From the book Praying Hyde – edited by Captain E.G. Carré, and other articles
John Nelson Hyde (November 9, 1865 – February 17, 1912), also known as Praying Hyde
The place where John Hyde met with God was holy ground – too sacred for common eyes. He entered a spiritual realm where few men had been, a ‘place of quiet rest, near to God; shut in with God in the secret place’.
Ezekiel 22:30 “So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.” – John Hyde literally took up the challenge, and the presence of God surrounded him and flowed from him; and people’s lives were eternally changed.
He was called to minister in India for about 18 years. Being slow of speech and his hearing slightly defective; it was rather difficult to learn the Indian languages. Undeterred, he focused on studying the Bible first, and God helped him to become ‘a correct and easy speaker’ in both Urdu and Punjabi, ministering the Word of God to thousands.
As time went on, John Hyde devoted himself more and more to prayer. As a result, he had power with God and with men. He many days personally saw 4 people being saved. He prayed so much, it may have caused his heart to physically move to the right, as a doctor described it, and he died at age 47.
What was his secret to become such a prayer warrior and master fisher of men?
- His ardent love for His Saviour, and therefore communion with God was his supreme calling. He sacrificed food, sleep, praise of men and much more to spend days and nights in intercessory prayer.
- His passionate love for the people among whom he worked – he practically sacrificed everything for them. He would not give up on people, crying out with tears to God and pleading with them. Inevitably, breakthroughs came.
- His genuine regard and affection for his brothers and sisters in Christ.
- He gave God thanks in everything. He declared that if you want to know why trials are sent to you, begin by thanking God for them, and you will doubtless soon see why they have been sent.
- He saw the good in God’s feeblest ones, and so was able to appreciate God’s work of grace in that person’s heart. He then offered praise and thanks to God for that person, with the result that God’s love freely worked in all its fulness in that person’s life. He followed the method of the Carpenter of Nazareth who never broke a bruised reed, and never quenched a smocking wick, no matter how much smoke there was – the way of love and eternal hope.
- He continuously and increasingly rejoiced in God, soaring up to God’s immediate presence in joyful praise. Only the bright and joyous soul can win souls to Christ.
- He had a child-like obedience to God and when he was convicted of sin, was not ashamed to repent about it, even before scores of people, setting an example that many followed in confessing and turning from sin.
- He honoured the Holy Spirit, giving the Divine Spirit His true, rightful place; not standing in His way to move hearts, melt them to confession and tears and usher in revival.
Sighing and groaning, with tears coursing down his face; his frame weakened by foodless days and sleepless nights, shaken with sobs as he pleads, ‘O God, give me souls or I die!’