Category: Pray with Spurgeon

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

You are not physically present with us, for you have risen. Our souls long to trace the shining path by which you ascended through the pearly gates to your Father’s throne. We envision you sitting there, fully God and fully man, reigning over all things for your people. Our ears almost catch the harmonious sounds of the everlasting song that rises up at your feet: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive honor, power, glory, and dominion forever and ever.” Lord, we say, “Amen.” Even from the outskirts of the multitude surrounding your throne, we lift our feeble voices in earnest “Amens.” For you were slain and have redeemed us to God by your blood, making us kings and priests unto God. We shall reign with you, for though we may be far away in physical distance, we know that we are intimately close to your heart.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“He makes wars cease throughout the earth. He shatters bows and cuts spears to pieces; he sets wagons ablaze.” (Psalm 46:9)

His voice quiets the clamor of war and calls for the tranquility of peace. No matter how remote or barbarous the tribe, he subdues the people into rest. He crushes the great powers until they can no longer incite strife; he grants his people profound repose. “He breaks the bow,” rendering useless the instrument of swift-winged death. “He shatters the spear”—the lance of the mighty warrior—into pieces. “He burns the chariot with fire,” consigning the proud war chariot with its death-dealing scythes to the flames. All manner of weapons he heaps in piles and utterly destroys them. Such was the case in ancient Judea, and so it shall be in all lands in future eras.

Blessed is the work of the Prince of Peace! When will it be fully accomplished? Already, the spiritual foes of his people have been stripped of their power to destroy. But when will the universal triumph of peace be celebrated, and instruments of mass slaughter be forever abolished? How glorious will Jesus’ final victory be on the day of his return, when every enemy will be humbled in submission!

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

A Short Book to Help You Embrace and Defend God’s Design for Sex

From homosexuality, sexual abuse, co-habitation, pornography, and more, it’s clear that our culture is extremely confused about God’s design for sex. Sexual ethics is one of the most urgent and difficult issues we’ll tackle in our day.

But it’s important that we address these issues in a way that is consistently biblical — defending God’s design and calling people to purity, while also making clear God’s grace for sinners.

Recently, I’ve been reading Why Does God Care Who I Sleep With? by Sam Allberry. This book is a simple and phenomenal read on the Bible’s teaching on sex. It is extremely accessible (clearly written, with Scripture passages faithfully explained), winsome in tone (I would happily recommend this to a non-Christian), thoroughly biblical, and gentle in tone.

One of the things I most appreciate this book is that it doesn’t just list out a bunch of Do’s and Do-Not’s with Bible verses attached — it really unpacks God’s design for sexuality and works out from there. It shows that none of our beliefs about sexuality are arbitrary.

This book is great for Christians struggling to live faithfully in our cultural moment. It will help you hold fast to the truth and more confidently answer questions from non-Christian friends.

I hope you will buy a copy and read it this summer.

Buy Why Does God Care Who I Sleep With?:

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

*Get the audiobook for free with a free trial of Audible. (The audiobook will be yours to keep!)

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)

Lord, save the unconverted and bring out from among them those who are converted but have not yet confessed Christ. May the church be built up through the addition of many who have believed and are baptized into the sacred name. Continue to multiply the faithful in the land. Oh, that you would turn the hearts of people back to the gospel once more.

Amen.

GET A FREE BOOK

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

This month, its #MBTSBooks Month. Midwestern is giving away a book written by their faculty EVERY DAY. They’re also giving away one complete set of the Lost Sermons of C.H. Spurgeon (7 incredible volumes).

Learn everything you need to know right here.

WEEKEND LONG READ (SERMON BY SPURGEON)

Shining Christians

A shining church will be a happy church; if we do not shine, we shall be miserable. But if we will shine for Christ, we shall see great prosperity for the Church of the living God.

