Saturday, November 29, 2025
Friday, November 28, 2025
“A Posture of Humble Fire”
William Seymour was known for praying with his head inside an old wooden shoebox. To outsiders this looked strange, even foolish. But to Seymour, it was a sacred posture—an expression of deep humility before God.
One day, as Seymour prayed in his usual way, the atmosphere in the small mission room began to shift. An unmistakable sense of God’s presence filled the place. Witnesses later described a thick, almost tangible glory settling over the room, and people began to weep, repent, and pray as the Holy Spirit moved. That day became one of the sparks that ignited the Azusa Street Revival, a movement God used to touch the world.
What most remember about that revival is the power—miracles, unity across race and class lines, and a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
But what ignited that fire was humility.
What sustained it was prayer.
And what defined Seymour was obedience, even when it looked small or odd to others.
Sometimes God calls us to postures of devotion that aren’t glamorous, public, or admired. The greatest transformations often begin in hidden places—knees on the floor, face bowed low, heart quietly yielded.
James 4:10
“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.”
Seymour didn’t chase prominence; he chased God. His humility made room for heaven to move. When we lower ourselves before God, He raises up what He has planted within us.
Acts 1:14
“They all joined together constantly in prayer…”
Revival didn’t begin on Azusa Street—it began in hearts that refused to stop praying. Like the early believers, Seymour persisted in prayer until the promise broke open.
Where is God inviting you to a deeper humility—perhaps in a quiet habit of prayer, a daily surrender, or an unnoticed act of obedience?
You may not see the fire yet, but every hidden prayer is a spark. God starts His greatest works in secret places.
Dear Father in Heaven,
Thank You for the example of William Seymour and the way You used his humble obedience to ignite a movement that touched the world. Teach me to bow low so that You may be lifted high in my life. Form in me the same hunger for Your presence, the same persistence in prayer, and the same courage to obey You even in small and hidden places. Lord, let Your Spirit kindle fresh fire in my heart. I surrender again today. Come, Holy Spirit. Do in me what only You can do. In Jesus’ name, amen.
(William J. Seymour (1870–1922) was an African American holiness preacher whose humble leadership sparked the Azusa Street Revival and shaped the global Pentecostal movement.)
www.johnsoncherian.com
Thursday, November 27, 2025
“The Life That Flows Through Me”
John G. Lake often told the story of serving in South Africa during a severe plague outbreak. Many around him were dying, yet he and his coworkers remained unharmed while caring for the sick. When asked how he stayed safe, Lake explained that he lived in the awareness that the Spirit of God within him was stronger than any sickness around him.
He once illustrated this by handling the frothy saliva of a plague victim under a microscope. According to the account, doctors watched as the living germs died on contact with his hand. Lake said the power at work was not his own—it was the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, a reality he believed superseded the “law of sin and death.”
This incident reminds us that the Christian life is not lived by our strength but by God’s indwelling life. Though not all are called to dramatic moments, every believer can walk with the same confidence that Christ in us is greater than anything that comes against us.
Romans 8:2 (NIV)
“Because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life has set you free from the law of sin and death.”
1 John 4:4 (NKJV)
“He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”
Are you facing fear, weakness, or pressure today?
Lake’s example is not a call to presumption, but a reminder of identity—that believers are carriers of God’s life, peace, and authority.
Ask the Holy Spirit to make you aware of His presence within you, and let that awareness reshape how you face the challenges before you.
Prayer
Dear Father in Heaven, thank You for the life of Christ that dwells within me.
Teach me to walk in the confidence of Your presence and not in fear of the circumstances around me.
Let Your Spirit strengthen me, guide me, and fill me with courage.
Help me to see every challenge through the lens of Your power at work in me.
May Your life flow through me to bring hope, healing, and peace to others.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
(John G. Lake (1870–1935) was a pioneering American healing evangelist and missionary known for his powerful ministry of faith and divine healing.)
www.johnsoncherian.com
Wednesday, November 26, 2025
Sermons in the cell
At midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. (Acts 16:25)
There is a period from Richard Wurmbrand’s years in solitary confinement that continues to stir hearts around the world. Locked in a pitch-black underground cell, cut off from every human voice, forbidden even to speak aloud, Richard chose to do something completely unreasonable to the natural mind—he composed sermons and preached them to the darkness.
He later wrote that he would stand in the middle of his tiny cell, straighten his back as though facing a congregation, and proclaim the hope of Christ to an audience only God could see.
There were no pews, no church building, no listeners—nothing but cold walls and oppressive silence.
Yet Richard preached with joy.
Why?
Because he believed that Christ was present even there, and that communion with Him could never be taken by force.
And so, in a place designed to break him, Richard built an altar.
When life feels like a kind of prison—when you are isolated, misunderstood, or walking through a season where hope is hard to see—Richard’s witness reminds us of something profound:
Worship is not dependent on our surroundings; it flows from the One who surrounds us.
Your cell may not be a literal prison, but your circumstances may feel just as limiting.
Yet God has not changed.
His presence fills even the smallest, darkest spaces.
Every whispered prayer, every song sung through tears, every choice to trust—these become sermons heaven records.
