Author: Charles Spurgeon

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

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Our Father, we would first ask you whether you have anything against us as your children. It may be that some creature comfort is nearer to us than our God. We had better have been without it, and have dwelt in God, and have found our joy in him. But now, Lord, in these perilous circumstances, give us grace that we may not turn away from you.

If our position now isn’t what you would have allotted to us, had we been wiser, yet, nevertheless, grant that we may be taught to behave ourselves rightly, even now, lest the mercies you have given should become a cause of stumbling, and the obtaining of our heart’s desire should become a temptation to us.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal.” (Matthew 6:20)

Let our desires and efforts go after heavenly things. These are not liable to any decay within themselves, nor can they be taken from us by force or fraud. Does not wisdom bid us seek such sure possessions? Out of our earthly possessions that which is used for God is laid up in heaven. What is given to the poor and to the Lord’s cause is deposited in the Bank of Eternity. To heaven we are going; let us send our treasures before us. There they will be safe from decay, and robbery: but in no other place may we reckon them to be secure.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

A Book to Help You Really Enjoy God*

Scripture reveals a picture of God that is not only true, but also incredibly beautiful. God is not merely an idea — he is a person who calls us to know and enjoy him forever.

So many of us read the Bible every day and we forget to be amazed at how truly astonishing our God is. We need solid, biblical resources that shake us out of our sleepiness and open our eyes to the wonder and beauty of our God.

I’m so thankful for the book Incomparable by Andrew Wilson. This book is absolutely stunning. It will fill you with wonder at the greatness of God and fill you with thankfulness to know him.

Each chapter takes a different name, description, or attribute of God from Scripture and gives a short description of these attributes and how they magnify the greatness of our God.

Incomparable will grow your love for God. Grab a copy for yourself and another one to give as a Christmas gift.

Buy Incomparable from 10 of Those.
(And, by the way, shipping at 10 of Those is always $1 in the U.S., so make sure to fill your cart!)

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

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

God of Israel, God of Jesus Christ, our God forever and ever; help us now by the sacred Spirit, to approach you rightly, with deepest reverence, but not with servile fear; with holiest boldness, but not with presumption. Oh teach us as children to speak to the Father, and yet, as creatures to bow before our Maker.

Our Father, we would first ask you whether you have anything against us as your children. Have we been asking something of you wrongly, and have you given us that which we have sought? We are not conscious of it, but it may be so; and now we are brought, as an answer to our presumptuous prayers, into a more difficult position than the one we occupied before.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and don’t receive because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.” (James 4:2–3)

With all your efforts you do not succeed, because you omit to pray to God. Prayer would have brought you every blessing that you need; but, instead of going to God, and asking at his hands, you rush upon your neighbor, and seek to take what you desire as spoil from him.

Perhaps some say, “But we do ask.” “Well, then,” says the apostle, “you ask wrongly.” The lusts of the flesh come in, and put us upon the wrong track; or if we take the right road, yet, if the lusts are there, God will not bless us, because, in doing so, he would be helping us to gratify our lusts.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Christmas Gift for a Non-Believer

Christmas is a great opportunity to start conversations with non-believing friends, family members, neighbors, and co-workers about Christ. People are already thinking about Christ’s birth and might be more open to talking about it.

One way to start those conversations is with a Christ-centered Christmas gift. And a great place to start is the book Jesus or Nothing by Dan DeWitt. This book shows how Christianity alone offers a reasonable explanation for our lives and the world around in. Without the gospel, nothing makes sense — life and death, right and wrong, none of it makes any sense if Christ is still in the grave.

Jesus or Nothing is a friendly, approachable book that offers solid arguments for Christianity. But it also offers arguments that are attractive, beautiful, and persuasive (because Christ himself is attractive, beautiful, and persuasive!)

Buying a few copies of Jesus or Nothing for non-Christians you know is a great way to honor Christ this Christmas. I hope you’ll buy a few copies and share them with the people you know and love.

