Category: Pray with Spurgeon

Pray with Spurgeon: Jesus died that we might live

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

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

When we saw that Jesus died that we might live, that the cross was the best proof of divine affection, then we looked to Jesus suffering in our stead. We trusted in the great atonement, and we found a peace. Oh, what shall we say of it? Our very soul sings at the remembrance of the peace which has never been taken from us.

Many days have passed since first we knew it, and many changes we have seen, but we have never lost our hold on Christ; nor has he ever lost his hold of us; and here we are still, to weep to the praise of the mercy that we have found, and to tell to others, as we have breath to speak, that the Lord is a great sin-pardoning God.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“I hate a crowd of evildoers, and I do not sit with the wicked.” (Psalm 26:5)

Saints have a seat at another table, and will never leave the King’s dainties for the husks of the swine-trough. Better to sit with the blind, and the halt, and the lame, at the table of mercy, than with the wicked in their feasts of ungodliness. Yea, better to sit on Job’s dunghill than on Pharaoh’s throne. Let each reader see well to his company, for such as we keep in this world, we are likely to keep in the next.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

A New Book to Help Kids Trust God in the Dark

Whether your child is afraid of the dark or not, we all have reason to be afraid of the darkness of sin that stains our world. I’m thankful for a new kid’s book, The Bright Light and the Super Scary Darkness by Dan DeWitt.

The Bright Light shows how the big story of the Bible offers hope to all of our fears — because Christ came to shine light into our darkness.

This is a great book to help kids understand why they’re afraid, and why they can trust God in the midst of any kind of darkness.

Buy The Bright Light and the Super Scary Darkness:

Pray with Spurgeon: God hates sin and loves us

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

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

God, you are ready to hear us, willing to listen to our cries. But, Lord, at the first, this great discovery caused us much pain, for we found in our hearts an enmity to you, a natural alienation; and we found that we had grieved you, that we had vexed your spirit by sin. We admire you all the more for this, for we would not care for a God who did not hate sin. Oh, with what reverence we fell at your feet, even when we heard you speak in tones of thunder, and say, “The soul who sins shall die” (Ezekiel 18:20).

When your grace had really made us to know you, your justice, terrible as it was, had our submissive reverence. We felt that, if our souls were sent to hell, righteousness and justice would approve it well. O God, we remember how we lay at your feet. Our thoughts were as a case of knives cutting our hearts; and then you came to us, and made known your love. O blessed day in which you revealed yourself dressed in the silken robes of love!

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“I hate a crowd of evildoers, and I do not sit with the wicked.” (Psalm 26:5)

A severe sentence, but not too severe. A man who does not hate evil terribly, does not love good heartily. Men, as men, we must always love, for they are our neighbors, and therefore to be loved as ourselves; but evildoers, as such, are traitors to the Great King, and no loyal subject can love traitors. What God hates we must hate. The congregation or assembly of evil doers, signifies violent men in alliance and conclave for the overthrow of the innocent; such synagogues of Satan are to be held in abhorrence.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

An incredible testimony of God’s grace to help you hate sin.

God hates sin and loves righteousness, and he’s calling us to think the same way. One of the books that has been most helpful to help me cultivate a hatred for sin and a love for righteousness is Gay Girl, Good God by Jackie Hill Perry.

This book is a memoir describing Jackie’s journey out of sin, by grace. It’s an absolutely beautiful story of God’s power and mercy to save.

One of the things I love the most about this book is how its rich theology is described so beautifully. Jackie paints a picture of a God who is worthy of our worship, faith, and obedience — a God who is better than sin.

Buy Gay Girl, Good God: The Story of Who I Was, and Who God Has Always Been:

Pray with Spurgeon: There really is a God who hears us

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

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Glorious God, there are many of us who can bless you that we know you. There was a time when we lived in your world, but had never known the Creator. We were partakers of your providence, but we did not know the Provider. We went up and down in the sunlight, but we were blind. There were voices all around us, but we were deaf to all things spiritual.

Some of us lived in this way for years. It was a happy day for us when, in the infinite sovereignty of your love, you looked upon us and call us by your grace. Then did the dead heart begin to beat. Then did light enter the darkened eye, and then we turned to you. It was the best discovery we had ever made, when we found that there was, after all, a God, ready to hear us, willing to listen to our cries. 

