Category: Pray with Spurgeon

Pray with Spurgeon: Worldly people deny the gospel. But God is in control.

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Lord, we have a burden which we must now lay before you, and ask you to help us in it. We mourn over the condition of your church; for on every side as we look around, we see men endeavoring to undermine the doctrines of the everlasting gospel. Time was when a man was famous for lifting up his axe upon the trees of the forest; but now they with axes break down the carved work of your sanctuary—they despoil your truth.

There is not a single doctrine of your word which the wise men among us do not deny. Yes, and those that pretend to be the ministers of the gospel are among the first to speak against it, and to denounce it, and to sanction license to sin because you will no more punish it, and to declare that Jesus Christ is not your Son.

O Lord God, our heart often sinks within us; we are apt to wish to lay our hand upon the ark to steady it, for the oxen shake it; but we know it is in your hand; and having spread the case before you, we leave it there.

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)

Whatever else you have done or have not done, you have received Christ. The act of faith was the putting out of your empty hands to receive all the fullness of the Godhead in receiving Christ. There are some precious experiences to which you have not yet attained, some lofty heights to which you have not yet climbed, but you “have received Christ Jesus as Lord.” That is the distinguishing mark of all true Christians. Though you may not all belong to the same denomination, yet without a single exception this is true concerning you. Whether you are old or young, whether you are well instructed or ill taught, whether you are full of faith or are troubled with many doubts and fears, you “have received Christ Jesus as Lord.”

This verse and commentary were taken from the Spurgeon Study Bible. Tomorrow is the LAST DAY to get the Spurgeon Study Bible for 50% off — use promo code SPURGEONBOOKS. Click here to learn more.*

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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 cares about you. Why should you worry?

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

As for our cares, we are ashamed that we have them, seeing that you care for us. We have trusted you now for many years, and your faithfulness has never been under suspicion, nor your love a matter of question. We therefore leave every concern about our families or about ourselves, about our business, or about our souls, entirely with our God.

And as for our sin, we bless you for a sight of the precious blood of Jesus: when you see it you pass over us. No angel of justice smites where once the blood is sprinkled. Oh, let us have a sight of the blood of Jesus, too and rest because you have forever put away our sin, because we believe in Jesus.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you.” (1 Peter 5:6–7)

He does not say “laying all your cares on him,” but he uses a much more energetic word. You have to cast the load upon the Lord; the act will require effort. It is no child’s play to cast all our cares on our Lord when there are six little children, shoes worn out, cupboard empty, purse bare, and the deacons talking of reducing the scanty salary. Here is a work worthy of faith.

You will have to lift with all your soul before the burden can be shifted and the anxiety cast upon the Lord. That effort, however, will not be half so exhausting as the effort of carrying your load yourself.

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Last Week to Save on the Spurgeon Study Bible

This month, the Spurgeon Study Bible is available for 50% off for “Pray with Spurgeon” subscribers (Just use promo code SPURGEONBOOKS).

There’s just a few days left in March, which means there’s just a few days left to grab this great deal and add the Spurgeon Study Bible to your library.

Here’s what you’ll find inside…

  • 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.

This is a great resource. I hope you’ll add The Spurgeon Study Bible to your library today and save!

Buy the Spurgeon Study Bible on LifeWay.com (Use promo code SPURGEONBOOKS to save 50%)

Pray with Spurgeon: God is an awesome forgiving King

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Glory be to the Lord most high, who sits on the clouds, who sits as King forever and ever. Our hearts rejoice to hear the gladsome tidings that the Lord reigns. Let his kingdom be established over the sons of men; for his kingdom must come, and of it there will be no end.

Behold, we come to your throne this morning bearing about with us a body of sin and death, and consequently much of sin, and much of care, and it may be much of sorrow; but we would be unburdened at your mercy-seat now.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“I said to the LORD, ‘You are my Lord; I have nothing good besides you.’ As for the holy people who are in the land, they are the noble ones. All my delight is in them.” (Psalm 16:2–3)

I cannot do any good, my God; you are too great to need anything from me; but I may be the means of blessing to your people, your saints may reap some little benefit from what I do. They are the company I keep, they are the choicest friends I know; and if you will but help me to do something for you which shall bring blessing to them, I shall indeed rejoice.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Get your anger under control.

