📌 Today's Readings are from the Book of 2 Kings 25 | Ephesians 2 📌 👇 Overviews Are Below (PLEASE READ YOUR BIBLE: Overviews Do Not Replace Daily Reading) 👇 2 Kings 25 The Fall of Jerusalem and the Hope That Remains 2 Kings 25 concludes the historical record of the books of Kings with the fall of Jerusalem and the Babylonian exile. It is a heartbreaking chapter, yet it is not merely the story of a nation's defeat. It is the fulfillment of God's long-declared warnings through generations of prophets. What God had patiently announced for centuries now comes to pass exactly as He said. The Babylonian army lays siege to Jerusalem until famine overwhelms the city. Eventually, the walls are breached, and King Zedekiah attempts to flee. He is captured, witnesses the destruction of his family, and is taken into exile. The collapse of Judah's final earthly kingdom illustrates the devastating consequences of persistent rebellion against the Lord. The Babylonians then destroy Jerusalem. The temple is burned, the city walls are torn down, and many of the people are carried away into captivity. The place where God's people had gathered for worship now lies in ruins. The visible symbols of Israel's strength, security, and identity are removed. Yet even as the temple falls, God's presence is not defeated. The Lord is never confined to buildings or earthly kingdoms. His covenant purposes continue beyond what human eyes can see. A small remnant remains in the land under the leadership of Gedaliah, offering a brief opportunity for stability. Yet even this hope is disrupted through violence and fear, causing many to flee to Egypt despite God's repeated warnings. The chapter demonstrates that human hearts remain prone to trust their own plans rather than God's direction. The book closes with an unexpected note of hope. Years after the exile begins, Jehoiachin, a descendant of David, is released from prison and shown kindness by the king of Babylon. Though seemingly small, this closing scene carries profound theological significance. The royal line of David has not been extinguished. God's covenant promise remains alive. The story is not over. This quiet ending points beyond exile to restoration. Though the kingdom has fallen, God's redemptive plan continues moving toward the coming of the Messiah. The final chapter of Kings leaves readers looking forward to the greater King whom God has promised. Theologically, 2 Kings 25 reveals both God's perfect justice and His unwavering faithfulness. His judgment against sin is certain, yet His covenant promises remain secure. Even in exile, God preserves hope because His purposes cannot fail. This chapter points directly to Jesus Christ. The preserved line of David ultimately leads to the birth of the Messiah, the eternal King whose kingdom will never be destroyed. Earthly Jerusalem fell because of sin, but Christ establishes a kingdom that cannot be shaken. Through His death and resurrection, He restores what humanity's rebellion had broken and opens the way for all who trust Him to become citizens of His everlasting kingdom. For believers today, 2 Kings 25 reminds us that even the darkest moments of history cannot cancel God's promises. Loss, discipline, and hardship are never the end of God's story. In Christ, hope remains because our King reigns forever. We may experience seasons that feel like exile, but God's faithfulness never changes. His redemptive plan continues, His promises stand secure, and His kingdom will one day be fully established in perfect righteousness and everlasting peace. Ephesians 2 — Saved by Grace and United in the Christ Ephesians chapter 2 reveals the heart of God's redemptive plan by showing how the Christ, the Son of God, rescues sinners, gives them new life, and unites them into one family. After celebrating the spiritual blessings found in the Christ in chapter 1, Paul now explains how those blessings became ours. This chapter moves from humanity's desperate condition apart from God to the glorious transformation accomplished entirely through His grace. Christian living begins by understanding that salvation is God's work from beginning to end. The chapter opens by describing humanity's condition apart from the Christ. Spiritually separated from God and unable to rescue themselves, people naturally follow the patterns of a fallen world and the desires of their sinful nature. This description reminds believers that salvation is never earned because humanity has no ability to bring itself back to God. The redemptive plan begins with God's mercy toward those who were completely unable to save themselves. The turning point of the chapter comes with the overwhelming declaration of God's mercy and love. Because of His great love, God acted through the Christ to give life to those who were spiritually dead. The Son of God accomplished what humanity never could. Christian living is rooted in this reality: believers stand before God because of His grace, not because of their goodness. Every aspect of salvation points back to His mercy. Paul repeatedly emphasizes that salvation is a gift of grace received through faith. It is not the result of human achievement or religious performance. This truth protects the believer from pride and continually directs all glory to the Christ. The redemptive plan leaves no room for boasting because everything necessary for salvation has already been accomplished through the Son of God. The chapter then explains that believers are God's workmanship, created anew in the Christ for lives of faithful service. Good works