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“I do not sit with the worthless or associate with hypocrites.” (Psalm 26:4)

Since I know that hypocritical piety is double iniquity, I will cease all acquaintance with pretenders. If I must needs walk the same street, I will not enter the same door and spend my time in their society. The congregation of the hypocrites is not one with which we should cultivate communion; their ultimate rendezvous will be the lowest pit of hell, let us drop their acquaintance now, for we shall not desire it soon.

Those who would be transfigured with Jesus, must not be disfigured, by conformity to the world. The resolution of the Psalmist suggests, that even among professed followers of truth we must make distinctions, for as there are vain persons out of the church, so there are dissemblers in it, and both are to be shunned with scrupulous decision.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

See God’s light in your darkest days.

The Bible is full of wisdom to help us endure all trials and temptations by grace. Spurgeon is an excellent God-given guide to help us begin to plumb the depths of the biblical teaching on suffering.

I’ve created a collection of some of Spurgeon’s best sermons on trials and tribulations and compiled them into a book called Spurgeon on Suffering: Reflections on Our Pain and God’s Grace.

Reading these sermons has encouraged me to set my hope in the risen Christ, even in the darkest days and deepest trials. I hope it will encourage you as well.

Buy Spurgeon on Suffering on Amazon in paperback or Kindle formats.

Pray with Spurgeon: We are weak, but God is powerful

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

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Oh! Lord, revive your work we pray thee. We are feeble and weak; we can do nothing. But come yourself and achieve triumphs, and let victories be won. Come and break the hard heart, and subdue the stubborn will. Lord, save the unsaved.

Be pleased to awaken those who are dead in sin. Let the vessels of mercy whom you have chosen out of the mass of mankind of your sovereign good pleasure be filled with mercy until they overflow with gratitude and joy.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“I do not sit with the worthless or associate with hypocrites.” (Psalm 26:4)

True citizens have no dealings with traitors. David had no seat in the parliament of triflers. They were not his boon companions at feasts, nor his advisers in council, nor his associates in conversation. We must see, and speak, and trade, with men of the world, but we must on no account take our rest and solace in their empty society.

Not only the profane, but the vain are to be shunned by us. All those who live for this life only are vain, chaffy, frothy men, quite unworthy of a Christian’s friendship. Moreover, as this vanity is often allied with falsehood, it is well to save ourselves altogether from this untoward generation, lest we should be led from bad to worse, and from tolerating the vain, should come to admire the wicked.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

In your weakness, rely on God’s strength

As today’s prayer makes clear, we must depend on God’s strength in every area of our lives. This is especially true in the midst of trials and suffering.

Spurgeon was no stranger to suffering. He was plagued with physical and mental illness for most of his life, which led to his early death at the age of 58. In the crucible of suffering, Spurgeon learned much about the glory of God’s power.

We have a lot to learn from Spurgeon, which is why I’ve compiled a new book of Spurgeon’s classic sermons on enduring trials with Christ-centered hope. The book is called Spurgeon on Suffering: Reflections on Our Pain and God’s Grace. Reading these sermons has filled me with hope and I hope they will encourage you as well.

Buy Spurgeon on Suffering on Amazon in paperback or Kindle formats.

Pray with Spurgeon: God, save my family

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

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Father, bless those that do not know you. We pray that we may have in our own hearts much of the heaviness that Paul knew, when we think of the many ungodly ones, especially of those that are of our own kith and kin, are still unconverted. Oh, bring them in!

Dear Father, there are many of us praying now from the bottom of our hearts, that all our children may be your children, and that all related to us may be of the family of Christ. Then, Lord, we thank you for that blessed word, “For the promise is for you and for your children;” but you did not stop there, for you have said, “and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call” (Acts 2:39) Lord, bring in the far-off ones. Save poor fallen women: save the equally fallen men.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“I do not sit with the worthless or associate with hypocrites.” (Psalm 26:4)

So far from being himself an open offender against the laws of God, the Psalmist had not even associated with the lovers of evil. He had kept aloof from the men of Belial.

