Author: Charles Spurgeon

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Look upon your church with mercy, Lord. Revive your churches, for we fear that they have become lukewarm like the Laodicean church. Come, Lord, like a live coal from the altar, and set your churches ablaze once again. We long for the days of the Son of Man, times of refreshing! We yearn to see millions of souls converted to God. We desire to witness the entire church being revived and empowered by the indwelling Spirit. You are capable of doing it, Lord. Do it for the sake of your name and your glory.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth will fear him.” (Psalm 67:7)

Even those farthest away will fear him. The ends of the earth will put an end to their idolatry and worship their God. All tribes, without exception, will experience a sacred awe of the God of Israel. Ignorance will be dispelled, insolence subdued, injustice banished, idolatry abhorred, and the love, light, life, and liberty of the Lord will encompass all. The Lord himself will be the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Amen and amen.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Teach the wonder of God to children

The best strategy for protecting our children from false teaching is to teach them theology. Theology, properly taught, will awaken wonder and awe in any child’s heart.

A great resource for teaching theology to children (ages 7-13) is Emblems of the Infinite King. The book describes crucial, biblical doctrines about God with beautiful text and stunning illustrations. I love reading this book to my kids, but I also love reading it on my own. 🤓

Awaken your children to the wonder of God and invite them to approach his throne with fear and trembling through Emblems of the Infinite King.

Buy Emblems of the Infinite King:

• Amazon
• ChristianBook.com

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

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Rest is a gift from you, not something we earn. With the rest we experienced this weekend, we receive strength to carry out the work you have prepared for us. Grant us that strength today. May this day be a time of fruitful activity and may we make wise use of our time. We approach rest as a marketplace, seeking to gather the provisions we need. Like a port of call, may we stock up well and embark on the journey of the week ahead, sustained by the provisions you have provided. Grant us success, Lord. And may your people be nourished with the finest of the wheat, going about their days with hearts filled with joy and gratitude, as if they have been to a festive celebration.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth will fear him.” (Psalm 67:7)

Truly, the Lord’s blessing is manifold. He blesses and blesses and blesses again. How abundant are his beatitudes! How precious are his blessings! They are the special inheritance of his chosen ones. He is the Savior of all humanity, but especially of those who believe.

In this verse, we find a song for all future time. “God shall bless us” is our confident assurance. He may strike us, strip us, or even slay us, but he will bless us. He cannot turn away from doing good to his elect.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Learn prayer from some incredible mentors*

In my life, some of the most impactful moments of discipleship have taken place when my discipler wasn’t even talking to me — but talking to our Lord. This is the best way to learn prayer — by praying along with others, by “eavesdropping” on their conversations with God.

And today, we aren’t just limited to learning prayer from the people around us — we can learn prayer from almost 2,000 years of church history.

We have a lot to learn from the devotional life of the early church — and teachers like Augustine, Irenaeus, Ambrose, and John Chrysostom can be great examples of prayer.

I’m really excited about a new book, Fount of Heaven which carefully collects some of the most beautiful prayers from the first six centuries of the church.

This book is really beautiful and I can’t wait to see how it continues to strengthen my prayer life.

Fount of Heaven has been sold out for MONTHS but it’s FINALLY back in stock! To celebrate, my friends at Lexham Press have a special offer for you. This month only, “Pray with Spurgeon” subscribers can get Fount of Heaven at a discount.

I hope you’ll grab a copy and start strengthening your prayer life.

This month only: Buy Fount of Heaven and save 25%.

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

PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH (BY SPURGEON)

Dear Father, save this congregation. Some may have gone through great lengths to come to this place, yet they remain unsaved. We cannot comprehend why they desire to hear the Word but do not receive it. However, perhaps today you have great plans of love for them. May this be the day when they come to know that you have loved them with an everlasting love. Until now, they have been indifferent and careless. They may have even resisted your Spirit and rejected Christ, provoking him. But now, Lord, where sin has abounded, let grace abound even more. May this be a new beginning for those who will see Christ today, accept him, delight in him, receive perfect pardon through him, and become new creations in him, all to the praise and glory of your grace.

Amen.

GET A FREE BOOK

Thanks to Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Spurgeon College for sponsoring the Weekend Edition.

Midwestern is giving away a free ebook devotional by Charles Spurgeon. This devotional collects excerpts from some of Spurgeon’s greatest sermons, all with great application for life today. I’m so excited about this resource and know it will be a blessing to you. Click here to enter to win.

They’ve also curated some great resources, including FREE seminary-level video classes. Get all of these resources right here.