Buy Jesus or Nothing:

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

God of Israel, God of Jesus Christ, our God forever and ever; help us now by the sacred Spirit, to approach you aright, with deepest reverence, but not with servile fear; with holiest boldness, but not with presumption. Oh teach us as children to speak to the Father, and yet, as creatures to bow before our Maker.

Everything we ask, we ask all in Christ’s dear name, dear to us and dear to you, our Father. And unto the Father, to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, be glory everlasting.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:6)

Be alone; enter into a little room into which no other may intrude; keep out every interloper by shutting the door; and there, and then, with all your heart pour out your supplication. Prayer is mainly to be addressed to God the Father; and always to God as our Father. Pray to your Father who is present there, to your Father who sees you and especially takes note of that which is evidently meant for him only, seeing it is done “in secret,” where no eye can see but his own. If it be indeed to God that we pray, there can be no need for anyone else to be present; for it would hinder rather than help devotion to have a third person for a witness of the heart’s private intercourse with the Lord.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Christmas Gift Idea for a Teen: Help them Know Their Faith

Teenagers today are living in a really difficult environment. If a teen wants to follow Christ today, he is surrounded every day with a seemingly endless list of objections to the gospel. From evolution to LGBT issues; from racism to God’s sovereignty over suffering, it can be hard to follow Christ in the midst of a hostile world (or a hostile high school!)

A great resource for teens to help them know, understand, and defend their faith is 10 Questions Every Teen Should Ask (and Answer) about Christianity by Rebecca McLaughlin. This book is tackles ten really pressing, important topics with Bible-saturated reasoning and Christ-centered hope.

We should never discourage our teens from asking questions about God or his world — but we should always help them find solid, true, biblical answers to their questions.

10 Questions is a great resource to help your teen follow Christ, and it’s a great Christ-centered Christmas gift. I hope you’ll grab a few copies for teens that you love (in your family or your church).

Buy 10 Questions Every Teen Should Ask (and Answer) about Christianity:

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

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

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Now, Lord, bless your universal church, and grant to it mercy and favor. Gather together your elect from under all heaven. Let the company of the faithful be accomplished, and the universal reign of Christ established.

Bless our own dear country. God save and bless our leaders with every mercy; guide, uphold, sustain, and direct our rulers. Let them be guilty of no folly; but the Lord teach our senators wisdom.

And may it please you, Lord, to bless other countries too; especially those lands which love our common Christ, and speak our mother tongue; and, indeed, all the nations where Jesus Christ is known, visit with a revival. And the unreached, oh, let the light break in upon their midnight, let the day dawn and Christ be glorified.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“The people who live in darkness have seen a great light, and for those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.” (Isaiah 9:2, Matthew 4:16)

Christ went where he was needed. The “great light” encountered the great darkness; the far-off ones were visited by him who gathers together the outcasts of Israel. Our Lord courts not those who glory in their light, but those who pine in their darkness: he comes with heavenly life, not to those who boast of their own life and energy, but to those who are under condemnation, and who feel the shades of death shutting them out from light and hope.

“Great light” is a very suggestive figure for the gospel, and “sitting in the region and shadow of death” is a very graphic description of men bowed under the power of sin, and paralyzed by fear of condemnation. What a mercy that to those who appear out of the reach of the usual means, to those who dwell “by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles,” Jesus comes with power to enlighten and quicken!

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Buy the Spurgeon Study Bible (and other Christ-centered Christmas Gifts)*

Through December 15, Bibles like the Spurgeon Study Bible are available for up to 80% off from Lifeway. AND if you use promo code BIBLEGIFT21, you can get an extra $10 off any purchase over $40.

Here’s what you’ll find inside the Spurgeon Study Bible…

• Hundreds of notes taken right from Spurgeon’s sermons
• A short biography of Spurgeon
• 20 outlines of his earliest sermons (in his own handwriting)
• Spurgeon’s illustrations for key themes throughout the Bible.
• An introduction from Spurgeon for each book of the Bible
• Available in the CSB, KJV, and Spanish RVR 1960 translations.

And the Spurgeon Study Bible is only the beginning of this incredible sale. There are tons of great Bibles and resources available.