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

A FREE RESOURCE FROM MIDWESTERN

Ten Reasons the Old Testament Matters for Christians

To understand the Old Testament fully, we must read it as believers in Jesus, with God having awakened our spiritual senses to see and hear rightly. That is, we read through Christ. Then, as Christians, biblical interpretation reaches its end only after we have found Jesus and experienced him transforming us into his image. We, thus, read for Christ.

PREPARE FOR MINISTRY AT MIDWESTERN

With all the hardships and headwinds Christian ministers face in a post-Christian world, along with the growing reality of ministry burnout, this year’s For The Church National Conference seeks to remind ministry leaders and saints alike of the glorious calling of everyday ministry. There may be days filled with difficulties and loss, yet being a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ is worth every pain, every worry, and every tear.

Join us in Kansas City on September 11-12 to remember why everyday ministry matters for the glory of God and the good of 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)

Precious Lord Jesus Christ, we adore you with all our hearts. You are the Lord of all. We praise you for becoming human, for being our closest relative. Through this kinship, we thank you for uniting us in a marriage union with yourself. You have redeemed us and our inheritance from the captivity into which we were sold. You have paid with your life for your people; you have ransomed your own with the blood of your heart. Therefore, be forever beloved and adored.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Come, see the works of the Lord, who brings devastation on the earth.” (Psalm 46:8)

He destroys those who destroy, and he devastates those who lay waste. This verse carries great weight even today! The ruined cities of Assyria, Babylon, Petra, Bashan, Canaan, serve as our teachers, inscribing on stone tablets the acts of the Lord. Whenever his cause and kingdom have been disregarded, ruin has inevitably followed. Sin has been a blight on nations, reducing their palaces to heaps of rubble.

In the days of the psalmist, there may have been a notable intervention by God against Israel’s enemies. Witnessing their downfall, he calls upon his fellow citizens to come forth and contemplate the righteous acts performed on their behalf. In our own land, dismantled castles and ruined abbeys stand as memorials of the Lord’s triumphs over oppression and superstition. May there be more of such desolations in the near future.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Discover freedom from guilt and deeper joy in Christ

Today we prayed, asking Christ to help us love him more. As we think about who we were before we knew Christ, it can be easy for many of us to feel a constant sense of guilt from our past sins. And while it’s good to feel remorse over our sin, God has called us to live in freedom and joy with a clear conscience.

A great (and very short!) book to help you understand your conscience, repentance, and freedom from guilt and shame is The Art of Turning by Kevin DeYoung. This short book unpacks the “conscience” and encourages you to turn from Christ sin every day.

This book is so incredibly life-giving. If you read it, you will find freedom from guilt and increased desire to know Christ. I hope you’ll pick up a copy today.

Buy The Art of Turning on Amazon.

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

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

We do not ask to be entranced or to witness the appearance of an angel in radiant apparel. Instead, we humbly ask that through faith, we may see Jesus. May his presence be so profoundly felt among us that we rejoice as if we could see him with our own eyes. May we love him, trust him, and worship him with the same earnestness as if we could touch the nail marks in his hands.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Come, see the works of the Lord, who brings devastation on the earth.” (Psalm 46:8)

The joyful citizens of Jerusalem are invited to go forth and witness the remnants of their enemies, to observe the might of the Lord and the spoils won by his mighty hand for his people. It would be beneficial if we also paid close attention to the providential dealings of our covenant God and quickly recognized his hand in the battles of his church. As we read history, let this verse resound in our ears. Let us approach the news with the same mindset, to see how the head of the church governs the nations for the good of his people, just as Joseph ruled Egypt for the sake of Israel.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Free Gospel-Centered Kids Ministry Tools*

We often fail to notice the incredible privilege of teaching children in the church. This is not childcare so that the adults can do “real ministry” in another part of the building. This IS real ministry — as sinners are called to Christ and minds are filled with the truth of Scripture and the wonder of God.

Children’s ministry matters.