WEEKEND LONG READ (SERMON BY SPURGEON)

The Sin of Unbelief

Is it not a sin for a creature to doubt the word of its Maker? Is it not a crime and an insult to the Divinity, for me, an atom, a particle of dust, to dare to deny his words? Is it not the very summit of arrogance and extremity of pride for a son of Adam to say, even in his heart, “God I doubt thy grace; God I doubt thy love; God I doubt thy power?”

Read the full sermon from the Spurgeon Center for Biblical Preaching at Midwestern Seminary.

A FREE RESOURCE FROM MIDWESTERN

Theology in the Everyday: The Ordinary Means of Grace

What are the ordinary means of grace? They are the outward practices God has prescribed by which He promises His nourishing presence to His people when they participate by faith. Put more simply, the ordinary means of grace are God’s prescribed proclamations of the Gospel, and they include Word (preaching, teaching, and evangelism), water (baptism), and table (the Lord’s Supper).

PREPARE FOR MINISTRY AT MIDWESTERN

What Jesus purchased is precious. We’ve made it our purpose. Midwestern Seminary exists for the Church, and we serve the church by biblically educating God-called men and women to be and make disciples of Jesus Christ. If you’re called to serve the church, train with us, for the Church.

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

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Prepare us, Lord, and keep us eagerly waiting for your coming or for our ascent to be with you. Oh, the short time that remains until we see the God with whom we speak today! In a few days, weeks, months, or years, we will cross the Jordan and each enter our inheritance. May it be so, God willing! May none of us fall short due to unbelief, but may we all be present when the roll is called, ready to answer to our names. Grant this, O blessed Lord of love.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“The earth has produced its harvest; God, our God, blesses us.” (Psalm 67:6)

He will make the earth’s increase a true blessing. People will see in his gifts the hand of the same God whom ancient Israel adored, and Israel, in particular, will rejoice in this blessing and exult in her own God. We can never truly love God until we know that he is ours, and the more we love him, the more we long for complete assurance that he is indeed ours. What name dearer than “my own God” can we give him? The bride in the Song of Solomon has no sweeter song than “my beloved is mine, and I am his.”

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

God’s love is an ocean. Dive in with Spurgeon.

A major theme in Spurgeon’s preaching (and all of Scripture!) is the incomparable love of God. God’s love provides for us, serves us, helps us, forgives us. God’s love, seen supremely at the cross of Christ, is our only hope in life and death. It’s important that we continually remember and reflect on the greatness of God’s love.

To help you continue to enjoy God’s love, I put together a new book, Spurgeon on God’s Love. This book compiles twelve sermons by Spurgeon, all reflecting on the glorious reality of God’s unchanging love.

These sermons have really encouraged me over the last few months and I know that they will encourage you! Plus, buying a copy is a great way to support this ministry, so I can continue to send this newsletter every day.

I hope you’ll grab a copy for yourself (and another one for a friend!) and reflect on God’s love in your summer reading.

Buy Spurgeon on God’s Love:

• 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)

Our Father, we humbly ask for a great favor: that others whom Christ has redeemed may come to know him. O Lord, we live amidst millions who still lie in the clutches of the evil one, as if his embrace were their place of rest. O Savior, be exalted among humanity. Oh, that your name were as sweet to them as a fragrant ointment poured forth! May they discover the excellence of a life with you, the peace and brilliance that you bestow upon the hearts of your people.

Lord, they remain unconvinced, and even those who are convinced hesitate. They acknowledge you as the Son of God, yet their belief is incomplete. O Spirit of God, we implore you, grant them faith. Work it in the hearts of millions. Bring them to the feet of the Savior, and may this day be a day when your holy power is manifested in gathering the wanderers and strengthening those who are already with God. O Lord, many are with us, but there are multitudes who are neither with God nor with us. Change them, renew their hearts for the sake of Jesus.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“The earth has produced its harvest; God, our God, blesses us.” (Psalm 67:6)

Sin first brought a curse upon the land, and only grace can remove it. However, when the principles of true religion elevate humanity, and the dominion of Jesus is universally acknowledged, the science of agriculture will be perfected, people will be encouraged to work, industry will banish poverty, and the land will be restored to a state of fertility surpassing its previous abundance.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

A Tip to Stop Distractions in Prayer*

We are often distracted by other thoughts and we find our eyes slowly drifting off of our great God and his amazing grace.

Using a prayer book can be a great way to stay focused in prayer. When you find yourself distracted, you can return to the words on the page and bring your attention back to the Lord. Recently, I’ve been really enjoying Fount of Heaven: Prayers of the Early Church.

This book compiles some incredible prayers from the first six hundred years of Christian history, so you can pray along with bold leaders who lived within a few generations of Jesus himself.

It’s such a valuable resource!

Whether you’re interested in church history or not, this book really is a valuable resource to strengthen your prayer life.

This month only: Buy Fount of Heaven and save 25%.

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

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

We find great comfort and encouragement in remembering, O Savior, that you are the “resurrection and the life.” United with you, we can never truly die. Even if we physically perish, we shall live, for there can be no dead members in your living Body.

You are the God of the living, and therefore, those who have fallen asleep are still alive. They continue to exist in fullness of life, each with their God, and he who has God possesses bliss. We draw near to you, Jesus, fleeing from the death that surrounds us, emerging from the darkness of the tomb into the radiance of your blessed presence, that we may dwell in the light, walk in it as you are in the light, and have fellowship with your Father and with you. Oh, the joy of being united with you.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Let the peoples praise you, God, let all the peoples praise you.” (Psalm 67:5)

These words are not a mere repetition but a chorus worthy of being sung again and again (cf. Psalm 67:3). The psalmist is filled with the theme of the participation of the Gentiles in the worship of the Lord, and he can hardly contain or express his joy.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Teach your kids to LOVE the Bible (not just read it)

Read it, See it, Say it, Sing it by Hunter Beless is a really fun, rhyming celebration of the Bible that will really encourage your kids (and you!) to treasure God’s Word. My kids have really enjoyed reading it, and since first reading it, the topics and phrases from the book have come up often in our conversations.

Read it, See it, Say it, Sing it will help your kids approach the Bible with excitement and creativity, so I hope you’ll grab a copy today.

Buy Read it, See it, Say it, Sing it:

• Amazon
• ChristianBook.com

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

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Lord, bless those who least expect it, and let your Word come to them as a marvelous wonder, like the man who plowed his field thinking only of the clods and oxen, yet stumbled upon a hidden treasure.

Comfort those who mourn, O God! Let the joy of those who have departed be so profound that grief becomes almost unnoticeable.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Let the nations rejoice and shout for joy, for you judge the peoples with fairness and lead the nations on earth.” (Psalm 67:4)

Wrongdoings on the part of governors bring about national affliction, but where the Lord rules, righteousness prevails. He does no harm to anyone. His laws embody righteousness itself. He rights all wrongs and delivers the oppressed. Justice on the throne is a cause for national exultation.

He will lead the nations like a shepherd leading his flock, and through his grace, they will willingly follow. Then there will be peace, abundance, and prosperity. It is a great act of condescension on God’s part to become the Shepherd of nations and govern them for their own good.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Should we use pre-written prayers?*

We don’t want to merely go through the motions of prayer — we need to have deep, passionate, heartfelt communication with the living God. Prayer that engages our hearts, fills our minds, and fuels our lives of love for God and others.

Some people think that using a book of pre-written prayers is incompatible with this kind of passionate prayer life.

But that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Using pre-written prayers can actually lift your prayer life out of a rut (praying the same words about the same issues), giving us new things to pray for, biblical language to pray with, and different attributes of God to reflect on in prayer.

Praying with the Fount of Heaven book has really fueled my prayer life this month, and I know it will fuel your prayer life as well.

This book compiles hundreds of prayers from the early church, so you can pray along with heroes who lived within just a few generations of Jesus’ ministry.

Pray with passion, with all of your heart.
Pray with the church, with all of history.

This month only: Buy Fount of Heaven and save 25%.

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

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Lord, bless your people. May your grace overflow in our lives. Let us not only be believers, but fully devoted believers. Transform us into genuine saints, living wholly for God. May we rise above the ordinary masses in holy obedience, faithfully doing your will, so that we may experience your teachings in unwavering faith, embracing them and allowing God to dwell in us and us in God.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Let the nations rejoice and shout for joy, for you judge the peoples with fairness and lead the nations on earth.” (Psalm 67:4)

When people come to know God’s ways and witness his salvation, it brings immense happiness to their hearts. Nothing brings joy as quickly, surely, and enduringly as God’s salvation. Nations will never experience true gladness until they follow the leadership of the great Shepherd. They may change their forms of government from monarchies to republics, and from republics to communes, but they will remain miserable until they bow before the Lord of all.