There’s only two weeks left to shop at this discount. I hope you’ll browse the deals now and get your order placed by December 15 — just in time for Christmas!

Grab Bibles like the Spurgeon Study Bible for up to 80% off at Lifeway.com/Bibles.

(Use promo code BIBLEGIFT21 for an extra $10 off any purchase over $40.)

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

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Today we pray that if we are right with you, help us to be right in all the transactions of daily life. Help us to be right with regard to your providential dealings with us.

Lord, give much patience to those that are tried. Give a holy resignation both to the sick and to the bereaved, and to such as are brought into poverty. Be very gracious to your dear children, that they may never dishonor you when they are in affliction. Oh Lord, grant us to be holy, grant us to be accepted in the Beloved, and you shall have all the praise.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“So then, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in him,” (Colossians 2:6)

If we have received Christ himself in our inmost hearts, our new life will manifest its intimate acquaintance with him by a walk of faith in him. Walking implies action. Our religion is not to be confined to our closet; we must carry out into practical effect that which we believe. If a man walks in Christ, then he so acts as Christ would act; for Christ being in him, his hope, his love, his joy, his life, he is the reflex of the image of Jesus; and men say of that man, “He is like his Master; he lives like Jesus Christ.”

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Glorify God this Christmas.

Every year, it seems harder than ever to focus on Christ at Christmas. As the world is screaming about gifts and Santa and holiday travels, it’s easy to lose sight of the meaning behind it all — the baby in the manger who was Savior and Lord.

I put together a book, Spurgeon on Christmas — a collection of Christmas sermons from Charles Spurgeon. These sermons are rich and I know that they will help you focus on Christ this Christmas.
(Plus, buying a copy of this book will help support this ministry, so I can continue sending this daily email!)

I hope you’ll buy a copy of Spurgeon on Christmas and be encouraged throughout this Advent and Christmas season.

Buy Spurgeon on Christmas now 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)

Lord, you have not taken away your blessing from us. We do rejoice in this: every day you aid us, and this month you have sent us perhaps more than ever—glory be to your name! And you do provide for all the work of the church, and send prosperity to it in every part and quarter of it; and therefore do we fear and tremble, because of all the goodness which you make to pass before us; and our heart is jealous with a godly jealousy, lest in anything we should vex the Spirit of God. Oh Lord, grant us to be holy, grant us to be accepted in the Beloved, and you shall have all the praise.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever does and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:19)

Our King has not come to abrogate the law, but to confirm and reassert it. His commands are eternal; and if any of the teachers of it should through error break his law, and teach that its least command is nullified, they will lose rank, and subside into the lowest place. The peerage of his kingdom is ordered according to obedience. Not birth, knowledge, or success will make a man great; but humble and precise obedience, both in word and in deed.

The Lord Jesus does not set up a milder law, nor will he allow any one of his servants to presume to do so. Our King fulfills the ancient law, and his Spirit works in us to will and to do of God’s good pleasure as set forth in the immutable statutes of righteousness.

Lord, make me a right loyal subject of your kingdom, and may I both “do and teach” according to your Word! Whether I am little or great on earth, make me great in obedience to you.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Christmas Gift Idea for the Littlest Kiddos

Wherever You Go, I Want You To Know is an incredible children’s book by Melissa Kruger. The book is really fun (with great illustrations and rhymes) with an eternal message: No matter what direction their life takes, no matter what kind of work they do, our biggest dream for our children is that they follow Christ.

If you’re buying any Christmas presents for families with young kids, you definitely need to grab a copy of Wherever You Go I Want You to Know.

My family loves this book — I need to buy it again because my family has completely worn through our copy (we’ve read it so many times that it’s falling off the spine). I hope it will be a blessing to your family!