do not produce salvation, but they naturally flow from it. Christian living is the result of a transformed heart. The Son of God saves His people not only from sin but also for a life that reflects His character and fulfills His purposes. Paul next addresses the separation that once existed between different groups of people. Through the Christ, barriers of hostility have been removed, and those who were once divided have been brought together into one new people. The redemptive plan creates unity where there was once division. The Son of God is the source of true peace because He reconciles people to God and to one another. This reconciliation extends beyond human relationships to the believer's relationship with God Himself. Those who were once far away have been brought near through the sacrifice of the Christ. Access to the Father is now available because of His finished work. Christian living is lived in the confidence of this restored relationship, knowing that believers are welcomed into God's presence through the Son of God. The chapter continues by describing the Church as God's household and His holy temple. Believers are no longer strangers or outsiders but members of God's family. Together they are being built into a dwelling place where God lives by His Spirit. The redemptive plan is not only individual but also corporate. The Christ is building a people who reflect His glory together as one body. The foundation of this spiritual house is firmly established upon the truth of God's Word, with the Christ Himself as the cornerstone. Everything in the believer's life and in the Church must remain aligned with Him. Christian living remains stable only when it is centered on the Son of God. Throughout Ephesians chapter 2, the Christ is revealed as the giver of life, the source of grace, the bringer of peace, and the cornerstone of God's eternal kingdom. Every aspect of the believer's salvation, identity, and purpose is found in Him. The redemptive plan transforms those who were spiritually dead into living members of God's family and joins them together for His glory. For believers today, this chapter reminds us that our salvation is entirely the work of God's grace through the Christ. Christian living is not an attempt to earn God's acceptance but a joyful response to His mercy. We are called to live as God's workmanship, pursuing the good works He has prepared for us while walking in unity with fellow believers. As we remain firmly built upon the Son of God, we become living stones in His spiritual house, displaying His grace and participating in His eternal redemptive plan. #DailyBibleReading #OpenYourBible #StudyTheWord #ScriptureForToday #FaithJourney #GodsWord #BibleTime #WalkWithGod

August 25th, 2026 Read: Psalm 56:4 The psalmist praises God's Word because it gives him firm ground for trust. Human threats remain real, but they no longer possess ultimate authority over his heart. The eternal truth of Scripture is precious not merely because the Bible is ancient or has crossed many cultures, but because the God who spoke is faithful in every age. When fear of people begins to govern our choices, we return to His promises. Trust in the Lord frees us to obey without being controlled by what flesh can do. Prayer Thank You, Great and Eternal God, for being more stable than the ground I stand on, more resilient than the mountain peaks I aspire to, and more steady than the waves on the oceans I adore. I put my soul, my future, and my life in Your hands. I try to live in a way that will please You. I want my life to be characterized by steadfast devotion to You. In Jesus' precious name, I pray. Amen.

THE PILGRIMS GUIDE SUNDAY AUGUST 23, 2026 STEADFAST UNTIL VICTORY A WORD FROM THE WORD: "So now, beloved ones, stand firm, stable, and enduring. Live your lives with an unshakable confidence. We know that we prosper and excel in every season by serving the Lord, because we are assured that our union with the Lord makes our labor productive with fruit that endures." 1 Corinthians 15:58 TPT. Faith is not only believing God for miracles, it's required steadfastly also when results are slow and answers seem to be delayed. Many believers start in faith but end up in the flesh, and unstable when pressure increases. Yet Scripture makes the call of God upon us to stand firm, that is to remain unmoved by situations, circumstances, opinions, and momentary setbacks. Steadfast faith is quiet but powerful. It is not given to panic, neither is it spasmodic or subject to mood swings. It does not quit or fluctuate with emotions. It is faith that remains rooted in God’s Word even when feelings disagree and situations resist. Those blessed with steadfast faith do not waste energy fighting fear, rather they stay and are focused on obedience. One undeniable product of steadfast faith is undeniable results. God is strengthening your spiritual footing, to give you undeniable and unshakable victory. May you not be distracted, and remain firmly focused until your victory manifests. PRAYER BULLETS: LORD Jesus, thank You for the privilege of faith. Help me to stand firm and remain faithful regardless of the situations and circumstances I am faced with. FURTHER READING: Hebrews 10:35-36; 12:1-3; James 1:2-4; Galatians 6:9. __________________________________________ ©️ Amaobi Nwachukwu 2026. If you're blessed by this, please, do share with others. And if you'll like to partner with us, kindly check page 3 of our hard copy edition or better still send us a WhatsApp message or call on +234 8098421967. #ThePilgrimsGuide.

