Sheldon Peterson's conversations with God have had a major impact on his life. The author has compiled details of his intimate and private relationship with God, which he has documented in his first book titled A Conversation with God.

The contents of the book are based on months of meditation and listening to the Holy Spirit. Peterson, who turned to God at a low point in his life, said meditations and being in the presence of God have helped him to understand his life's purpose. The book was launched recently at the National Library and Information Systems (Nalis), Abercromby Street in Port of Spain.

"I came to a season in life where nothing made sense to me anymore. There came a time in my life when God was calling me deeper.

"The place I was in at that time of life could no longer contain my destiny. I had to go deeper, deeper in God so that I could grow enough to embrace my new destiny. New wine cannot be placed in old wine skins. The old wine skins may burst.

"For the first time in my life, through heartache and pain, I had to go deeper...this is how this book came into existence. This is my pursuit of conversations with God. I had come to a point in life where I wanted to know his thoughts," Peterson said.

Peterson said the more he continued to meditate and listen to God the more he yearned to write. Before long he had a plethora of knowledge and information.

He said his intent was not to produce a book but simply to document what God was saying to him.

"I've been praying and not listening. Then I decided to listen. I began hearing different fragments and I started to write them down. I would meditate early in the morning and get inspiration to write. The more I understood what God was saying to me, the more I began to write. Six to eight months later I had a book.

"It wasn't my intent initially to write a book. A publisher decided I had some good enough stuff for a book and that is how the journey began," Peterson explained.

"My inspiration comes directly from God, straight from the Holy Spirit. As soon as I get inspired I write. There are times in my everyday activities that I try to set a time and I am still before God. I don't ask or say anything. Too often most of us get too caught up in asking, never wanting to just sit still and listen," Peterson said.

Peterson, who is the son of well-known life coach, founder and president of the Self Esteem Development Centre and Empowered Parenting for Peace, Joycelyn Peterson, continues to hear from God.

The book, he said is nuggets of wisdom. He foresees a series on A Conversation with God".

"I still continue to hear from God and write. It has become a part of my life. I'm not perfect but I try to maintain my relationship with God even in difficult times. Most of us wake up every day with the regular struggles and it's easy to get off your bed and not be disciplined enough to hear from God. But because I've practised it, it has become a part of my lifestyle," the author said.

He said people should take note of palm-tree theory. "A lot of people bend when they experience a difficult stretch in life but they must understand the concept of the palm tree. When a hurricane comes palm trees have the unique ability to bend but they will not break. The one thing about the book is that it contains pure wisdom conversations with God about things that will empower you to be above the circumstances of this world. It doesn't tell you that you will be free from problems but you will be above these problems," Peterson said

Peterson has been a Christian for a number of years and said building a personal relationship with God goes beyond going to church.

"In life sometimes you get to the point where you are doing the same thing over and over and coming up with the same results. I had to change what I was doing to get different results. There was a void in my life. I realised there had to be more so I started to pursue those conversations. I wanted to know the plans God had for me. In my private time I decided to build a personal relationship with God. You can go to church for years and not have that relationship. I spoke to God as a son speaks to his father. I am a simple guy.

"You don't have to put on a long gown and be like Moses to be able to access God. Before the foundation of the earth was formed God put certain visions and goals and dreams inside of each of us. If you really take time to know what they are it might probably shock you. The only way to maximise yourself is to go back to your true source of your potential—God," Peterson said.

Peterson hopes the book can reach as many young people as possible. It is available at Nalis throughout the country, and Christian Book Sellers on Edward Street in Port of Spain. The book can also be purchased at Amazon.com. The author can be contacted at sheldon_Peterson1@yahoo.com