Author: Charles Spurgeon

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Through the rebellion of our flesh we cannot delight ourselves in your ways, because they are hard and afflictive apparently; yet we do delight in you, and we will at all times rest our souls in the excellence and goodness and lovingkindness of the Most High. As you have revealed yourself in Christ Jesus, you have now become to your people the object of inexpressible delight.

You have bidden us delight in you, promising to give us the desire of our hearts. We trust we can, many of us, truly say that you are our exceeding joy; the thought of God does bring exceeding pleasure to our soul. Our soul exults in her God: He is our God and we will extol him, he is our fathers’ God and we will glorify him.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. This is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.” (Exodus 15:2)

Notice, the song is all of God; there is not a word about Moses. Read this song through, and neither Moses, nor Aaron, nor Miriam are in it: God is all in all: “I will sing to the Lord.” That is blessed praise when self lies with the Egyptians at the bottom of the sea, and when everything that is in us that is commendable is traced to the grace of God, and the Lord is magnified for it. Oh for the glorification of Jesus, and none but Jesus!

Brothers, we spoil our music by diverting our thoughts to man. Let us forget men, forget earth, forget time, forget self, forget this mortal life, and only think of our God. The song shall be all for you, O Lord, for you are all in all; and if we have one note that is determined to go astray we will this day bind it with cords, even with cords to the horns of your altar, O Lord.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

You really should learn about church history.*

3 Reasons to Study Church History:

1. The stories are incredible. God is so faithful to his people.

2. It will improve our theology. The early church answered many of the questions we’re asking today.

3. It will increase our faith. It’s reassuring to see that the gospel hasn’t changed in 2,000 years.

And if you’re looking for a great introduction to church history, I have really great news for you: Phoenix Seminary in Arizona (where Wayne Grudem, Brian Arnold, Peter Gentry, and others teach) is giving away ALL of the lecture videos from their online Church History 1 course.

This is a great way to learn our family story and all of the ways God sustained and expanded his people in the first thousand years after Jesus’ resurrection.

(And all the videos from the Old Testament 2 course are included as well!!)

So, what are you waiting for?! Get access to these free videos and start learning today!
Access the course videos now on PS.edu.

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Permit us, gracious Father, to come very near to you. May the drawings of the Divine Spirit now sweetly attract us to God; and, most blessed Jesus, fulfill your office as Mediator, bring us now near to God by your precious blood. Oh, for the power to pray rightly this morning!

First would we adore and bless and magnify our God; not only, O God, for what you are to us, but for what you are in yourself, for you are incomparably glorious. In you, all perfections shine.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Suddenly, a violent storm arose on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves—but Jesus kept sleeping.” (Matthew 8:24)

Jesus slept. Here is the weakness of humanity, and here is, also, the strength of faith. Jesus went to sleep because that boat was in his Father’s hands and he would take care of it. Sometimes the best thing we can do is to go to bed. You are worrying and troubling yourself, and you can do nothing—go to sleep. It is the climax of faith to be able to shake off all care and to feel, “If the Lord cares for me, why should I not sleep?” To sleep was the best thing Jesus could do to renew his bodily energies and to prepare himself for the time when his efforts would be needed for the deliverance of his disciples from danger.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

FREE BOOK: Spurgeon on Prayer

Sending this newsletter is a big labor of love — praying along with Spurgeon every day for the last three years has been such an encouragement to me, and I’m so encouraged to know that nearly 20,000 of you have also been encouraged to pray through this ministry.

To thank you for your support of this ministry, as a subscriber, I want to give you a free download of Spurgeon on Prayer: Reflections on Our Prayers and the God who Hears. This book is a collection of 12 classic sermons by Spurgeon.

If this newsletter is an encouragement to you, I know this book will be valuable to you as well. Through these sermons, Spurgeon will call you to pray with more boldness and Christ-centered faith.

(I’m also giving this book away to every new subscriber of Pray with Spurgeon from now on, so if you want to share this with a friend, invite them to subscribe right here.)

I hope the book is a blessing to you! And if you really love it, you can buy hard copies of the book on Amazon.

Click here to download Spurgeon on Prayer for free.

Buy Spurgeon on Prayer on Amazon (Paperback or Kindle editions)

Get a prayer from Spurgeon in your inbox every day. Subscribe to the Pray with Spurgeon newsletter for free.

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Oh, be very gracious to all your children under temptation; and if any are in very sharp trial, and are also conscious of having brought it upon themselves, which makes the trial worse than ever, by your mercy do let the fulness of the power of your grace be manifest in them, that in the ages to come they may, with all saints declare the exceeding riches of your power and love in Christ Jesus.

