Author: Charles Spurgeon

Pray with Spurgeon: God is worthy of endless praise

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

We praise you. The last week was a week of many blessings for many of us, and if we did not praise you we could not pray, for he who does not remember favors received, can hardly ask for more. You have done great things for us, and we are glad. You have daily loaded us with benefits, our cup runs over. “Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name.” Let not your people withhold their praises; may they pour them out like rivers of oil. As the incense rose in clouds from the holy altar, so may praise go up to God like the smoke of the morning sacrifice.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“The LORD is for me; I will not be afraid. What can a mere mortal do to me?” (Psalm 118:6)

Man can do nothing more than God permits; at the very uttermost he can only kill the body, but he has nothing more that he can do. God having purposed to set his servant upon the throne, the whole race of mankind could do nothing to thwart the divine decree: the settled purpose of the Lord’s heart could not be turned aside, nor its accomplishment delayed, much less prevented, by the most rancorous hostility of the most powerful of men.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Read (And Understand) the Whole Bible in 2023*

Reading the Bible in a year is a GREAT goal for any Christian — we can always become better acquainted with Scripture. But it’s important that we don’t just mindlessly read, just to check the box and finish in a year. We need to be learning as we read Scripture.

The CSB Day-by-Day Chronological Bible is a great resource to help you. This Bible is formatted as a chronological reading plan, so you never have to wonder what to read next (just turn the page).

Each day’s reading features some really valuable notes that will help you understand and remember the context and significance of each day’s readings. When reading the entire Bible in a year, it can be helpful to have simple guides like this to help us not lose track.

Grow your knowledge of the Word (and your love for the Word!) in 2023 with the CSB Day-by-Day Chronological Bible.

Buy the CSB Day-by-Day Chronological Bible from Lifeway — up to 40% off:

Pray with Spurgeon: We cannot even pray with Jesus

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Our Father, we feel unworthy to go into your holy presence and to take your name upon our lips, yet in Christ we have a worthiness which is perfect. Making mention of his name we are not afraid to stand before the blessed throne of Deity. For Christ’s sake hear us, we pray.

But we are also helpless in prayer. Who can rightly pray for himself without the teaching of the Spirit of God? My Lord, I am as unable as I am unworthy; nevertheless hear and help.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“I called to the LORD in distress; the LORD answered me and put me in a spacious place.” (Psalm 118:5)

Nothing was left him but prayer, his agony was too great for aught beside; but having the heart and the privilege to pray he possessed all things. Prayers which come out of distress generally come out of the heart, and therefore they go to the heart of God.

Many of us can join with the Psalmist in the declarations of this verse: deep was our distress on account of sin, and we were shut up as in a prison under the law, but in answer to the prayer of faith we obtained the liberty of full justification wherewith Christ makes men free, and we are free indeed.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

A Beautiful Book to Help Children Understand Loss

The God that we proclaim to our children is in control of all things. And even when the most unimaginably horrible circumstances come against us, we can trust that he is good.

That’s the theme of The Moon is Always Round by Jonathan Gibson. This book for kids of any age tells the story of a family grieving the loss of their baby. This book encourages children (and their grownups) to trust in our good God, no matter what our circumstances tell us to believe.

This book is absolutely beautiful. Words can’t express how wonderfully deep, simple, and beautiful this book is.

Even if the worst of trials come against us, the moon is always round, and God is always good.

Buy The Moon is Always Round:

Pray with Spurgeon: God, let your truth spread; let your Kingdom come

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Put an end to that revival of heresy, which we see on every side! Your glorious Word is treated as a common book. It is hardly as well respected as a poor almanack. The Lord have mercy upon those who doubt his Word, and bring back a reverence for every line of inspiration, above all a deep love to the atoning sacrifice. Let it not be despised, but may the precious blood be preached everywhere and multitudes washed in it and made clean.

We pray for our country and our leaders. We pray for every other country and ask that peace may rule everywhere; and we close our prayer with this deepest wish: “your Kingdom come”—yourself, Great King, even so come quickly, Lord Jesus.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Let those who fear the LORD say, “‘His faithful love endures forever.’” (Psalm 118:4)

We are not only to believe, but to declare the goodness of God; truth is not to be hushed up, but proclaimed. God would have his people act as witnesses, and not stand silent in the day when his honor is opposed. It is our joy to speak out to the honor and glory of God when we think upon the exaltation of his dear Son. We should shout “Hosannah,” and sing loud “Hallelujahs” when we behold the stone which the builders rejected lifted into its proper place.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Reading the Bible as One Story That Points to Jesus*

It’s important to remember that the Bible isn’t just a collection of stories — the Bible tells one unified story, the story of the Creator God working to save a people for himself. This story finds its climax in Jesus’ death in our place and glorious resurrection.