And so it’s important that we give lessons that are thoughtful, creative, engaging, and, above all, thoroughly biblical.

A GREAT provider of children’s ministry resources is Truth78 (formerly Children Desiring God) — They have built some powerful curricula that give children a stunning picture of the Bible’s full story and the greatness of our sovereign God.

Truth78 has also recently released Truth78+, where church leaders can subscribe to get unlimited access to their full library of discipleship resources. (And if you use code SPURGEON, you can save 10% on your subscription.)

And here’s some REALLY great news!

Truth78 is offering 23 lessons from their incredible curriculum FOR FREE.

This is 23 FULL lessons (including lesson plans, activities, crafts, games, object lessons, and more) for kindergarten–7th grade.

If you’re a pastor or ministry leader, I really recommend you grab these free lessons. They WILL be a blessing to your church!

Click here to download these 23 FREE LESSONS now.

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

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Lord Jesus, you are not physically present with us, for you have risen. Our souls long to trace the shining path by which you ascended through the pearly gates to your Father’s throne. We envision you sitting there, fully God and fully man, reigning over all things for your people. Our ears almost catch the harmonious sounds of the everlasting song that rises up at your feet: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive honor, power, glory, and dominion forever and ever.”

Lord, we say, “Amen.” Even from the outskirts of the multitude surrounding your throne, we lift our feeble voices in earnest “Amens.” For you were slain and have redeemed us to God by your blood, making us kings and priests unto God. We shall reign with you, for though we may be far away in physical distance, we know that we are intimately close to your heart.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“The Lord of Armies is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.” (Psalm 46:7)

This is the reason for all of Zion’s security and the overthrow of her foes. The Lord commands the angels, the stars, the elements, and all the hosts of heaven, and the heavens of heavens are subject to his rule. The armies of men, although unaware, are made to serve his purposes. Woe to those who fight against him, for they shall flee like smoke before the wind when he commands their scattering.

Immanuel, the Lord of armies, and the God of Jacob is our high place of defense.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

God’s grace sets us free from sin

Today, we prayed, reflecting on the fact that Jesus is not present with us today. But that does not mean that he isn’t still at work for our good. No matter how many times we sin, we find his grace to be an inexhaustible ocean.

But God’s grace is NOT about forgiving our sin and leaving us stuck; it’s about empowering you to actually change. The book Unlimited Grace by Bryan Chappell will show you how wonderfully large and never-ending God’s grace is, and how this grace has the power to change your life from the inside out.

I know this book will encourage you and fill your heart with love and gratitude for God’s grace. If you’re feeling discouraged and shameful about your past sin, this book will assure of God’s never-ending kindness towards sinners. If you’re feeling stuck and unmoved in your present sin, this book will help you to lean into the power of God’s grace to change.

Buy Unlimited Grace:

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

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

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

You who walks among the seven golden candlesticks trim the flame, pour forth the oil, and let the light shine brightly and steadily. Now, Lord, we cannot pray any longer, though we have a thousand things to ask for. Your servant cannot, so he begs to leave a broken prayer at the mercy seat with this at the foot of it: We ask in the name of Jesus Christ your Son.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Nations rage, kingdoms topple; the earth melts when he lifts his voice.” (Psalm 46:6)

With just a word, the Lord governed the storm. His voice caused resolute hearts to dissolve, decimated proud armies, and weakened conquering powers. Initially, the confusion may have intensified when the element of divine power came into view. The very earth appeared as molten wax, causing even the most solid and substantial human constructs to melt away like the fat of rams on the altar. However, peace followed. The fury of mankind subsided, hearts capable of repentance softened, and the implacable were silenced.

How mighty is a word from God! How mighty is the Incarnate Word! Oh, that such a word would come even now from the excellent glory to melt all hearts in love for Jesus and forever end all persecutions, wars, and rebellions of men!

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

A book to teach kids about our prayers and God’s grace.