The Lord be very mindful of all his sick servants at home, of any that are under depression of spirit, and especially of such as are near to die.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” (Matthew 6:13)

In the course of providence, the Lord tests our graces and the sincerity of our profession; and for this purpose he does “lead us into temptation.” We entreat him not to try us too severely. Lord, let not my joys or my sorrows become temptations to me. As I would not run into temptation of myself, I pray, do not lead me where I must inevitably meet it.

But if I must be tried, Lord, deliver me from falling into evil, and especially preserve me from that evil one, who, above all, seeks my soul, to destroy it. Temptation or trial may be for my good, if I am delivered from evil. Lord, do this for me, for I cannot preserve myself.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

One Practical Step to Grow Your Bible Knowledge*

People frequently ask me what they can be doing to increase their knowledge of God and his Word. There are a lot of great resources available — where can we begin?

Well, in order to know God, we must know his Word. And a great resource for increasing your knowledge of the Word is the FREE Old Testament 2 course lectures from Phoenix Seminary.

Phoenix Seminary is giving away all the lecture videos from their Old Testament 2 and Church History 1 online courses. 100% free. No strings attached.

These videos are PACKED with valuable insights that will deepen your love for God and knowledge of his Word. I hope you’ll check them out today!

Access the course videos now on PS.edu.

Get a prayer from Spurgeon in your inbox every day. Subscribe to the Pray with Spurgeon newsletter for free.

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Oh, for a day’s release from every worry! Now break the bands of our yoke. And, oh that we could live above worry in the weekdays too, casting all our care on him who cares for us, and leaving all in those wise hands that rule the world, and can well rule our mean affairs.

Today, gracious Lord, correct your children and comfort them; also rebuke and reprove as may seem good to you; but oh, sanctify us for the skies, and prepare us for the place which you are preparing for us. The Lord be very mindful of all his sick servants at home, of any that are under depression of spirit, and especially of such as are near to die.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“… casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you.” (1 Peter 5:7)

His care, though tender and comprehensive, causes no anxiety to him, for his great mind is more than equal to the task. But our care ferments within us and threatens the destruction of our meager souls. We are to cast our care, which is folly, upon the Lord, for he exercises a care, which is wisdom. Care to us is exhausting, but God is all sufficient. Care to us is sinful, but God’s care of us is holy. Care distracts us from service, but the divine mind does not forget one thing while remembering another.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Real Hope for All Your Fears and Anxiety
Real Help to Trust God More

Today we prayed that God would help us to trust EVERYTHING in his hands. He invites us to cast all of our worries and burdens onto him. And we saw in his Word that he is gracious and powerful enough to take care of all of our needs.

Unfortunately, dealing with our anxiety isn’t always so easy, is it? We won’t grow past our worries unless we address them with solid biblical truth.

A great book on growing your faith in God is Trusting God by Jerry Bridges. This book focuses on God’s sovereignty, his good control over all things, and shows that we really can trust God in any circumstance. This book is full of reasons to trust God and applies those reasons to specific trials in our lives that make it particularly hard to trust God.

This book will strengthen your faith and confidence in our great God — I hope you’ll grab a copy today.

Buy Trusting God:

• Amazon (Paperback, Kindle, or audiobook edition)
• ChristianBook.com (Paperback or ebook edition)

Get a prayer from Spurgeon in your inbox every day. Subscribe to the Pray with Spurgeon newsletter for free.

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

O Lord, imprison us in the grave of Christ today, that within those sacred walls we may find a chamber where our Lord shall manifest himself to us, as he does not unto the world.

O Christ, you are a spring shut up, a fountain sealed to us, and we would be such to you; a garden enclosed for our Beloved, wherein he may take his delights. Our soul shall sing for joy, “I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine; he feeds among the lilies” (Song of Solomon 6:3).

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“I am my love’s and my love is mine; he feeds among the lilies.” (Song of Solomon 6:3)

The text reminds me, that not only is he mine, but I am his, and to this truth I give my hearty assent. I am his by his Father’s gift, by his own bloody purchase, by his triumphant conquest of my heart, and by my own surrender to him.

Remember, my soul, the solemn dedication which you have made, for you have publicly given yourself to be the Lord’s. Look back to the solemn hour when you did give yourself unreservedly to him, and confess how poorly you have fulfilled your promise and covenant. Adored be the grace which has had patience with an unworthy servant whose false heart has so continually violated the most solemn engagements, and forgotten the most pressing obligations. 

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Find freedom by fearing God.

Last night, I led a Bible study on Proverbs 1, and when thinking about the meaning of “the fear of the Lord,” I was reminded of a book I read last year that was a HUGE blessing to me.

Rejoice and Tremble: The Surprising Good News of the Fear of the Lord by Michael Reeves is a beautifully helpful guide to understanding and applying the fear of the Lord.