If you want to learn more about the story of the Bible, a great resource is the CSB Day-by-Day Chronological Bible. This is a really great resource that puts every passage of Scripture in chronological order (the order that the events took place in), so you can read the whole Bible as a story.

This Bible also has a lot of really helpful tools to help you know what’s going on and why it matters for God’s salvation plan, including daily notes that help you remember what’s going on in the story.

The CSB Day-by-Day Chronological Bible is formatted with a reading plan for a whole year, but the readings aren’t dated, so you can start any time.

I know this Bible will help you read and understand Scripture this year, so I hope you’ll grab one today.

Buy the CSB Day-by-Day Chronological Bible from Lifeway — up to 40% off:

Pray with Spurgeon: God, bring unity and peace to your church

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

We pray with great earnestness that you would bless our church. We thank you for additions constantly made to our members; we pray that they may be good men, and true, holy women, in their very hearts. Lord, keep those that are in membership. Let us not fall; let us not fall. Make us all useful.

Keep the church in unity, peace and concord, and give it zeal and passionate longing for the conversion of the souls of men. May many be brought in who now think nothing of you. While we are preaching, may the Holy Spirit be working, may souls be saved by thousands.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Let the house of Aaron say, ‘His faithful love endures forever.’” (Psalm 118:3)

The sons of Aaron were specially set apart to come nearest to God, and it was only because of his mercy that they were enabled to live in the presence of the thrice holy Lord, who is a consuming fire. Every time the morning and evening lamb was sacrificed, the priests saw the continual mercy of the Lord. When the high priest went in unto the holy place and came forth accepted, he might, above all men, sing of the eternal mercy.

Our Lord Jesus, having made all his people priests unto God, may well call upon us in that capacity to magnify the everlasting mercy of the Most High. Can any one of the royal priesthood be silent?

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

A great memoir to fill you with hope

Recently, I read Everything Sad is Untrue by Daniel Nayeri, after having the book recommended to me by tons of sources and individuals — Christians and non-Christians.

The book is a memoir about a refugee family who had to flee from their homeland in Iran because they were persecuted for their Christian faith.

This is an absolutely breathtaking read that I think will bless and benefit every Christian. It is a great testimony of God’s work around the world and a beautiful example of Christian hope. This book will also expose you to the experience of refugees and persecuted Christians, filling you with compassion.

Nayeri writes from the perspective of his 12-year-old self, and this book is an absolutely incredible patchwork of his own experiences, Persian myths, and cultural analysis.

I know this book will bless you, so I hope you’ll grab a copy today.

Buy Everything Sad is Untrue:

Pray with Spurgeon: Make us like Christ

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Remember any child of yours who may have slipped; Lord restore him. If any of us have wandered and are not aware of it, bring us back at all events; and if grey hairs are upon us here and there, and we know it not, restore to us our youth; bring back to us whatever of energy and holiness we once had, and somewhat more. Oh make us like Christ: we do pray, make us like Christ. We would even accept his cross and sour wine, if we might have his holiness. We make no exception of anything of Christ’s; we would take him as he was, or as he is: only let Christ be formed in us, the hope of glory.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Let Israel say, ‘His faithful love endures forever.’” (Psalm 118:2)

God had made a covenant with their forefathers, a covenant of mercy and love, and to that covenant he was faithful evermore. Israel sinned in Egypt, provoked the Lord in the wilderness, went astray again and again under the judges, and transgressed at all times; and yet the Lord continued to regard them as his people, to favor them with his oracles, and to forgive their sins.

David’s success was mercy to Israel, as well as mercy to himself. If Israel does not sing, who will? If Israel does not sing of mercy, who can? If Israel does not sing when the Son of David ascends the throne, the very stones will cry out.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

A New Bible Reading Plan for 2023*

Reading the Bible in a year can be an incredible habit, but it can also be challenging to know how it all fits together.

And that’s why I love the CSB Day-by-Day Chronological Bible — it features a daily reading plan that covers the whole Bible in one year, with readings arranged in chronological order (the order that the events took place, rather than the traditional order of books in our English Bibles).

The CSB Day-by-Day Chronological Bible also features brief daily notes to help you remember your place in the story (and who all of those kings and prophets are, exactly 😅).

The study notes are written by George Guthrie, who is a great New Testament scholar.

Reading the Bible chronologically in 2023 will grow your knowledge of the Bible and your love for God. And I know the Day-by-Day Chronological Bible will be a great resource to help you along the way.

Buy the CSB Day-by-Day Chronological Bible from Lifeway — up to 40% off:

Pastor, the church needs you. And you need God.