Prayer
Dear Father in Heaven, teach me to worship You in every circumstance.
When I feel alone, remind me that You are present. When the walls close in, help me lift my voice anyway. May my heart become an altar of praise in dark places,
and may Your light shine through my life as it did through Your servant Richard Wurmbrand. In Jesus' name. Amen.
www.johnsoncherian.com
Tuesday, November 25, 2025
Monday, November 24, 2025
Sunday, November 23, 2025
Saturday, November 22, 2025
God’s Timing Is Never Late
One evening, George Müller was crossing the Atlantic on a ship bound for Quebec. Thick fog settled over the sea, slowing their progress. Müller had a preaching engagement in Canada and believed God wanted him there on time. When the captain explained that the fog made timely arrival impossible, Müller calmly responded, “My eye is not on the density of the fog, but on the living God, who controls every circumstance of my life.”
He suggested they pray. The captain later recounted that Müller prayed with such quiet certainty that it seemed as though he were speaking to someone he knew well. After Müller prayed, the captain began to pray too, but Müller gently stopped him. “There’s no need for you to pray,” he said. “You do not believe He will answer; and I believe He has. There is no fog.”
When they rose from their knees and stepped outside, the fog had completely lifted. The ship proceeded safely, and Müller arrived exactly when he believed God intended.
This incident reminds us of the promise:
“The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” — James 5:16
Müller didn’t try to control circumstances; he trusted the God who does. His faith challenges us to pray with expectation, not hesitation — to believe that the God who hears is the God who acts.
And Scripture encourages us with this confidence:
“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” — Matthew 19:26
There may be “fog” in your life today — uncertainty at work, confusion in relationships, or fear about the future. Instead of focusing on what you can’t change, lift your eyes to the One who can clear the way. God’s timing may not always match ours, but His purposes never fail.
Prayer
Dear Father in Heaven, help me pray with the same confidence George Müller displayed. Give me eyes to see beyond the fog and a heart that trusts Your perfect timing. In Jesus' name. Amen.
(George Müller was a Christian evangelist and orphanage founder whose life of radical faith and prayer demonstrated God’s provision to thousands of children in 19th-century England.)
Dr. Johnson Cherian
www.johnsoncherian.com
Friday, November 21, 2025
Thursday, November 20, 2025
“A Yes That Changed Thousands”
In 1890, Ida Scudder was a young woman visiting her missionary parents in India, determined never to become a missionary herself. One night, however, three men from different families arrived separately at her door—each begging her to help their wife, who was dying in childbirth. Because of cultural norms, none of the women could be treated by a male doctor. Ida, not yet a physician, could do nothing.
By morning, all three women had died.
Ida later described that night as the turning point of her life. She realized that God was calling her not through a dramatic vision, but through overwhelming human need. Her “no” began to turn into God’s “yes.”
She returned to the United States, trained as a doctor, and eventually founded the Christian Medical College & Hospital in Vellore, which remains one of the leading medical institutions in Asia. Her willingness to respond to God’s call transformed countless lives.
Hearing God’s Call Through Need
“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’
And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’” — Isaiah 6:8
Ida didn’t hear an audible voice. Instead, she heard the cry of three families and recognized the voice of God in human suffering. Often, God’s call is not mystical but practical—He points us toward the people who need compassion today.
Ask yourself: Where is God inviting me to say, "Here am I"—not someday, but now?
A Faith That Works Through Love
“Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” — 1 John 3:18
Ida could have remained comfortable, choosing a quiet life in America. Instead, she let love propel her into action. Her legacy is a reminder that Christian love is not passive—it builds hospitals, heals bodies, uplifts women, and restores dignity.
Your acts of love may not found a medical college, but they can change a life. God uses every obedient response, no matter how small it may seem.
Prayer
Dear Father in Heaven, open my eyes to the needs around me. Give me courage to turn compassion into action. Help me hear Your call not only in sacred moments, but in the everyday cries of people You love. Here am I—send me. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Dr. Johnson Cherian
www.johnsoncherian.com
Wednesday, November 19, 2025
Monday, November 17, 2025
A life saturated with intense, compassionate prayer
Among the many remarkable episodes in the life of John Nelson Hyde—widely known as Praying Hyde—one incident stands out as a powerful testimony to the transforming force of prayer. Hyde, a missionary to India in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, was deeply burdened for the spiritual revival of the people among whom he served. Yet his impact did not come from eloquence or physical strength, but from a life saturated with intense, compassionate prayer.
One of the most inspirational incidents occurred during the 1908 Sialkot Convention. At that time, missionary work in the region was slow, and spiritual enthusiasm among believers was fading. As the convention approached, many missionaries prepared sermons and strategies—but Hyde prepared himself in the prayer room. He isolated himself for hours, sometimes entire nights, pleading with God for a great awakening. His simple but fervent cry echoed the spirit of James 5:16, which says, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”
On the very first day of the convention, something remarkable happened. Before the scheduled sermon even began, people in the congregation began to weep softly. A heavy sense of conviction fell upon the gathering. Individuals who had harbored bitterness began to seek forgiveness. Others confessed their spiritual dryness. The speaker later testified that he felt as though the message had already been delivered—by Hyde’s unseen labor in prayer. It was a living illustration of Jeremiah 33:3: “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things which you do not know.”