A man is known by his company, and if we have kept ourselves apart from the wicked, it will always be evidence in our favor should our character be impugned. He who was never in the field is not likely to have stolen the corn. He who never went to sea is clearly not the man who scuttled the ship.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

God’s grace to you really doesn’t have any limits. Really.

Yesterday I recommended the book Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund. I wanted to share one of my favorite excerpts from the book:

“Is it not presumptuous audacity to draw on the mercy of Christ in an unfiltered way? Shouldn’t we be measured and reasonable, careful not to pull too much on him?

“Would a father with a suffocating child want his child to draw on the oxygen tank in a measured, reasonable way?

“Our trouble is that we do not take the Scripture seriously when it speaks of us as Christ’s body. Christ is the head; we are his own body parts. How does a head feel about his own flesh? Jesus Christ is comforted when you draw from the riches of his atoning work, because his own body is getting healed.“

You need this book. It’s such an incredible gift.
It’s been out of stock for several months but it’s finally available again. Grab a copy now (while you still can!)

Buy Gentle and Lowly:

Pray with Spurgeon: We long to see God’s face

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

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Let us rejoice with trembling. Will you preserve us all from any of the intoxication that comes of prosperity. When our heart is glad, if it be not with the high joy that comes of God, let us always look to you to sober us in such moments.

The Lord lead us safely on to his eternal kingdom. We will not ask whether the road will be rough or smooth, we leave that with you. Only bring us to behold the face of him we love. If you will give us bread to eat and clothes to put on, and bring us to our Father’s house in peace, it is all we ask below. Whatsoever your will ordains, only do bring us to our Father’s house in peace. Grant us this.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“For your faithful love guides me, and I live by your truth.” (Psalm 26:3)

The Psalmist was preserved from sin by his assurance of the truthfulness of God’s promise, which truth he endeavored to imitate as well as to believe.

Observe from this verse, that an experience of divine love will show itself in a practical following of divine truth; those who neglect either the doctrinal or practical parts of truth must not wonder if they lose the experimental enjoyment of it. Some talk of truth, it is better to walk in it. Some vow to do well in future, but their resolutions come to nothing; only the regenerate man can say “I have walked in your truth.”

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

The most refreshing book I’ve read in years.

You’ve probably already heard a lot of people talk about the book Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund. This book is an absolutely stunning picture of God’s grace to us in Christ. You know that Christ died for you, but do you know why?

I‘ve been moved to tears several times while reading this book and seeing the stunningly beautiful and biblical picture of Christ’s love for his people. The book is great reading for any sinning and suffering Christian (which is all of us!)

This book is so popular that most stores haven’t been able to keep it in stock. It’s finally available again. Grab a copy now (while you still can!)

Buy Gentle and Lowly:

Pray with Spurgeon: God’s love comforts and guides us

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

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Remember those who have lately been bereaved. They lately had the sentence of death in themselves, by reason of sore disease of body. Help, strengthen, comfort, deliver. The widow and the fatherless are always your care.

Look, most tender and compassionate Lord, upon all such as are in any trouble of mind, or body, or estate; and let the rich comforts of the Comforter himself be dispensed to them. And, Lord, will you keep those that are not troubled. Let them rejoice with trembling.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“For your faithful love guides me, and I live by your truth.” (Psalm 26:3)

God’s faithful love is an object of memory and a ground of hope. A sense of mercy received sets a fair prospect before the faithful mind in its gloomiest condition, for it yields visions of mercies yet to come, visions not visionary but real.

Dwell, dear reader, upon that celestial word lovingkindness. It has a heavenly savor. Is it not an unmatchable word, unexcelled, unrivalled? The goodness of the Lord to us should be before our eyes as a motive actuating our conduct; we are not under the bondage of the law, but we are under the sweet constraints of grace, which are far more mighty, although far more gentle. Men sin with the law before their eyes, but divine love when clearly seen, sanctifies the conversation. If we were not so forgetful of the way of mercy in which God walks towards us, we should be more careful to walk in the ways of obedience towards him.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

A book to help the youngest kids follow Christ

Wherever You Go, I Want You To Know is a new 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.

