with You, and permit me the pleasure of saying that there are no instances where proximity becomes a burden rather than an advantage. In times when we need You and even when we feel self sufficient, in sickness and in health, or when we face the consequences of our sins and it seems as though You are far away, David knew better. After he had sinned greatly, he said, "I am in great distress. Please let us fall into the hand of the LORD." I think about people who feel self sufficient and disregard the gathering of the brethren: loving You but hating church! I think of situations where our faith to receive from You does not mirror our proximity to You, or moments when the enemy convinces us that our sins are now beyond finding mercy. And I am reminded of how there is not a single case where proximity falls at a disadvantage. And I realized the device of the enemy: to steal the message of proximity and lay emphasis on self sufficiency, hurts, and our shortcomings. How can we enjoy this advantage if we do not leverage the privilege of proximity? Translations; Slide 1: English Slide 2: French Slide 3: Bengali Slide 4: Hindu Slide 5: Urdu #LettertoGod #Proximity #faith #priviledge #advantages

Dear Father, I read through Tamar's story again, and I noticed how one painful event led to another. After she was raped, the Scripture records that, "Tamar remained desolate..." Rape and desolation! A painful, recurring truth: evil left unchecked has a way of multiplying itself. I pondered the many situations in life where one negative occurrence automatically gives rise to another, especially when the first seems beyond our control. We come across situations where the loss of a loved one leads a person into overwhelming grief. We see failure give way to discouragement, rejection to insecurity, addiction to captivity, delay to frustration, sin to isolation, and depression to hopelessness. Perhaps we can all relate to shifting problems: what we once thought would linger for only a while has now grown beyond our control and has taken on a different name. How do we solve the new problem when we have not yet experienced victory over where it first began? How do we prevent one affliction from giving rise to another? While there are many issues listed here for which solutions cannot be offered in a single letter to You, I'd like to state the obvious. Shifting evil first thrives in ignorance. Like weeds left untended, it multiplies when left unchecked, and it prevails when we confront it without engaging in spiritual warfare. Too often, we make the recurring mistake of waiting it out, unaware of its tendency to multiply. By the time we rise to confront it, we often forget that every work of destruction begins in darkness-- and darkness is dispelled only by light. Translations; Slide 1: English Slide 2: French Slide 3: Bengali Slide 4: Hindu Slide 5: Urdu #LettertoGod #light #darkness #ignorance #evil

Dear Father, Absalom devised evil against his father, King David. He led a nationwide rebellion and tried to overthrow him. He slept with his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel, and even went to war against him. It seems quite extraordinary that a man would go to such lengths against his own blood, and I have often sought the reasoning behind it. Something tragic transpired long before Absalom's rebellion. His own sister, Tamar, was raped by his half brother, Amnon, and the Scripture records, "Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom's house." King David, however, did absolutely nothing about it. The wounds of rape were not hidden in those days; they often left a woman without justice and with little hope of rebuilding her life. Day after day, Absalom would look upon the face of his sister and ponder how one avoidable act had stolen her future. Then he would think of his father, King David, and his silence over all that had transpired. Perhaps daily, his resentment grew, eventually bearing the fruit of rebellion. Why, though, was David silent about what happened between Amnon and Tamar? Perhaps his own sin of taking another man's wife, Bathsheba, and his attempt to conceal it by murdering her husband weighed heavily upon him. Why correct a man whose need for grace is no less than your own? Perhaps David was restrained by guilt. I think of how often we let our mistakes define and silence us. Unknown to us that, a hero with scars may be in the best position to guide one who has none. Translations; Slide 1: English Slide 2: French Slide 3: Bengali Slide 4: Hindu Slide 5: Urdu #LettertoGod #grace #guilt #sin #rebellion

Dear Father, A few Israelites were sent to spy out the land of Canaan, which You had promised to the children of Israel as their possession, and they returned with two different reports. The Scripture says, "And Caleb said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we... for we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight." The amazing part of this Scripture is that they were faced with two contrasting opinions, even though they all knew the promise had come from You. In reality, this is often where we find ourselves: contrasting opinions, one promise. We don't talk enough about how Your promises often lead us to lands still inhabited by giants; We celebrate the inheritance, perhaps not as much as we prepare for the warfare required to take possession of it; We seldom discuss the voices-- both within and around us-- that echo the report of the ten spies, persuading us that we are like grasshoppers and the promise is beyond our reach. This is why I love how the story ends, because we were never designed to take possession of the promise all by ourselves; there is no victory without You. Perhaps we do seem like grasshoppers. Perhaps they are not entirely wrong about our limitations. But none of that changed Your mind. You saw our insufficiency before You made the promise, and You promised it anyway. Translations; Slide 1: English Slide 2: French Slide 3: Bengali Slide 4: Hindu Slide 5: Urdu #LettertoGod #promise #inheritance #fulfilment #limitations

Dear Father, I love the Scripture that says, "And Jesus did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief." Although a few groups, such as the Unitarians, have questioned His divinity using this passage, arguing that if Jesus could not perform many miracles in certain places, then He must have been limited in a way that God is not. I believe this interpretation only proves they have missed the message this Scripture communicates. In several other passages throughout Scripture, before healing a person, Jesus asks, "Do you believe?" In others, He heals them by saying, "Go; your faith has made you whole." Through this, He communicated the pattern by which supernatural occurrences on earth often manifest alongside the will and belief of man. The original translation communicates nothing about His inability, but rather His restraint. He did not perform many mighty works, not because He was unable to, but because of their unbelief. This gives an answer to a question I have often asked: Why are the great supernatural occurrences recorded in Scripture not as prevalent today? I have also come across people who ask, "If God can do this, why would He not?" While on earth, Jesus was not trying to prove His divinity at all costs through the manifestation of miracles, and You surely are not doing so now. The pattern seems to be not so much that You produce signs to make us believe, but rather that our belief becomes the very atmosphere in which miracles are received. Seeing that our experiences of Your supernatural backing are often a reflection of our faith, how great, then, is our belief? Translations; Slide 1: English Slide 2: French Slide 3: Bengali Slide 4: Hindu Slide 5: Urdu #LettertoGod #faith #miracles #belief #biblemisconceptions

Dear Father, I often ponder Goliath’s boldness and audacity in challenging the army of an entire nation. He proclaimed, “Am I not a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? Choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me…” Why did he believe himself to be the strongest? Was he equating strength with size? The challenge in retelling the story of David’s victory over Goliath is that, in acknowledging the supernatural aspect of his triumph, we often pay less attention to his skill. Goliath was strong, but David stood upon two foundations: Your sustaining power and mastery of his skill. I see how often this applies in other areas of life. Mastery in a particular field can give rise to a pride that suggests a person can do no wrong. His evident results can relinquish his sense of dependence on You, as though skill alone were enough to keep him standing. The list is endless: from those who live as though You do not exist to those who know You exist, yet have achieved such great results and mastery that they no longer seek You. Whenever I encounter such people, I think also of Goliath, who believed strength was all he needed to prevail. Perhaps there is wisdom in praying as though we have not practiced and practicing as though we have not prayed. Perhaps this is the balance we are meant to keep. Translations; Slide 1: English Slide 2: French Slide 3: Bengali Slide 4: Hindu Slide 5: Urdu #LettertoGod #faith #skill #mastery #strength