Get wisdom encouragement for Spurgeon in your inbox every week. Subscribe to the The Pastor’s Note newsletter for free.

ENCOURAGEMENT FOR PASTORS (BY SPURGEON)

As surely as the man wants his hour, so surely the hour wants its man. The church of God is always urgently in need of living ministers; to her a man is always more precious than the gold of Ophir. Formal officials do lack and suffer hunger, but the anointed of the Lord need never be without a charge, for there are quick ears which will know them by their speech, and ready hearts to welcome them to their appointed place.

Be fit for your work, and you will never be out of it. Do not run about inviting yourselves to preach here and there; be more concerned about your ability than your opportunity, and more earnest about your walk with God than about either. The sheep will know the God-sent shepherd; the porter of the fold will open to you, and the flock will know your voice.

RESOURCE FOR PASTORS

Special thanks to the Christian Standard Bible for sponsoring the Pastor’s Note newsletter. The CSB is both accurate and readable. So that you (and your flock) can read God’s Word with confidence, clarity, and precision.

Click here to learn more about the CSB (and request a free CSB Bible).

SERMON ILLUSTRATION (BY SPURGEON)

Spurgeon was a master illustrator. You can use this quotation in your own preaching to describe the power of Christ.

 Sinner, fly to Christ! But you answer, “I am too vile.” The viler you are, the more will you honour him by believing that he is able to protect even you. “But I am so great a sinner.” Then the more honour shall be given to him if you have faith to confide in him, great sinner though you are. If you have a little sickness, and you tell your physician—“Sir, I am quite confident in your skill to heal,” there is no great compliment in your declaration. Anybody can cure a finger-ache, or a trifling sickness. But if you are sore sick with a complication of diseases which grievously torment you, and you say—“Sir, I seek no better physician; I will ask no other advice but yours; I trust myself joyfully with you;” what an honor have you conferred on him, that you can trust your life in his hands while it is in extreme and immediate danger! Do the like with Christ; put your soul into his care: do it deliberately, and without a doubt.

THANKS FOR READING

Brothers,

God has called you to shepherd the flock among you. The Lord has called you to this ministry and he will call you to give an account. May he find us faithful to have served our churches and not our own desires.

Your church is not an obstacle to your ministry — it is the family that God has called you shepherd. Praise him for this blessed task.

If this newsletter is encouraging, please share it with another pastor. You can forward this email to a pastor you know.

If someone forwarded this email to you, sign up to get another one every week. Click here to subscribe.

Blessings to your ministry,

Doug H.
Creator of SpurgeonBooks
Preaching Pastor of Pillar Church of Washington DC

Pray with Spurgeon: God will make us pure in every way

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Take us, Lord, and sanctify us. We are not content with justification; we want sanctification. Make and keep us pure within, clean in motive, clean in imagination. Oh, how difficult! Make us so that our very thoughts shall be a matter of conscience, and every thought shall be brought into captivity to Jesus Christ our Lord. Oh, that we could live as angels do here in this mortal body, living as purely, as joyfully, as obediently, as they do; not bound down by the body nor kept in subjection to any of its appetites but made free to be the servants of God with enhanced delight!

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his faithful love endures forever.” (Psalm 118:1)

The endurance of the divine mercy is a special subject for song: notwithstanding our sins, our trials, our fears, his mercy endures forever. The best of earthly joys pass away and even the world itself grows old and hastens to decay, but there is no change in the mercy of God; he was faithful to our fore-fathers, he is merciful to us, and will be gracious to our children and our children’s children.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

How God is at work in your life this year (and right now!)

Making goals for the new year can be an incredible fruitful activity, but we need to remember that all of our efforts to improve ourselves are worthless without God’s help.

Recently, I’ve been really blessed reading How People Change by Paul Tripp and Timothy Lane. I’ve heard about this book for years but only recently read it myself for the first time.

The goal of this book is to solve “the gospel gap.” We believe that Christ’s work has forgiven our past sins and will give us hope in the future, but we’re often confused about how a relationship with Jesus will actually change our life here and now.

This book offers an incredibly hopeful, practical, and biblical guide for growing in godliness and quitting sin. I know it will bless you this year, so I hope you’ll grab a copy and read with me.

Buy How People Change:

Pray with Spurgeon: God, we love the Bible

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Our Father, when you have put away everything that comes between us, lead us into your truth. Teach us more of your Word; teach it to us by experience; may we have it burned into our hearts; may we know the truth not only in the letter of it, but in the life and spirit of it.