If you’re feeling angry in your workplace, home, or anywhere, I want to recommend a short booklet to you, Help! My Anger is Out of Control by Jim Newheiser.

This booklet is packed with biblical truth to help us understand and address anger in a way that glorifies God and depends on Christ. I’m exaggerating when I say that this book saved my life and my marriage.

Whether you want to get your own anger under control or help someone else with their anger, Help! My Anger is Out of Control is a great resource.

Buy Help! My Anger is Out of Control:

Pray with Spurgeon: I belong to Jesus — in life and death.

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

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Oh, glorify yourself in us! Dear Savior, we pray. Come and mark us all distinctly with the blood mark, as being wholly yours, and henceforth may we say with Paul, “Let no one cause me trouble, because I bear on my body the marks of Jesus” (Galatians 6:17).

As we have been buried with you by baptism into death, so would we be dead to all the world and only live for Christ. God grant it may be so, and we will glorify you in life, and death, and forever.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“From now on, let no one cause me trouble, because I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.” (Galatians 6:17)

I have the marks of the whips upon my body. I am the branded slave of Jesus Christ. There is no getting the marks out of me. I cannot run away. I cannot deny that he is my Master and my Owner: “I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.”

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

A Free Resource for Pastors and Church Leaders

In the midst of the pandemic, I became a pastor last year. And while I already had a lot of ministry leadership experience. Nothing could have prepared me for the unique challenges and joys of pastoral ministry. My schedule has never been more full, but my heart has never been more full either.

Pastoral ministry is challenging. And we all need encouragement to persevere.

So I’m launching a new weekly Spurgeon newsletter, just for pastors. It’s called the Pastor’s Note. Each newsletter will feature encouragement for ministry from Spurgeon, a preaching illustration from Spurgeon that you can use in your own teaching, and a prayer request from a pastor. You can check out a sample here.

If you’re a pastor, click here to subscribe for free.
Spurgeon’s instructions for pastors have been so encouraging to me, and I know they will encourage you as well.

If you’re not a pastor, please send this page to your pastors and invite them to subscribe. (They’ll thank you later 😉)

Subscribe to The Pastor’s Note for free right here.

Pray with Spurgeon: God is eternally happy

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

O God, most high and glorious, the thought of your infinite serenity has often cheered us; for we are toiling and moiling, troubled and distressed here below, beneath the moon; but you sit forever in perfect happiness.

Your designs cause you no care or fear; for you will surely carry them out. Your purposes stand as fast as the eternal hills: your power knows no bound, your goodness no stint. You bring order out of confusion, and our defeats are but your victories. We sow in tears, but you do see us reap in joy. Our everlasting happiness is present to you, even while groans and mourning are our present lot.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee. He revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.” (John 2:11)

Our Lord’s miracles were worked in each case to meet a need. The wine had failed at the wedding feast, and our Lord had come in at the time of the need, when the bridegroom was fearful of being made ashamed. That need was a great blessing. If there had been sufficient wine for the feast, Jesus would not have worked this miracle, and they would not have tasted this purest and best of wine.

It is a blessed need that makes room for Jesus to come in with miracles of love. It is good to run short that we may be driven to the Lord by our necessity, for he will more than supply it. If we have no need, Christ will not come to us. But if we are in dire necessity, his hands will stretch out to us. If our needs stand before us like huge empty water pots, or if our souls are as full of grief as those same pots were filled with water up to the brim, Jesus can, by his sweet will, turn all the water into wine—the sighing into singing. We should be glad to be weak so the power of God may rest on us.

This verse and commentary were taken from the Spurgeon Study Bible. This month only, you can get the Spurgeon Study Bible for 50% off — use promo code SPURGEONBOOKS. Click here to learn more.*

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Address conflict with a biblical strategy

We all face conflict in our homes, in our workplaces, and anywhere else we interact with other sinners like us, so we need a robust and biblical strategy for addressing conflict. One of the best books I’ve read on dealing with conflict in a distinctly Christian way is The Peacemaker by Ken Sande.

We should also aspire to be peacemakers because Christ promised that peacemakers will be blessed (Matthew 5:9). The Peacemaker offers biblical guidance for dealing with conflict and sin, and becoming a peacemaker.