Today we prayed, confessing that our only hope in prayer is that God would hear us through Jesus Christ. We need to teach our kids this truth about prayer — God hears us, not because our prayers are good enough, but because he is so wonderfully merciful!

Any Time, Any Place, Any Prayer by Laura Wifler and illustrated by Catalina Echeverri is a great book that walks through the story of Scripture, showing how our sin separates us from God, how Jesus came to bring us back, and how we can communicate with this holy God through prayer all along the way.

The book will fill pre-school/early-elementary-aged kids with wonder as we think about the grace of God to allow us to pray.

I hope you’ll add it to your family’s library today and grab a copy for a friend as well!

Buy Any Time, Any Place, Any Prayer:

• Amazon (Hardback or Kindle editions)
• 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)

Oh, that you would turn the hearts of people back to the gospel once more. Your servant often feels heavy-hearted because of the departures from the faith. Oh, bring them back; do not let Satan take away any more stars with his tail. Instead, may the lamps of God shine brightly. You can do it. Oh, that the heavens may rain righteousness, and that the earth may bring forth salvation, and that righteousness may spring up together! The world is full of idols; let them all be cast down. You, O Lord, are the only true God.

We ask these things for Jesus’ sake, who is worthy to be praised, now and forever.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“God is within her; she will not be toppled. God will help her when the morning dawns.” (Psalm 46:5)

As soon as the first ray of light announces the dawn, God’s mighty arm will be outstretched for his people. The Lord rises early. We may be slow to meet him, but he is never slow in helping us. Impatience may complain about divine delays, but in reality, the Lord is not slack concerning his promises. Human haste often leads to folly, but God’s apparent delays are always wise and, when viewed correctly, are not delays at all.

Today, the forces of evil may surround the church of God, threatening its destruction. However, before long, they will pass away like foam on the waters, and the noise of their tumult will be silenced in the grave. The darkest hour of the night is just before the dawn, and even then, the Lord will appear as the great ally of his church.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Gospel-Centered Kids Ministry*

The kids in our churches don’t need to hear moralistic stories about believing in themselves — they need to be called to trust in GOD, who is a better savior!

Our churches need to offer a counter-cultural message of hope and wonder to children.

Children’s ministry in our churches must be intentional, biblical, and well-rounded as we call the next generation to put their hope in God. 

Our children are precious, and so this work is really REALLY important.

We can’t afford to “wing it.”

If you’re looking for great resources to strengthen your church’s ministry to children, you need to check out Truth78 (formerly Children Desiring God).

Truth78 has put together some comprehensive biblically-solid, theologically-RICH curricula for your church.

And this month, they’re giving YOU a free preview!

Truth78 is giving 23 full lessons (for kindergarten through seventh grade) as a FREE GIFT for your church.

I know you (and the children God has entrusted to you) will be blessed by these resources.

Click here to download these 23 FREE LESSONS now.

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)

O Lord God, we earnestly seek your help in truly worshiping you. We thank you for this occasion and bless your name for setting apart this sacred season. Lord, would you please shut the door on the distractions of the world for us? Help us forget our worries and concerns. Enable us to rise above the worldly tendencies that weigh us down. May the allure of earthly things fade away, and may you draw us close to yourself.

Amen.

GET A FREE BOOK

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

This month, its #MBTSBooks Month. Midwestern is giving away a book written by their faculty EVERY DAY. They’re also giving away one complete set of the Lost Sermons of C.H. Spurgeon (7 incredible volumes).

Learn everything you need to know right here.

WEEKEND LONG READ (SERMON BY SPURGEON)

A Sermon to the Lord’s Little Children

Keep you to Christ. Ask not for pomp and show; ask not for noise and bluster: ask for nothing but that your sins may be forgiven you, that you may know the Father, and then that you may abide in Christ, and be full of love to all the family of God. Little children, may the Lord Jesus Christ be with you, and may you grow in grace till you come unto the fulness of the stature of men in him. May his grace be upon all them that love him, and wait for his appearing.

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

A FREE RESOURCE FROM MIDWESTERN

The Purpose of Worship

Most Christians will admit there are Sunday mornings when they awaken and wonder whether it’s even worth getting out of bed. Surely God doesn’t need our worship? We’re not serving on the set up team this week. No one will notice if we’re not there. We can perhaps read the Bible ourselves a bit later, pray from the comfort of the couch, pop on some Christian music over coffee. So why bother with corporate worship?

A CONFERENCE FOR MINISTRY LEADERS

With all the hardships and headwinds Christian ministers face in a post-Christian world, along with the growing reality of ministry burnout, this year’s For The Church National Conference seeks to remind ministry leaders and saints alike of the glorious calling of everyday ministry. There may be days filled with difficulties and loss, yet being a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ is worth every pain, every worry, and every tear.

Join us in Kansas City on September 11-12 to remember why everyday ministry matters for the glory of God and the good of 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)

We raise our voices in prayer for all of our loved ones. Lord, bless the sick and restore them to health at the right time. Sanctify everything they have to endure. There are dear friends who are weak and trembling. God, bless them. As the tent is being dismantled, may the dwellers within look on with calm joy, for soon we will be “clothed with our habitation which is from heaven.”

Help us to detach ourselves from all these earthly things. May we live here as strangers, considering the world not a home but an inn where we dine and lodge, expecting to resume our journey tomorrow.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“God is within her; she will not be toppled. God will help her when the morning dawns.” (Psalm 46:5)

His help is certain and close. If she is besieged, he himself is besieged within her, and we can be certain that he will arise against his adversaries. The Lord is near to the distresses of his saints, for he sojourns in their midst. God’s presence renders any hope of capturing and demolishing the city utterly ridiculous. The Lord is present, and therefore the vessel cannot be wrecked.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

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

Today, we prayed for those who are sick. While we should pray for the sick, we must also remember that God is at work in our suffering to preserve us and to purify us.

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

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

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

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

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

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

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Lord, let your kingdom come. Send forth your light and your truth. Dislodge the old dragon from his throne, along with his infernal company. Oh, may the day come when the Son of the woman shall rule over the nations, not with a broken staff of wood, but with an enduring scepter of iron—full of mercy yet full of power, abundant in grace yet irresistibly mighty. May that day arrive soon, the personal advent of our Lord! We long for the triumph of his Word.

Until then, O Lord, equip us for the battle and make us among those who overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony, as we do not love our lives to the death.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“There is a river— its streams delight the city of God, the holy dwelling place of the Most High.” (Psalm 46:4)

Divine grace is like a smoothly flowing, nourishing, abundant, and everlasting river that brings refreshment and consolation to believers. This is the river of the water of life, in which both the heavenly and earthly church partake continually. It is not a boisterous ocean but a peaceful stream that remains undisturbed even during earthquakes or the crumbling of mountains. Happy are those who know from personal experience that such a river of God exists. These streams assure the citizens of Zion that the Lord will unfailingly supply all their needs.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

A Bible-saturated plan to grow in godliness

Today we prayed that God’s Kingdom would come. And we pray that it would come about in our own lives. We want to live for God.

While our growth in holiness is a miracle that only God can do, we also have a role to play in this work. You will not automatically grow in godliness — you need to pursue godliness with the strength that God the Holy Spirit gives you.

A great, practical book on growing in godliness (self-control, taming the tongue, and more) is The Practice of Godliness by Jerry Bridges. This book won’t just tell you that something is sinful, it will actually equip you practical tools and truths from God’s Word to slay your sin and live in godliness.

Whatever pressing sin you are currently facing and want to grow in, The Practice of Godliness by Jerry Bridges is a great resource to help you take your next steps. I hope you pick up a copy today.

Buy The Practice of Godliness:

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