Teach us to be holy. Oh how we long for this! We would have every passion under subjection; we would have every power and faculty bitted and held in with a bridle. We would have every evil tendency killed, and have every holy tendency imparted.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his faithful love endures forever.” (Psalm 118:1)

This is reason enough for giving him thanks; goodness is his essence and nature, and therefore he is always to be praised whether we are receiving anything from him or not. Those who only praise God because he does them good should rise to a higher note and give thanks to him because he is good.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Free: Bible Study Guide and Worksheet

Today we prayed that God would help us to love his Word more. This is such an incredible thing to pray, especially at the beginning of the year.

If you’re looking to deepen your Bible reading in 2023, I’d like to share a free resource that I created for my own Bible reading.

It’s called the S.M.R.T. Bible study method, and it’s a simple strategy for reading, understanding, and applying the Bible. (Disclaimer: It only works for non-narrative passages, like epistles, speeches, discourses, or prophecy)

If this sounds like a useful resource for you, you can download instructions here and a printable worksheet here.

(If this tool is useful, or if you have any suggestions to improve this tool, please let me know!)

Pray with Spurgeon: God has freely forgiven us

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Lord, put away the sin as between a child and his father. You have put away our sin as between a subject and a king. We are pardoned; we are clean; we are washed with the blood of Christ—so many as have believed in his name—there is no sin remaining on us.

But, as children, we come under another discipline, and members of a family that offend our Father. Our Father, “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us.” We do very freely and very heartily and very truly forgive anybody who may have aggrieved us. Do so with our children, and let us feel of a certainty now that we are perfectly reconciled with God, and that we are one with you, and speak with you as a man speaks with his friend.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his faithful love endures forever.” (Psalm 118:1)

The grateful hero feels that he cannot himself alone sufficiently express his thankfulness, and therefore he calls in the aid of others. Grateful hearts are greedy of men’s tongues, and would monopolize them all for God’s glory. The thanks were to be rendered unto the Lord alone, and not to the patience or valor of the hero himself. It is always well to trace our mercies to him who bestows them, and if we cannot give him anything else, let us at any rate give him our thanks.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

A devotional to help you run from sin and cling to Christ

Today we prayed, celebrating that God has fully forgiven us of our sins by the blood of Christ. But God wants us to have confidence that our sins are forgiven, to help us know that we are forgiven of our sin by the great mercy of Christ.

One resource that’s been helpful as I’ve studied God’s Word and his promise of forgiveness is Whiter Than Snow: Meditations on Sin and Mercy by Paul Tripp. This book features 52 short devotionals (one for every week of the year) on Psalm 51. This is an incredible resource to help you remember the horrors of your sin and the wonders of God’s amazing grace.

You could read the book over the next few months with just five minutes a day, or read one devotional each week for the next year. I can’t think of a better way to spend your time than reflecting on God’s mercy towards broken sinners like us.

I hope you’ll buy a copy and enjoy mediating on God’s unending mercy with me. I know this devotional will be a great way for you to start your year, rooted in God’s unchanging grace.

Buy Whiter Than Snow:

Pray with Spurgeon: Seek God and he will be found

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Our Father, we pray that you would forgive your children all the wrong they have done during another week. If there is anything between us and God, take it away.

You have taught us to ask and it shall be given us; you have called us seek if we cannot find you, and seek until we find. But you have also added, “Knock,” as if there might be a door between us and you: “Knock and it shall be opened.” Lord, if there is any door between us, may that door be opened; may we begin knocking at it now, and never cease until it opens. We would not have even the beginning of a cloud between our heart and our Father.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Blow the ram’s horn on the day of our feasts during the new moon and during the full moon. For this is a statute for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob.” (Psalm 81:3–4)

It was a precept binding upon all the tribes that a sacred season should be set apart to commemorate the Lord’s mercy; and truly it was but the Lord’s due, he had a right and a claim to such special homage.

It is as much our duty to reject the traditions of men, as to observe the ordinances of the Lord. We ask concerning every rite and rubric, “Is this a law of the God of Jacob?” and if it be not clearly so, it is of no authority with us, who walk in Christian liberty.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

God’s grace sets us free from sin

Today, we prayed asking God to forgive us and remove every sin that separates us from God. No matter how many times we sin, we find his grace to be an inexhaustible ocean.

But God’s grace is NOT about forgiving our sin and leaving us stuck; it’s about empowering you to actually change. The book Unlimited Grace by Bryan Chappell will show you how wonderfully large and never-ending God’s grace is, and how this grace has the power to change your life from the inside out.

I know this book will encourage you and fill your heart with love and gratitude for God’s grace. If you’re feeling discouraged and shameful about your past sin, this book will assure of God’s never-ending kindness towards sinners. If you’re feeling stuck and unmoved in your present sin, this book will help you to lean into the power of God’s grace to change.

Buy Unlimited Grace: