The world has now had 100 years with Streams in the Desert.
Lettie Cowman and her husband Charles had limited faith in the devotional.
For that reason, the Cowmans only printed 3000 copies in time for January 1,1924. Each copy sold for $1.50.
Charles marketed the book, or at least wrote the ads, and lived long enough to see the devotional sell out.
He died in September 1924 at their home in Hollywood, California.
And the devotional is still speaking to hearts a century later.
How was it written?
This post explains how Lettie Cowman, seated at her husband’s bedside, wrote the devotional in 1923.
With a heart grieving over her husband’s decline (seven years of angina-searing pain), Lettie sought words, anywhere, to encourage Charles.
She needed to encourage herself, too — that God does see, He does know our pain, He does love us.
As she read words of encouragement through pain-wracked nights, Lettie sought to keep her husband going forward in faith.
That’s why we’ve had Streams in the Desert for 100 years.
The devotional encourages us, no matter where we are on a given day.
It daily points us back, using words from throughout the centuries, to hope in the God who loves us.
Who has savored those 100 years with Streams in the Desert?
Lettie Cowman carried copies of the devotional everywhere she traveled for 26 years.
She freely gave away the book to Laplanders, headhunters, actresses, ministers, and anyone she met!
The devotional spoke to famous people like General Chiang Kai-Shek of China. (He was buried with a copy in his arms).
Lettie gave a copy to Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie during WWII. One of his daughters volunteered to translate the English version into Amharic. (She used her devotional to encourage him; she did not endorse the Rastafarian movement).
The world has had 100 years with Streams in the Desert translated into many different languages.
Lettie turned all royalties over to One Mission Society while she served as president. The devotional’s resources enabled missionaries to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world.
What about today?
The devotional is as timely today as it has been for the last century.
Zondervan has a modified version which incorporates both Morning and Evening devotionals.
If you would like to know more about the woman responsible for 100 years with Streams in the Desert, consider Overflowing Faith: Lettie Cowman and Streams in the Desert.
Overflowing Faith makes a great companion to the devotional itself.
Or, you can listen to this podcast with Joanna Weaver. (Or see a video on her Youtube version of this podcast that includes photos of Lettie.)
See my website here for more information about
- Streams in the Desert
- Overflowing Faith
- Lettie Cowman
- The Oriental Missionary Society (One Mission Society).
Like My Utmost for His Highest, Streams in the Desert’s words have stood the test of time.
But if you’d like a different type of devotional, consider how to choose one in this blog post.
A day that starts with God’s Word, coupled with inspirational ideas from a devotional, starts in the right spiritual place.
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