To be rooted means to be firmly fixed, stable, and deeply connected to a source, place, or belief system you remain steady and unshakeable when life gets difficult, Having strong spiritual or personal values that do not change when trouble comes. because your worth is anchored to an unchanging Savior our Lord Jesus Christ rather than temporary circumstances. #JesusIsTheAnchorOfMySoul #LordsBook

𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄'𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐒𝐂𝐑𝐈𝐁𝐄𝐃 𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐘 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐕𝐄! Good afternoon, children of God. I come to return all the glory back to God of heaven and earth, our Lord Jesus Christ. I want to thank God for saving my life from premature death. It happened—it was—it happened last week. It all started exactly Sunday last week, after the service. I no understand myself again. It was like a joke. The thing get start—continued getting deteriorated, to the extent that I was hospitalized on Tuesday. Being hospitalized, I was not responding to treatment. But the servant of God kept praying with me, and kept checking on me. So, we kept going. It reached—I think, was it on Wednesday? I—I just started giving up on myself. All the—my husband beside me, the stress he's going through, and my family, I look at everything, I say, "Is it not better I should just—let me just go. Let me just go. Let me just go." So, after one of the injection, I slept off. I could not understand—know—I allow my husband to go out of the—by my side. So, I just closed my eye. After closing my eye, I found myself on—in a new city. There was nobody. I was just going—I just keep going, don't even know where I'm going to. So, inside the revelation, I now saw the man of God of this commission who asked me, "Where are you going?" I told him, "I don't even know where I'm going, but I just want to go. Let me rest." He told me to come back. He said I should come back. "Why do you want me to come back?" He said I should just come back. So, God used his face. He stretched his hand, and I hold his hand. Holding his hand, I turned back. Turning back, I open my eye and now saw myself, I was still on the hospital bed. I say, "Wow, was it a play or a joke? Does it mean I was really going?" That was how I woke up, and still continued. So, I—when he later called, I told him the revelation I had. He prayed with me, said, "Why did I want to give up?" Since I started working on myself again, that was how I started receiving—I started responding to treatment. Gradually, I was discharged. I was discharged on Friday. After my discharge, I reached home, I was just managing. I cannot eat, I cannot drink, but they forced me that I have to be taking something. I claimed today that, "Yes, I can take something," so that they should let me go, that I realized that the body is non-more of the medical. Let me go home and think and pray, and struggle to pray. So, reaching home, yesterday afternoon, I ate, but I started having another pain again. And there was this condition attached to me seeing the doctor that must be stable before the next procedure. I started having severe pain that I cannot even explain—I don't want to say it out. When I checked the time, it was already some minutes after eight. I say, "Ah, okay. Let me go online." Coming online now, I met they already started prayer. So, I joined the prayer. Joining the prayer, I was hitting my tummy and that of my waist. 'Cause I say, "This time around, I'm not in the hospital. Let's face it. I'm in the house. Let's face it squarely." I followed the prayer. When I started the prayer, sleeping was coming. The sleeping was so deep. Me that I hardly slept sometimes like that, the sleep, since I started being on drugs, sleeping was coming, I was struggling with the sleeping, I was praying. I say I must pray. Even when they do the—share the grace, I don't even know. When I—when I check again, I say, "Okay," I continue again. I was hitting it. I was telling the pain to go back to the sender. Since that yesterday night till now, I've not taken anything. God brought relief! Not even a single paracetamol I've not taken, and I cannot find the pain. I just want to say, "Thank you, Jesus, for taking over." Now that is the area I got to learn that, "Okay, any power that don't want to let me be, let's face it." And God took over. I just want to say, "Thank you, Jesus, for healing me." May His name alone be praised. I cover my testimony with the blood of Jesus, and this affliction and every other one, they will not come back again, in Jesus' name. Amen. God bless you, sir.