Buy The Peacemaker:

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Pray with Spurgeon: Saturate your church with prayer

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

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Bless at this time very graciously the church to which we belong. Let us know the power of prayer today and tomorrow. Pour out upon the members of this church an intense spirit of prayer.

May we agonize tomorrow for the glory of God, and today also, and let it not depart from us so long as we live. Send us, Lord, a mighty ground swell of intense desire for the glory of God, and may these, your servants, banded together in church fellowship, recognize their sweet obligations to their dying Lord, and determine that the prayers of the church shall go up before him like sweet perfume.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Every valley will be lifted up, and every mountain and hill will be leveled; the uneven ground will become smooth and the rough places, a plain.” (Isaiah 40:4)

When God means to come to men, nothing can stop him or block up his road. He will level mountains, and fill up valleys, but he will come to his people, somehow or other. And when he comes to them, if he finds many crooked things about them, he will make the crooked straight, and the rough places he will make plain.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Teach the wonders of theology to children

If you don’t teach your child good theology, who will? (Hint: It’s not the children’s ministry worker they see for 45 minutes each week). If you don’t fill your child’s mind and soul with biblical truth, the world will fill it with worldly truth.

We must take this task seriously and teach our children the wonders and joy of who God is and what he has done.

A great resource for teaching theology in a creative and deeply biblical way is The Ology: Ancient Truths Ever New by Marty Machowski. This book is a collection of over 70 short devotionals to teach children (primarily ages 6-12) the wonders of God.

The book is simple enough for a 3-year-old to grasp and also deep enough for a 12-year-old to be amazed. It really is an incredible resource!

After hearing about The Ology for years I finally got a copy for my family and I’m planning to read one section every day at breakfast. You can join us!

Buy The Ology: Ancient Truths Ever New:

Pray with Spurgeon: I want to belong to Jesus.

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

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Oh, to be wholly Christ’s! We do mourn that we cannot reach to this—that in the secret of our hearts every devil should be cast out, every demon driven to its deep, every sin made hateful, every thought of sin made loathsome to us, until only pure desires and inward longings after perfect holiness shall predominate in our nature.

O God, let the scourge still be used to drive out the buyers and sellers: we would not ask to have them spared, but let the temple of my body be the Lord’s, seeing that he has built it and has cleansed it with his blood.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“The sorrows of those who take another god for themselves will multiply…” (Psalm 16:4)

We must be faithful to God—to the God revealed to us in the Book of God—the God of the Old Testament, of the New Testament, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. We must keep to him, not make another god after our own imagination.

It is practical idolatry even to conceive of God otherwise than he is revealed in Holy Scripture. This we must not do; but say, concerning the God of the Bible, “This God is our God forever and ever.”

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

What is the church, anyway?

Every Christian has an answer to that question. But is your answer biblical, or is it merely defined by your own experiences (whether good or bad)?

The Church is God’s plan for reaching the world. He designed it, so he knows how it can work best. The good news is, we don’t have to guess at God’s design for the church; it has been clearly revealed to us in the pages of Scripture.

This new short book, The Church: An Introduction by Gregg Allison is a great resource for deepening your understanding of the church. This book is short and approachable. It will drive to your knees in worship and gratitude for God’s wisdom in his plan for your church.

Buy The Church: An Introduction:

Pray with Spurgeon: Jesus, let us love you so intensely

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

May no professed Christian ever violate the loyalty of his obedience to his King. May those dear wounds of his have more sway over us than any silver scepter had over the subjects of earthly princes. May we feel that if he drank for us the vinegar and gall, whatever cup he sets before us we will cheerfully drink.

Rule us, Savior, rule us, we ask you. And let no believer violate the chastity of his heart to the Beloved of his soul. O Jesus, let us love you so intensely, that whatever else there may be of loving relationship, still this may cover all and swallow up all. Oh, to be wholly Christ’s!

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)

Yes, we shall come to this if we are believers. Sorrow shall cease, and tears shall be wiped away. This is the world of weeping, but it passes away. There shall be a new heaven, and a new earth, and therefore there will be nothing to weep over concerning the fall and its consequent miseries.