When Hyde finally emerged, exhausted yet shining with quiet joy, it became clear that revival had begun not from the pulpit, but from the prayer closet. That year, hundreds professed new faith, and many more recommitted their lives to God. Fellow missionaries attributed the transformation to Hyde’s unceasing intercession.
This incident remains inspirational because it reveals a timeless truth: genuine spiritual influence flows not from human effort alone but from deep, self-sacrificial communion with God. Praying Hyde’s life continues to challenge generations to believe in the power of earnest prayer—prayer that shakes hearts, renews communities, and brings lasting change.
www.johnsoncherian.com
Sunday, November 16, 2025
Saturday, November 15, 2025
Friday, November 14, 2025
Sacrificial Service
Pandita Ramabai’s journey toward Christianity was marked by deep spiritual searching and an earnest desire for truth. After years of studying Hindu scriptures and questioning social injustices, she encountered the compassion and teachings of Jesus Christ during her travels to England in 1883. There, she read the Bible for herself and was deeply moved by the life and sacrifice of Christ. The words of Jesus, “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28), spoke directly to her weary heart. Realizing that Christ offered the peace and assurance she had long sought, she embraced Christianity and was baptized. This moment marked a profound inner transformation that reshaped her entire purpose in life.
After her conversion, Ramabai dedicated herself wholeheartedly to serving God’s kingdom through compassionate action. Returning to India, she founded the Mukti Mission, rescuing widows, orphans, and destitute women who had been rejected by society. Her service was not merely social reform—it was an expression of the love of Christ that now filled her life. She trusted in God’s promise that “We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works” (Ephesians 2:10), and she saw every act of compassion as a part of God’s calling.
Throughout her life, Pandita Ramabai’s faith empowered her to challenge oppressive traditions, uplift the marginalized, and spread the message of God’s grace. Her conversion to Christianity was not only a personal turning point but the foundation of a lifetime of sacrificial service that continues to inspire believers around the world.
www.johnsoncherian.com
Thursday, November 13, 2025
Prince of Preachers
One of the most inspiring incidents from the life of Charles Haddon Spurgeon, often called the Prince of Preachers, occurred when he was just fifteen years old. On a snowy January morning in 1850, Spurgeon was struggling deeply with guilt and a sense of spiritual hopelessness. While walking to attend a church service, he was forced by the snowstorm to turn into a small Primitive Methodist Chapel in Colchester. The regular preacher could not make it that day, and a simple, untrained man stood in the pulpit to deliver a message.
The substitute preacher read Isaiah 45:22 — “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.” He urged the small congregation to simply “look” to Christ for0 salvation. Turning directly to Spurgeon, the man said, “Young man, look to Jesus Christ. Look! Look! You have nothing to do but to look and live.”
In that moment, the young Spurgeon understood the simplicity and power of the gospel. He later wrote that he saw “the sufficiency of Christ,” and his burden of guilt was lifted. This encounter transformed his life, setting him on the path to become one of the greatest preachers in Christian history.
Spurgeon’s conversion story reminds believers that God often uses humble means and ordinary people to bring about extraordinary change. His experience echoes the promise of Romans 10:13 — “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
From that snowy day onward, Spurgeon’s life became a living testimony to the grace of God and the power of a simple message: salvation is found by looking to Jesus alone.
www.johnsoncherian.com
Tuesday, November 11, 2025
Living with purpose and conviction
Living with purpose and conviction
Charles Thomas Studd, popularly known as C. T. Studd, was not only a celebrated English cricketer but also a man of deep faith and conviction. One of the most inspirational incidents from his life took place at the peak of his cricketing career, when he made a life-changing decision that showed the depth of his character and spiritual dedication.
C. T. Studd was a brilliant all-rounder who represented England in the 1882 Ashes series against Australia — a historic match that gave birth to the famous Ashes rivalry. By his early twenties, he had gained fame, wealth, and recognition as one of England’s best cricketers. However, despite his success, Studd began to feel an emptiness within. Around this time, he attended a revival meeting led by the missionary D. L. Moody, where he was deeply moved by the message of dedicating one’s life to God’s service.
The most remarkable incident came when Studd decided to give up his comfortable life and sporting fame to become a missionary in China. Even more striking was his decision to give away his entire inheritance — equivalent to several million pounds today — to Christian causes. He kept only a small portion for his wife, and even that they later donated to help the poor. His friends and the public were astonished. To them, it seemed foolish to abandon fame and fortune. But Studd famously said, “If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him.”
His actions beautifully reflected the words of Jesus:
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” — Matthew 6:19–20 (NIV)
C. T. Studd went on to spend years as a missionary in China, India, and Africa, spreading hope and education among the poorest communities. His life embodied another verse that guided his purpose:
“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 3:14 (NIV)
This incident from Studd’s life stands as a timeless reminder that true greatness lies not merely in worldly success, but in living with purpose and conviction. His life teaches us that faith, courage, and selfless service can transform both the individual and the world.
www.johnsoncherian.com
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