The fear of God is a troubling and confusing phrase for many. We know that it appears all over Scripture, but we don’t know what it means. We know it means more than basic “respect” or “reverence.” But we also don’t feel right running scared from our loving Father.

Reeves shows that the fear of the Lord is not a negative fleeing from God, but a wonder-filled joy in God and all that he is. The fear of God is the path to freedom from all anxiety. When we encounter a grace that’s so stunning and scandalous, fear and trembling is the only proper response!

Reading this book filled my heart with joy and love for the God who must be feared, and I know that it will do the same for you. 

Buy Rejoice and Tremble:

• Amazon (Hardback, Kindle, or audiobook editions)
• ChristianBook.com (Hardback or ebook editions)

Get a prayer from Spurgeon in your inbox every day. Subscribe to the Pray with Spurgeon newsletter for free.

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

When our church gathers next, we ask that we may be in the Spirit, and know the fullness of his quickening power. May we do nothing after the dead manner of formality. May there be no dead hymn, nor dead prayer. Lord, give the preacher life. Oh, give the hearers life. Oh may we know living worship, not the bowing of heads alone, but of hearts, and the closing not alone of the eyes to things that can be seen, but the closing of the eyelids of the thought to everything worldly.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Stop bringing useless offerings. Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons and Sabbaths, and the calling of solemn assemblies— I cannot stand iniquity with a festival. I hate your New Moons and prescribed festivals. They have become a burden to me; I am tired of putting up with them.” (Isaiah 1:12–13)

If you are hypocrites, if your hearts are not right with God, you may multiply your church-goings, and your chapel-goings, and your sacraments; but all these are only a provoking of God to anger. There is nothing in it all that he could possibly accept; he cannot endure it. He says, “It is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.”

When men are committing crimes, when they are oppressing the poor, when they are living in the daily practice of injustice, when they indulge in secret drunkenness, when their whole life is a lie, they may do what they will, but God will not hear their prayers. While we keep sin in our hearts, it is in vain for us to stretch out our hands unto God. He is a holy God, and he seeks holy hearts and holy lives; and nothing short of these can be acceptable to him.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

The Magnificent God Who Saves Unworthy Sinners

Today we prayed that we would be worthy worshippers — that God would give us life to worship him from the heart. And we saw in the Verse of the Day how God responds to unworthy worshippers.

This is one of the big themes in the Book of Isaiah — God was not accepting the worship of his people because, while they did all the right religious things on the outside, they were neglecting to love their neighbor.

And yet, Isaiah makes clear that God gives grace to save this sin-stained, rebellious, unloving people.

Honestly, I’ve always had a hard time reading, understanding, and applying Isaiah. So last year, I took time to study this book in-depth. One of the resources that really helped me was Isaiah: God Saves Sinners by Ray Ortlund.

This book is a simple commentary on the entire book of Isaiah. And WOW — it will leave you absolutely amazed at the greatness of God and the wonder of his grace. God really does save sinners!

This book is a little pricier than what I usually recommend ($20–30), but it’s worth every penny, because it will point you to God’s Word and the glories of our Savior.

I know this book will help you better understand Isaiah and will leave you absolutely amazed at the wonder of God’s grace.

Buy Isaiah: God Saves Sinners:

• Amazon (Hardback or Kindle editions)
• ChristianBook.com (Hardback or ebook editions)

Get a prayer from Spurgeon in your inbox every day. Subscribe to the Pray with Spurgeon newsletter for free.

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Lord, give us more and more to have the new life; yes, and to have it more abundantly, for this is one of the objects of his coming. May the new life always rule us, may we walk by its power, may we have strength through its influence, may we be elevated by its energies, may we be indeed entirely subjugated, as to our own entire manhood, to the control of the Holy Spirit through the new-born life. We do pant for this.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted for them the things concerning himself in all the Scriptures.” (Luke 24:27)

This unrivalled tutor used as his class-book the best of books. Although able to reveal fresh truth, he preferred to expound the old. He knew by his omniscience what was the most instructive way of teaching, and by turning at once to Moses and the prophets, he showed us that the surest road to wisdom is not speculation, reasoning, or reading human books, but meditation upon the Word of God. The readiest way to be spiritually rich in heavenly knowledge is to dig in this mine of diamonds, to gather pearls from this heavenly sea. When Jesus himself sought to enrich others, he worked in the quarry of Holy Scripture.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

The Old Testament is God’s Word… How Well Do You Know It?*

As we saw in today’s verse of the day, the Old Testament is a glorious gift from God — it reveals his greatness, his grace, and the beginnings of his unstoppable plan to save his people from Satan, sin, and death.