What will our state be when there will be no more sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain? This will be more glorious than we can as yet imagine. O eyes that are red with weeping, cease your scalding flow, for in a little while ye shall know no more tears! None can wipe tears away like the God of love, but he is coming to do it.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Celebrate Lent and Easter with Spurgeon and Others

There’s a reason I put together a newsletter with prayers from Spurgeon every day — it’s because I believe there is great wisdom to be found in church history.

Church history has (unfortunately) gotten a bad reputation. Many write off church history as “boring,” but this couldn’t be further from the case. As we learn from and pray with voices from church history, we find ourselves more faithful and Bible-saturated than before.

And that’s why I was really excited to receive a copy of An Ocean of Grace: A Journey to Easter with Great Voices from the Past, a new daily devotional by Tim Chester. Each devotional features a passage of Scripture, a brief reflection, and a prayer from church history (diverse vocies from Augustine to Spurgeon).

The book is designed to be used for devotional reading during Lent, but I know it will be profoundly useful to aid prayer for any time of the year. I hope you’ll grab a copy — this book is a treasure!

Buy An Ocean of Grace by Tim Chester:

Pray with Spurgeon: We do everything for Jesus’ glory.

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Assist us, we pray most blessed Redeemer, to show forth your praises in our lives. Sanctify us in our households. May we go in and out before you showing the name and nature of Christ. Help us in our business, that in all we do among our fellow men we may act as Christ would have us act.

Strengthen us in secret; there may we be mighty in prayer. Guard us in public, that neither in act nor word we may slip away from you. Above all, cast cords of love around our hearts. Oh, hold us, Savior, never let us go! May no professed Christian here ever violate the loyalty of his obedience to his King.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

If I can truly claim that I have both confessed Christ and believed in him, then I am saved. The text does not say it may be so, but it is plain as a pikestaff, and clear as the sun in the heavens: “you will be saved.” As a believer and a confessor, I may lay my hand on this promise, and plead it before the Lord God at this moment, and throughout life, and in the hour of death, and at the day of judgment.

I must be saved from the guilt of sin, the power of sin, the punishment of sin, and ultimately from the very being of sin. God has said it—“you will be saved.” I believe it. I shall be saved: I am saved. Glory be to God forever and ever!

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE*

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

This month, the Spurgeon Study Bible is available for 50% off for “Pray with Spurgeon” subscribers (Just use promo code SPURGEONBOOKS).

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 while they’re 50% off!
Buy the Spurgeon Study Bible on LifeWay.com (Use promo code SPURGEONBOOKS to save 50%)

*This section contains sponsored advertising content.

Pray with Spurgeon: We use every second for God

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

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Our Lord and Master, Redeemer and Savior, come and take entire possession of us. You must take by force what you have purchased, or you will never have it. By force of arms, the arms must be those of love, will you capture our willful, wayward spirit. Come and divide the spoil with the strong in us, we pray.

Take every faculty and use it, overpower and sanctify it. Every moment of our time help us to employ for you; every breath may we breathe out to your honor. We feel that there is unconquered territory in our nature yet. Subdue, Lord, we ask you, our corruptions; cast them out, and in our spirit rule and conquer. There set up your eternal throne—“Wean our heart from every creature, Thee to love, and Thee alone.”

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“I cried out to him with my mouth, and praise was on my tongue.” (Psalm 66:17)

It is well when prayer and praise go together, like the horses in Pharaoh’s chariot. Some cry who do not sing, and some sing who do not cry: both together are best. Since the Lord’s answers so frequently follow close at the heels of our petitions, and even overtake them, it becomes us to let our grateful praises keep pace with our humble prayers. Observe that the Psalmist did both cry and speak; the Lord has cast the dumb devil out of his children, and those of them who are least fluent with their tongues are often the most eloquent with their hearts.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

You will suffer (and Christ will be with you)

None of knows how 2021 will compare to 2020, but we can be confident that we will experience trials this year. Why can we be sure of this? Because Jesus promised “You will have suffering in this world” (John 16:33).

We will experience suffering, so we need to be equipped to walk through our suffering in a God-honoring way. Spurgeon has been an incredible mentor to me on this topic, which is why I compiled 12 of his classic sermons into a book, Spurgeon on Suffering: Reflections on Our Pain and God’s Grace.

Spurgeon offers such a realistic, hopeful approach to our suffering, rooted in the glorious suffering of Christ. I hope that this book will encourage you.

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