Buy Wherever You Go, I Want You To Know:

• Amazon (Hardback edition)
• ChristianBook.com (Hardback edition)

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

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Keep your people right with regard to the world? Oh, that the witness that we bear might be an unstained one. Oh, grant to us to be a light in the world, that we may never cast darkness instead of light over the minds of men. Help us to live out Christ’s life. Oh Lord, help us to be so consumed with zeal, that it may eat us up; and may we be so full of love, that those who are round about us may know, that if we write a harsh letter, or say a strong word, love alone dictates it.

May we in everything be Christly, godly; for God is love. Conquer our tempers; subdue our passions; rule us in body, soul, and spirit. Make us to live so that, when death shall close our life on earth, heaven itself shall be but a continuance of the same life, because even now we have the beginnings of heaven in the earnest of the Spirit.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house.” (Matthew 5:14–15)

We are to remove the darkness of ignorance, sin, and sorrow. Christ has lighted us that we may enlighten the world. It is not ours to lie in concealment as to our religion. God intends his grace to be as conspicuous as a city built on the mountain’s top. To attempt to conceal his Spirit is as foolish as to put a lamp “under a bushel;” the lamp should be seen by “all that are in the house,” and so should the Christian’s graces. Household piety is the best of piety. If our light is not seen in the house, depend upon it we have none. Candles are meant for parlors and bedrooms. Let us not cover up the light of grace.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Spurgeon’s Earliest Sermons (And Hundreds of Other Resources)*

Through December 15, Bibles like the Spurgeon Study Bible are available for up to 80% off from Lifeway. AND if you use promo code BIBLEGIFT21, you can get an extra $10 off any purchase over $40.

One of my favorite features of the Spurgeon Study Bible is the LOST SERMONS. Throughout the study Bible, you can find outlines of some of Spurgeon’s earliest sermons — you can even see them in Spurgeon’s own handwriting!

Up until a few years ago, they had never been published or widely read, and now there are 20 of them available right in your Spurgeon Study Bible. These sermons are saturated with rich gospel content. I know they will bless and encourage you.

The Lost Sermons are just one of the many incredible features to this Study Bible. I highly recommend grabbing one now as a Christmas gift to someone else (or yourself 😆).

Grab Bibles like the Spurgeon Study Bible for up to 80% off at Lifeway.com/Bibles.

(Use promo code BIBLEGIFT21 for an extra $10 off any purchase over $40.)

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

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

If you have prospered any among us who may have grown rich, and have forgotten the God who gave them everything; or if you have brought any into poverty, and in their poverty they have not acted as they should; or if you have left any brother to his own heart, and he has found out that he is a fool; if any of us have grieved you; oh, lay not this sin to the charge of your church, and lay it not to the charge of the offender either, but let a sweet forgiveness be bestowed, let a restoration be granted by your Spirit, and let the church be right with God. Oh, how we pray for this!

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“I know how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need.” (Philippians 4:12)

These are two grand things to learn. There are some who know the first, but who do not know the second. I have known several of God’s children who seemed quite eminent for piety when they were abased, but they were never worth anything after they grew rich. They did not know how to abound; they became top-lofty, and far too great for their place.

It was not so with the apostle. When he had much, he knew how to use it. He had asked of God that he might be kept humble—that when he had a full sail he might have plenty of ballast; that when his cup ran over he might not let it run to waste; that in his time of plenty he might be ready to give to those that needed; and that as a faithful steward he might hold all he had at the disposal of his Lord. This is divine learning.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Deals for Black Friday (And Beyond)*

At Christmas, we have the great opportunity to show others the love and generosity of God by giving gifts. One of the best, most God-honoring gifts you can give to someone else is a Bible.

To help you get started on Christmas shopping, Lifeway is selling Bibles (including one of my favorites — the Spurgeon Study Bible) for up to 80% off.

AND if you use code BIBLEGIFT21, you can save $10 on any purchase over $40.

There are tons of great resources available in this sale, so grab a few Bibles to help others follow Christ or treat yourself to a new Bible that will fuel your own devotions in the new year.

Give the gift of God’s Word this Christmas — there’s nothing better to offer!

Grab Bibles like the Spurgeon Study Bible for up to 80% off at Lifeway.com/Bibles.
(Use promo code BIBLEGIFT21 for an extra $10 off any purchase over $40.)

