Thoughts From Lettie B. Cowman

Dear Friends,

Today I send along a couple of short encouragements for prayer. They were both written by Lettie B. Cowman (1870-1960), wife of Charles Cowman, both missionaries to Japan and founders of the Oriental Mission Society. They had a heart for the Japanese people and wanted to reach as many as they could with the Gospel. Although they were making huge strides in their goals, Charles was not satisfied. So, he started “The Great Village Campaign” in 1913. His goal was for every person in Japan to hear the Gospel within the next five years. Teams of missionaries went to every town, village, and home throughout Japan, proclaiming the Gospel and distributing Bibles. The physical strain of this huge endeavor had a negative effect on Charles' health, and in 1917 he and Lettie were forced to return to America. In January 1918, they received news through The O.M.S. Standard that the Great Village Campaign was complete! About 60 million Japanese had heard the Gospel, as the teams had covered 161,000 square miles of land.

Yet, Charles' health continued to decline until he passed in 1924. As he deteriorated and suffered more and more pain, Lettie suffered, watching him slowly fade away. It was during this time she got the idea to write her devotional book, Streams in the Desert. Lettie wrote daily devotionals based on her hardships and experiences of fellowship with God. No one (including her) ever expected it to be as successful as it has been. As of 2023 it has sold over six million copies in multiple languages since its first publication in 1925. Lettie often told people, "I did not write ‘Streams.’ God gave me ‘Streams.’" One hundred years later her insights are still relevant. Enjoy.

“Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” Jesus in Mark 11:24

Every godly prayer is answered before the prayer itself is finished - "Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder…” (Genesis 24:15, 24-27). This is because Christ has pledged in His Word, "My Father will give you whatever you ask in my name" (John 16:23). When you ask in faith and in Christ's name that is, in oneness with Him and His will — "it will be given to you" (John 15:7).

Since God's Word cannot fail, whenever we meet these simple conditions (praying in faith and in keeping with what would honor Jesus), the answer to our prayer has already been granted and is complete in heaven as we pray – though it may not be revealed on earth until much later. Therefore, it is wise to close every prayer with praise to God for the answer He has already given before we finish praying."

“When Jesus had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, "Do you believe that I am able to heal you?" "Yes, Lord," they replied. Then he touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith will it be done to you” (Matthew 9:28-29). 

"Praying through" something might be defined as follows: "Praying your way into full faith; coming to the point of assurance while still praying, knowing that your prayer has been accepted and heard; and in advance of the event, with confident anticipation, actually becoming aware of having received what you ask."

Let us remember that no earthly circumstances can hinder the fulfillment of God's Word. We must look steadfastly at His immutable Word and not at the uncertainty of this ever-changing world. God desires for us to believe His Word without other evidence, and then He is ready to do for us "according to [our] faith" (Matthew 9:29)."

The first quote gave me a clearer understanding of what Jesus meant when he said, “whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” I trust they may have been helpful to you as well.

May it be so, Pastor Jeff