How beautiful is the phrase “to sing for joy!” Some sing out of formality, others for show, some as a duty, and others as a mere amusement. But to sing from the depths of the heart, where overflowing joy finds expression, that is true singing.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Real Hope for All Your Fears and Anxiety

Today’s prayer featured a stunning image — God renewing his people so that we can soar, like an eagle, above all of our doubts and worries. Unfortunately, dealing with our fears isn’t always so easy, is it? We won’t grow past our fears unless we address them with solid biblical truth.

That’s the point of Running Scared: Fear, Worry, and the God of Rest by Ed Welch. This book offers a biblical perspective on fear and worry in general, and then zooms in to offer biblical hope for some of the most common fears (e.g., fear of money, fear of people, fear of death, etc.).

Reading Running Scared will give you more confidence in God and his Word that will help you deal with your own fears and to share the hope of the Bible with others too.

Buy Running Scared:

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

*Get the audiobook for free with a trial of Audible. Cancel anytime, but this book is yours to keep forever.

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

PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH (BY SPURGEON)

Bless us as a church and as a congregation, and continue to increase us according to your divine plan. Unite us more and more in holy love, and may the Spirit of God rest upon this place like a cloud, while within the hearts of your people, may he be like a flaming fire. Send times of revival and refreshing to all the churches. Let our entire country be blessed from on high. O Lord, we thank you for giving us the Bible, an open ministry, and the presence of the Holy Spirit among us.

Amen.

GET A FREE BOOK

Thanks to Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Spurgeon College for sponsoring the Weekend Edition.

Midwestern is giving away a free ebook devotional by Charles Spurgeon. This devotional collects excerpts from some of Spurgeon’s greatest sermons, all with great application for life today. I’m so excited about this resource and know it will be a blessing to you. Click here to enter to win.

They’ve also curated some great resources, including FREE seminary-level video classes. Get all of these resources right here.

WEEKEND LONG READ (SERMON BY SPURGEON)

Speak, Lord!

The Lord speaks to us chiefly through his Word. Oh, what converse God has with his people when they are quietly reading their Bibles! There, in your still room, as you have been reading a chapter, have you not felt as if God spoke those words straight to your heart there and then? Has not Christ himself said to you, while you have been reading his Word, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me”? The text does not seem to be like an old letter in a book; rather is it like a fresh speech newly spoken from the mouth of the Lord to you. It has been so, dear friends, has it not?

Read the full sermon from the Spurgeon Center for Biblical Preaching at Midwestern Seminary.

A FREE RESOURCE FROM MIDWESTERN

How to Leave a Church

On this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ross Ferguson discuss how Christians can leave a church wisely and charitably.

PREPARE FOR MINISTRY AT MIDWESTERN

What Jesus purchased is precious. We’ve made it our purpose. Midwestern Seminary exists for the Church, and we serve the church by biblically educating God-called men and women to be and make disciples of Jesus Christ. If you’re called to serve the church, train with us, for the Church.

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

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Speak, Lord, and if there is darkness, illuminate it with your Word. Address those who are slumbering and awaken them. Speak to those burdened with heavy hearts and bid them rejoice. Today, let us resound the resounding cymbals as we delight in the Lord, who is our strength and our song, “who has also become our salvation.”

Let us ascend to the lofty mountain today and rejoice in him who beckons us to climb higher and higher. May our dwelling be in the heights. Do you ask us, “Who can ascend to the hill of the Lord, and who shall dwell in His holy place?” We yearn to be of that company, drawing nearer to you. We desire to be as close to God as Jesus is, so near that we cannot be any closer.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Let the peoples praise you, God; let all the peoples praise you.” (Psalm 67:3)

Cause them to own your goodness and thank you with all their hearts; let nations do this, and do it continually, being instructed in thy gracious way. May every man bring his music, every citizen his canticle, every peasant his praise, every prince his psalm. All are under obligations to you, to thank you will benefit all, and praise from all will greatly glorify you; therefore, O Lord, give all men the grace to adore your grace, the goodness to see your goodness.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Finding Scripture-saturated hope in the midst of doubt and suffering

For Christians, doubt is often associated with our own experiences of suffering. It is hard to believe in a good and powerful God when we feel so much pain in this broken world.

In the midst of suffering, it is easy to doubt God’s love for us and feel as if he has deserted us. An excellent book to help you find hope and faith through that kind of suffering is Deserted by God? by Sinclair Ferguson.

This book offers several reflections on the Psalms of lament in the Bible, where divinely-inspired authors cried out to God in the midst of their pain.

No matter what trials you are currently going through (or will go through in the future), Deserted by God? will give you the kind of Bible-saturated firm faith you need to endure. I hope you will grab a copy today.

Buy Deserted by God?:

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