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

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Our Father, we pray with a deep gratitude for all your mercies: may they take possession of all our hearts that, as when David sat in his house of cedar he “magnified the Lord,” so may we also, whenever things go smoothly with us. Lord, may the gratitude we feel prompt us to say again, “How can I repay the LORD for all the good he has done for me?” (Psalm 116:12).

Make every child of yours here, to be every day serving you; and serving you so that heaven’s work may begin below, and something of heaven’s pleasure may be enjoyed even now. But Lord, while we work for you, always keep us sitting at the feet of Jesus. Let our faith never wander away from the simplicity of its confidence in him. Let our motive never be anything but his glory; may our hearts be taken up with his love, and our thoughts perpetually engaged about his person. Let us choose the good part which shall not be taken away—that if we serve with Martha we may also sit with Mary.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“We give thanks to you, God; we give thanks to you, for your name is near. People tell about your wondrous works.” (Psalm 75:1)

We do not give thanks to ourselves for we were helpless, but to God who heard our cry, and replied to the taunt of our foes. Never let us neglect thanksgiving, or we may fear that another time our prayers will remain unanswered. As the smiling flowers gratefully reflect in their lovely colors the various constituents of the solar ray, so should gratitude spring up in our hearts after the smiles of God’s providence.

We should praise God again and again. Stinted gratitude is ingratitude. For infinite goodness there should be measureless thanks. Faith promises redoubled praise for greatly needed and signal deliverances. 

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Celebrate Christmas with Spurgeon’s best sermons.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving in the United States, which means that in 48 hours, no one will be able to judge you for listening to Christmas music and reading Christmas books. I want to recommend one resource to you —Spurgeon on Christmas.

This book is a compilation of 14 classic Spurgeon sermons on Christmas, the incarnation, and the birth of our Lord. Read this book before Christmas to remember (and celebrate) the reason for the season!

Reading Spurgeon’s classic Christmas and Christmas Eve sermons has become one of my favorite family Christmas traditions. These sermons are so rich and help us all remember the wonderful gift of God’s Son that came down at Christmas.

Buy Spurgeon on Christmas today 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)

Throughout this year, all of our path has been strewn with mercies, and we desire this morning to record, “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,” (Psalm 103:2).

We thank you now in the retrospect for the trials which we have endured. Some of us have been brought very low with physical pain and mental weariness, and others have been sorely smitten with bereavement, losses, and crosses, and persecutions, but there is not one out of all our trials which we could have afforded to have been without.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“The humble will eat and be satisfied; those who seek the LORD will praise him. May your hearts live forever!” (Psalm 22:26)

For a while they may keep a fast, but their thanksgiving days must and shall come. “May your hearts live forever.” Your spirits shall not fail through trial, you shall not die of grief, immortal joys shall be your portion. Thus Jesus speaks even from the cross to the troubled seeker. If his dying words are so assuring, what consolation may we not find in the truth that he lives forever to make intercession for us! They who eat at Jesus’ table receive the fulfillment of the promise, “If anyone eats of this bread he will live forever” (John 6:51).

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Start your Christmas shopping at Lifeway*

The Bible is a precious gift from God. We thank him for his grace by giving his Word to others as well. As we enter a season of gift-giving, we should consider how the gifts we give will point others to Christ.

Have you considered giving someone a Bible this Christmas?

• Give a non-believer a copy of the Bible to encourage them to consider Christ.
• Give a believer a new Bible that will fuel their 2022 Bible reading.
• Give someone a new Study Bible that will help them dive deeper into the Word.

To celebrate Christmas, Lifeway is selling Bibles for up to 80% off.

AND if you use code BIBLEGIFT21, you can save $10 on any purchase over $40.

Give the gift of God’s Word this Christmas — there’s nothing better to offer!

Grab Bibles like the Spurgeon Study Bible for up to 80% off at Lifeway.com/Bibles.
(Use promo code BIBLEGIFT21 for an extra $10 off any purchase over $40.)