SHAKEN, BUT NOT STIRRED BECAUSE OF MY FAITH! Key Scripture: “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord…” — 1 Corinthians 15:58 (KJV) Thought for the Day... There are moments in life when your faith will not prevent the shaking—it will keep the shaking from destroying you. Sometimes we mistakenly believe that strong faith means we will never experience fear, disappointment, uncertainty, pressure, betrayal, loss, or unexpected trouble. But the Bible never promises that believers will live unshaken lives. Instead, Scripture teaches us how to remain unmoved while everything around us is shaking. You may be shaken by what happened, but you don't have to be stirred away from what you believe. You can say: “I felt it, but I didn't fold.” “I cried, but I didn't quit.” “I was disappointed, but I didn't stop trusting God.” “The storm shook my surroundings, but it couldn't shake my foundation.” Why? BECAUSE OF MY FAITH! FAITH DOESN'T ALWAYS STOP THE SHAKING—SOMETIMES IT HOLDS YOU THROUGH IT Jesus told Peter: “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not…” — Luke 22:31–32 (KJV) Notice that Jesus didn't tell Peter, “You won't be sifted.” He said, essentially, “When you're sifted, I'm praying that your faith survives.” That's powerful! Sometimes God doesn't immediately remove the situation. Instead, He strengthens you in the situation. The enemy wants the shaking to become a breaking. But God says: “You may shake, but you will not shatter.” Your emotions may shake. Your finances may shake. Your relationships may shake. Your plans may shake. Your confidence may shake. But when your faith is anchored in Jesus Christ, your foundation remains secure. THE STORM CAN SHAKE THE HOUSE, BUT IT CANNOT MOVE THE FOUNDATION Jesus said: “…a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not…” — Matthew 7:24–25 (KJV) Notice something important. The house built on the rock still experienced the storm. The rain still fell. The floods still came. The winds still blew. And the storm still beat upon the house. The difference wasn't the absence of a storm. The difference was the foundation. Somebody looking at your life may wonder: "How are you still standing after everything you've been through?" The answer is simple: MY FOUNDATION IS JESUS! I've been shaken—but my foundation hasn't moved. I've been wounded—but my foundation hasn't moved. I've been disappointed—but my foundation hasn't moved. I've had nights when I didn't understand what God was doing—but my foundation hasn't moved! WHAT SHAKES YOU REVEALS WHAT'S HOLDING YOU! Hebrews declares: “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace…” — Hebrews 12:28 (KJV) Sometimes shaking reveals what we have unknowingly depended upon. We trusted the job—until the job changed. We trusted people—until people disappointed us. We trusted our plans—until life interrupted them. We trusted our own strength—until we discovered we weren't strong enough. Then the shaking reminded us: God was supposed to be our foundation all along. When temporary things start moving, faith grabs hold of the One who never changes. “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” — Hebrews 13:8 (KJV) Everything around you can change while the God underneath you remains the same. FAITH SAYS, “EVEN IF GOD DOESN'T CHANGE IT YET, I STILL TRUST HIM!” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego faced a fiery furnace because they refused to bow. Their response was remarkable: “Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us…” — Daniel 3:17 (KJV) But then they said: “But if not… we will not serve thy gods…” — Daniel 3:18 (KJV) That's shaken-but-not-stirred faith! They knew God could deliver them, but their faith wasn't dependent upon God doing exactly what they wanted. “God can—but even if He doesn't, He's still God.” That's mature faith. If He heals me—I trust Him. If I'm still waiting—I trust Him. If the door opens—I trust Him. If the door stays closed—I trust Him. If I understand—I trust Him. If I don't understand—I STILL TRUST HIM! My circumstances don't determine God's character. God is faithful even when life doesn't make sense. YOU MAY BEND UNDER PRESSURE WITHOUT BREAKING Paul described the Christian journey this way: “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.” — 2 Corinthians 4:8–9 (KJV) Look at those contrasts: Troubled—but not distressed. Perplexed—but not hopeless. Persecuted—but not abandoned. Knocked down—but not destroyed. In other words: SHAKEN—BUT STILL STANDING! Faith doesn't mean you never have difficult moments. Faith means difficult moments don't get the final word. WHEN THE SHAKING STOPS One day you'll look back and realize: What you thought was going to destroy you actually developed you. The shaking taught you how to pray. The shaking taught you how to trust. The shaking taught you who was really for you. The shaking exposed what wasn't stable. The shaking drove you deeper into God's Word. And the shaking taught you something about yourself: “I didn't know my faith was this strong until life gave me something heavy enough to test it.” James 1:3 declares: “Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.” Your faith isn't merely being tested. Your faith is being strengthened. Prayer... Heavenly Father, thank You for being my Rock when everything around me feels unstable. When life shakes me, strengthen my faith. When fear tries to enter my heart, remind me of Your promises. When I don't understand what You're doing, help me trust who You are. Lord, let every storm drive me closer to You. Give me faith that refuses to quit, worship that refuses to stop, and confidence that declares, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust in him” (Job 13:15). I declare that trouble will not destroy me, disappointment will not define me, and fear will not control me. My life is built upon Jesus Christ, the Solid Rock. I may be shaken, but I will not be stirred away from my faith. In the mighty name of Jesus, Amen! DECLARATION... I may be shaken, but I will not be stirred away from my faith! I will not allow fear to replace my faith. I will not allow disappointment to replace my worship. I will not allow delay to make me doubt God's promises. I will not allow what I see to make me forget what God said. My faith is anchored. My hope is secure. My foundation is Jesus Christ. The winds may blow. The rain may fall. The ground around me may shake. BUT I WILL STILL BE STANDING! Because I've discovered something about God: HE IS FAITHFUL IN THE FIRE. HE IS FAITHFUL IN THE STORM. HE IS FAITHFUL IN THE WAITING. HE IS FAITHFUL IN THE SHAKING. I'M SHAKEN, BUT I'M NOT STIRRED—BECAUSE OF MY FAITH!

This Week's Prayer Guide August 9 - This week, pray for the needs of the people of Suzhou. Pray for the church to be a Christlike witness to their friends, neighbors, coworkers, and family members. August 10 - In recent years, many foreign and even domestic manufacturers have left Suzhou and its nearby development areas, leaving behind an economic void. Please pray that God will help revive Suzhou’s economy and provide for the economic needs of its people. August 11 - The departure of these companies and factories have led to a rise in unemployment, particularly among the young people. Many of them are steeped in a sense of hopelessness and feel like giving up. Please pray that the young people in the city can find a hope that is not based on career success, but in Christ. August 12 - Like many other cities in China, the economic downturn inevitably leads to population loss. Many young people have migrated to other cities or other parts of Suzhou to seek employment, making some less developed neighborhoods feeling empty. Please pray that God will bring revival to these neighborhoods, both economically and spiritually. August 13 - Population loss is also leading to shepherding challenges. People come and go according to their economic and employment needs, leaving pastors and church leaders feeling destabilized. Please pray that God will provide local churches with a stable core group of people, and that church leaders can know their sheep deeply. August 14 - One silver lining of the economic downturn is that young professionals are working less and thus have weekends open, and they are able to participate in Sunday worship more regularly. May the Lord refresh the souls of these young professionals through worship and church community, and alleviate their anxiety about their future. August 15 - One of the local churches in Suzhou recognized the opportunity to reach out to the elderly in the city. Volunteers divide into teams to cut hair, trim nails, visit and pray with the elderly. Please pray that they will encounter more opportunities to share the gospel, and that God will bring many elderly to faith through their work. 8月9日——本周，请为苏州人民的需要祷告。请祷告，愿教会能像基督一样，在他们的朋友、邻居、同事和家人面前作见证。 8月10日——近年来，许多外资甚至中资企业相继撤离苏州及其周边开发区，留下了经济上的空虚。请祷告，求神帮助振兴苏州的经济，并满足当地民众的经济需求。 8月11日——这些公司和工厂的撤离导致失业率上升，尤其是年轻人中的失业率。他们中许多人深陷绝望之中，甚至在家里躺平。请为这座城市的年轻人祷告，愿他们能将未来的希望建立在基督之上，而不在事业当中。 8月12日——与中国许多其他城市一样，经济低迷不可避免地导致人口流失。许多年轻人为了谋生，迁移到了其他城市或苏州的其他地区，使得一些社区显得冷清。请为这些社区祷告，求神在经济和属灵两方面都赐下复兴。 8月13日——会众流失也给牧养工作带来了挑战。人们根据经济和就业需求来来去去，使牧师和教会领袖感到不安。请祷告，求神为当地教会预备一个稳定的核心群体，并让教会领袖能深入地认识他们的羊群。 8月14日——经济低迷带来的一线希望是，年轻职场人士的工作时间减少了，因此周末有空闲能够更规律地参加周日礼拜。愿主通过敬拜和教会团契，使这些年轻职场人士的灵魂得到更新，并缓解他们对未来的焦虑。 8月15日——苏州当地的一间教会意识到向市老年人传福音的机会。志愿者们分成小组，为老年人理发、修剪指甲，探访他们、与他们一同祷告。请为他们祷告，愿他们能遇到更多分享福音的机会，也愿神通过他们的工作带领许多老年人信主。 Join us on Zoom this Thursday from 10:30am-11:00am EST for our weekly prayer call as we pray for Chinese churches in Suzhou. Click here to open the Zoom link. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86248059041 Meeting ID: 862 4805 9041

👑 God's wisdom is the foundation of a stable and secure life. 📲 Share this with someone who needs encouragement to stand firm in the Lord. #Isaiah336 #GodsWisdom #StrengthAndStability #FearOfTheLord #TrustInTheLord #FaithInChrist #ChristianLiving #WalkByFaith #HopeInJesus #Lordsbook

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 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