How I know I have a Father in Heaven:

I grew up in a Christian home, so prayer was never a foreign concept to me. Mummy always had us start off the day with Bible reading and prayer and we had to be on our knees praying before our heads hit the pillows at night. But looking back, I try to think how exactly I related with God back then when I was 8 or 9 years old. He was God in Heaven and I was on Earth and that was it!

However, there were little events in my life which strengthened my faith in God. Moments when I knew for certain that when I called on His name, He heard me.

I must have been in 4th grade back then. There were heavy rains in Chennai. Pouring rain. Around midday, they announced that the schools would be closed for the rest of the day. Our school easily had about 1000 students and the students were dismissed for the day. Me and a few other kids who also go with me on the same rickshaw waited under the tree for our rickshaw man. We waited about 30 minutes and there was no sign of him coming. By that time all the students had left.

It was just the 4 of us who were stranded. And also, it was continuing to pour. I was the oldest of the 4 girls. The other kids were all younger than me. A first grader, 3rd grader and another girl who was as old as me.

I told the girls, we are going to walk back home. They evidently looked distressed. I had never done such a thing before, but I told the little kids who were not Christian, “Girls, we are going to pray before we leave.” I remember I said a simple prayer and took the girls under my wing. I held the little ones’ hands every now and then and held them strongly when we had to cross the massive valluvarkottam junction! If you know the place, you know the traffic there!! I dropped off each of the kids in their homes and explained to their Moms that the rickshaw man had not come. The Moms thanked me and as a little girl I was so proud of my courage! LOL!

When I reached home, I did not know I had to thank God for keeping us safe, but it has been over 30 years since that episode happened and that moment has not left my memory. It was one of my earliest memories which taught me that “When I pray, Jesus Hears.” To me, it was a “David meets Goliath” moment. Knowing my personality, I have no idea how I had the courage to step out that boldly! I used to have a timid personality. I think God gave me that courage for that moment when it was needed and etched it in my mind that “JESUS will always be there for me.” It was God who planted that seed of Faith in me.

Another little answered prayer:

We had been to Annan’s place this Christmas break. I had quite some work to get done, so I brought my computer along. My son brought his computer as well as he had few online classes to attend. Both our computers are Lenovo computers. Half way down the drive in about 3 hours or so, I realized that I had forgotten to take my charger. I turned around and asked my son if he had his charger. He said, “Amma, I forgot.” For a brief moment I panicked, but then somehow deep down I believed I could ask my Dad. My Dad who made the Heavens and the Earth!

That night (the night we reached Annan’s house), we were all excited. As is the tradition we sang Christmas carols and exchanged gifts. By the time we hit the bed, it was about 3:00 am. Suddenly, I remembered about my charger. Just before hitting the bed, I said “Dear Lord, both Jaden and I forgot our chargers, please somehow we need a charger.” And of course I prayed for all of the routine things and closed my prayer.

The next morning after breakfast, I asked Annan if he had a Lenovo charger. You guessed it right! He sure did! I think it was the charger for one of their old computers, but THEY DID HAVE IT! N boy was I thankful or what??!!

One of the biggest learnings I have had in the past year is that I can take the LITTLEST things to my God just as much as I can take the great things to him. I can talk to him about how I feel for he is the only one who truly cares!

“Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.” John 16:23

When the Israelites cried to Pharoah to lessen their burdens, he couldn’t care less. He increased their burdens instead. But when we go to JESUS with whatever pains us, be it big or little, He LOVINGLY hears and delivers.

Not only for me, JESUS will be there for ALL who call on His name. It doesn’t matter if you are in the 4th grade or 40 years old, his heart is always open to them that call on His name.

I hope and pray that you will seek to know HIM more in the New Year, because he is worthy to be KNOWN!

“His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us.” Acts 17:27

Blessed 2025! 🎊🎉♥️🎉🎊

pic: My school Rickshaw very much looked like the one above! Good Old Jolly school days!! ♥️🥹