I know I’ve recommended this book before, but 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 on Amazon or ChristianBook.com.

Pray with Spurgeon: God, hear our prayer

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, hear the pleadings of your children, as we bow before you and yield everything to your parental will. Now bless your children. Sanctify us, Lord, spirit, soul, and body. Cleanse us even as with hyssop (Psalm 51:7). Cleanse us in our inward parts, and make us to know wisdom in the secret places of our spirit.

And, Lord, will you also help such of your children as are very sorely burdened. When you lay on a burden, give strength equal to it; and if the burden should press heavier and heavier, hold the everlasting arms yet more consciously underneath us. 

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Test me, Lord, and try me; examine my heart and mind.” (Psalm 26:2)

All this is a very bold appeal, and made by a man like David, who feared the Lord exceedingly, it manifests a most solemn and complete conviction of innocence. The expressions here used should teach us the thoroughness of the divine judgment, and the necessity of being in all things profoundly sincere, lest we be found wanting at the last.

Our enemies are severe with us with the severity of spite, and this a brave man endures without a fear; but God’s severity is that of unswerving right, who shall stand against such a trial? The sweet singer asks “Who can stand before his cold?” and we may well enquire, “Who can stand before the heat of his justice?”

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Weekly Resource Round-Up

Missed any of the recommended books this week? Here’s a reminder of where you can find them all:

Pray with Spurgeon: Be still and know that he is God

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

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

O you who are God, we have heard you say, “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10); and what a silence have you made in our heart, where else there had been murmuring and complaint, when we have understood “The Lord has done it.”

Aaron held his peace when he knew this; and so would we. No, we would do more. We would speak out of our griefs and our down-castings, and say, “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord. Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him; for the Lord is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. Blessed be his name” (Job 1:21, 13:15; Psalm 73:1).

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Test me, Lord, and try me; examine my heart and mind.” (Psalm 26:2)

The Psalmist was so clear from the charge laid against him, that he submitted himself unconditionally to any form of examination which the Lord might see fit to employ.

“Examine me, O Lord.” Look me through and through; make a minute survey; put me to the question, cross-examine my evidence. “And prove me.” Put me again to trial; and see if I would follow such wicked designs as my enemies impute to me.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Trust the God who rules all things.

One of the most important Christian books in our decade is being released next month. Providence by John Piper is a new book explaining how God sovereignly rules over all of his creation, both in the Bible and today.

John Piper’s writings are all characterized by careful theology and thoughtful unfolding of biblical texts, and this book will be no different.

Understanding God’s providence will surely bolster your faith in our good, gracious, glorious sovereign Lord.

Pre-order Providence today on Amazon in hardcover or Kindle editions.

Pray with Spurgeon: God, I surrender all that I am

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

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Lord, we yield up to your sovereignty all that we are, and all that we have. Do as you will with us. Whenever our wishes grow into willings, and our willings become obtrusive fault-findings with your providence; have mercy upon your servants in this thing, and take away from us the evil heart of unbelief that dares to question you.

Be this the finale of our every prayer, “Nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39); and be this the great pleading of our heart every day, “Your kingdom come; your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Vindicate me, Lord, because I have lived with integrity and have trusted in the Lord without wavering.” (Psalm 26:1)

Slippery as the way is, so that I walk like a man upon ice, yet faith keeps my heels from tripping, and will continue to do so. The doubtful ways of policy are sure sooner or later to give a fall to those who run therein, but the ways of honesty, though often rough, are always safe. We cannot trust in God if we walk crookedly; but straight paths and simple faith bring the pilgrim happily to his journey’s end.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

New Kids Book: Teach about repentance, confession, and grace

Arlo and the Great Big Cover-Up by Betsy Childs Howard is a new book your kids or grandkids will love. When a secret sin during nap time gets out of control, Arlo is brought to confess his wrongdoing, but finds joy in his mother’s firm discipline and warm, merciful response.

This book will teach your kids that “cleaned up is better than covered up” and will invite them to bring their sin to the One who is able to forgive them and cleanse them from all unrighteousness.

Buy Arlo and the Great Big Cover-Up on Amazon.