If you’ve ever had difficulty understanding and applying the Old Testament, I have a really exciting resource to share with you:

Phoenix Seminary is giving away ALL of the videos from their Old Testament 2 online course.

Seriously!! This is an INCREDIBLE resource to help you know God’s Word better.

This is HOURS of seminary-level content that covers the wisdom books (like Proverbs), poetry (like the Psalms), and ALL of the prophets, taught by Dr. J. Michael Thigpen, Old Testament professor at Phoenix Seminary.

I’ve just started to dig into these videos and I’m already benefiting from the incredible content in my personal Bible study and preaching ministry.

(And, by the way, all of the videos from the Church History 1 course are included as well 🔥)

Access the course videos now on PS.edu.

Get a prayer from Spurgeon in your inbox every day. Subscribe to the Pray with Spurgeon newsletter for free.

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

O God, we have too much of sin still alive in us. Go on to crucify it; let it die and, painful and lingering though the death may be, may we reckon the thing to be dead, because it is crucified, and never treat it as though it were a living thing to be fed and to have provision made for it. Let it die, and let it be buried.

May those of us who bear in our body the marks of the Lord Jesus, be solemnly concerned that our baptism should be no fiction; but that we should be really baptized into the death of Christ with all the fullness of the deadening power that is about the sacred burial by fellowship with him.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to gratify its desires.” (Romans 13:14)

Christ must be in us before he can be on us. Christ must be in the heart by faith before he can be in the life by holiness. If you need light from a lantern, the first business is to light the candle inside it; and then, as a consequence, the light shines through to be seen by others. When Christ is formed in us and is our hope of glory, we cannot not conceal our love for him. Instead, we put him on in our conduct as the glory of our hope.

As we have Christ within as our Savior, the secret of our inner life, so we put on Christ to be the beauty of our daily lives. The external is brightened by the internal, and this will be the armor of light that all soldiers of the Lord Jesus are privileged to wear. As Christ is our food that nourished our inner being, so we put him on as our garments that cover the outer man.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Trust in God’s preserving, purifying power through all of your suffering

Today, we prayed, asking God to remove our sin — acknowledging that it WILL be painful. Spurgeon frequently taught that God is at work in your suffering to preserve you and to purify you.

This was one of the major themes in Spurgeon’s teaching on suffering, but it was not all he had to say on the topic. Spurgeon learned supernatural wisdom from God’s Word and his own pain on how to address our suffering in a God-glorifying, hopeful way.

Spurgeon’s teaching on suffering is very useful, so I compiled a brief collection of it in a book, Spurgeon on Suffering. This book contains 12 classic sermons from Spurgeon on suffering, pain, and God’s grace through it all.

I hope you’ll buy a copy today, and I hope it will bless you.

(As a side note, purchasing a copy is a great way to support this ministry so that I can continue to send this daily newsletter!)

Buy Spurgeon on Suffering on Amazon (Paperback or Kindle edition)

Get a prayer from Spurgeon in your inbox every day. Subscribe to the Pray with Spurgeon newsletter for free.

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Oh, that we might know how to die with Christ, and to live with him in newness of life. O God, we do rejoice that the old man was crucified with him. We would daily mortify the flesh with its affections and lusts. We wish to be to the world, to sin, to selfishness as dead and buried men; as dead men, out of mind, so would we be.

Oh, that no faculty might hear the voice of the charmer when it charms us towards sin! May we be delivered from the mere power to obey the lusts of the flesh and the temptations of the devil. May grace so sanctify us that we may reckon ourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“For sin will not rule over you, because you are not under the law but under grace.” (Romans 6:14)

While we were under the law and simply heard it command us to do our duty, the command seemed to awaken all the hostility of our nature so that we remained under the dominion of sin. But now no longer does the law speak to us as it did before. We are not now under the law, but another principle governs us. The grace, the favor, the love God has shown us in Christ Jesus appeals to our hearts, and we cheerfully yield to it the obedience our unregenerate spirits refused to render when the law demanded it.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Pursue holiness like your life depends on it.

Today we prayed that God would help us be fully dead to sin — holy in thought, deed, and word. In this pursuit of holiness, we need a lot of help along the way, don’t we?

One of the most motivating and empowering books on personal holiness that I have ever read is The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges. This book will show you the high calling of holiness that God has laid on all of his people (and why it’s so important) while also giving grace-fueled practical guidance on actually pursuing holiness in your own life.

Jerry Bridges is one of my all-time favorite authors. All of his books are worth reading — he does an excellent job at applying the truths of the gospel to the problems we face in life.

This book will equip you and empower you to pursue holiness. I hope you’ll grab a copy and be blessed by it.

Buy The Pursuit of Holiness:

• Amazon (Paperback or Kindle editions)
• ChristianBook.com (Paperback or ebook editions)