Category: Pray with Spurgeon

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

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

We come to you and pray that, for Jesus’ sake, and through the virtue of the blood once shed for many for the remission of sins, you would give us perfect pardon of every transgression of the past. Blot out, O God, all our sins like a cloud, and let them never be seen again.

Grant us also the peace-speaking word of promise applied by the Holy Spirit, that being justified by faith we may have peace with God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let us be forgiven and know it, and may there remain no lingering question in our heart about our reconciliation with God, but by a firm, full assurance based upon faith in the finished work of Christ, may we stand as forgiven men and women against whom transgression shall be mentioned never again forever.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“It [the sun] rises from one end of the heavens and circles to their other end; nothing is hidden from its heat.” (Psalm 19:6)

Jesus, like a sun, dwells in the midst of revelation, tabernacling among men in all his brightness; rejoicing, as the bridegroom of his church, to reveal himself to men; and, like a champion, to win renown for himself. He makes a circuit of mercy, blessing the remotest corners of the earth; and there are no seeking souls, however degraded and depraved, who shall be denied the comfortable warmth and benediction of his love—even death shall feel the power of his presence, and resign the bodies of the saints, and this fallen earth shall be restored to its pristine glory.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Are you really saved? (You CAN know for sure)

Today’s prayer asked God to help have assurance — to be forgiven and to know it. Scripture invites us to examine ourselves to see if we really are saved. Here’s a resource to help you examine yourself: Am I Really a Christian? by Mike McKinley.

This book is a short Bible study on seven ways that the New Testament describes all Christians. If these things are true of you, then praise God, you can have assurance that you are born again. If these things are not true of you, then come to the cross in faith and find life in Jesus’ resurrection.

This book is a great resource for any Christian struggling with assurance. It is also a great book to read with a non-believer who claims to be a Christian — buy two and read it with a nominal Christian you know this year.

I hope you’ll take seriously the call to examine yourself, and I know that this book will be a helpful tool in the process.

Buy Am I Really a Christian?:

• 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)

We do bless you, Lord, for instituting the blessed ordinance of prayer. What could we do without it, and we take great shame to ourselves that we should use it so little. We pray that we may be men of prayer, taken up with it, that it may take us up and bear us as on its wings towards heaven.

And now at this hour will you hear the voice of our request. First, we ask at your hands, great Father, complete forgiveness for all our trespasses and shortcomings. We hope we can say with truthfulness that we do from our heart forgive all those who have in any way trespassed against us. There lies not in our heart, we hope, a thought of enmity towards any man. However we have been slandered or wronged, we would, with our inmost heart, forgive and forget it all.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“It [the sun] is like a bridegroom coming from his home; it rejoices like an athlete running a course.” (Psalm 19:5)

No other creature yields such joy to the earth as her bridegroom the sun; and none, whether they be horse or eagle, can for an instant compare in swiftness with that heavenly champion. But all his glory is but the glory of God; even the sun shines in light borrowed from the Great Father of Lights.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

A devotional to help you run from sin and cling to Christ

Much of the United States is blanketed in snow this week, which Scripture puts forward as a picture of our forgiveness.

One resource that’s been helpful as I’ve studied God’s Word and his enjoy the wonder of his grace is Whiter Than Snow: Meditations on Sin and Mercy by Paul Tripp. This book features 52 short devotionals (one for every week of the year) on Psalm 51. This is an incredible resource to help you remember the horrors of your sin and the wonders of God’s amazing grace.

You could read the book over the next few months with just five minutes a day, or read one devotional each week for the next year. I can’t think of a better way to spend your time than reflecting on God’s mercy towards broken sinners like us.

I hope you’ll buy a copy and enjoy mediating on God’s unending mercy with me.

Buy Whiter Than Snow:

• 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)

We do bless you, Lord, for creating the blessed ordinance of prayer. 

We thank you, Lord, that we have not only found benefit in prayer, but in the answers to it we have been greatly enriched. You have opened your hidden treasures to the voice of prayer; you have supplied our necessities as soon as we have cried out to you; yes, we have found it true: “Before they call I will answer, and while they are yet speaking I will hear.”

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Their message has gone out to the whole earth, and their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun.” (Psalm 19:4)

Although the heavenly bodies move in solemn silence, yet in reason’s ear they utter precious teachings. They give forth no literal words, but yet their instruction is clear enough to be so described. Nature’s words are like those of the deaf and dumb, but grace tells us plainly of the Father.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

A kid’s book to teach the importance of evangelism

Evangelism is a crucial topic in the Christian life that we need to teach others, including our children.

A favorite read at our house is a book that focuses on “How God uses people to save people.” It’s called The Prisoners, the Earthquake, and the Midnight Song by Bob Hartman, illustrated by Catalina Echeverri. This book tells the story of Paul and Silas while they were in prison in Philippi for proclaiming Christ, and encourages children to proclaim Christ with the same kind of boldness.

The book is incredibly creative (without sacrificing faithfulness to the biblical text) and the illustrations are stunning. It’s a ton of fun and children under ten will love it. Your kids will be amazed at the story of Paul, Silas, and the incredible work that God did in Philippi.

This isn’t just a cheap Bible story — this is a great book full of rich theology, an incredible (true!) story, and an important message. It will encourage kids of all ages to boldly proclaim Christ, no matter the cost.

I hope you’ll add this book to your family’s library!

Buy The Prisoners, the Earthquake, and the Midnight Song:

• Amazon
• ChristianBook.com

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)

God, as we gather be pleased to reveal yourself to your servants. Oh, for the uplifting of the veil, for the drawing near of the people that are made glad by the blood, for the speaking of God unto the soul, and the speaking of our soul unto God.

Oh, for communication with the Eternal, for such fellowship as they may have who are raised up together with Christ, and made to sit in the heavenly places with him. Oh, Savior, grant us a glimpse of your great love. One flash of your eye is brighter than the noonday. One word from your lips will be sweeter to us and more full of music, than the harps of angels.

Amen.

GET A FREE COURSE

Thanks to Midwestern Seminary for sponsoring the Weekend Edition of this newsletter.

My friends at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary have put together a GREAT video class from Jared Wilson that unpacks exactly how God’s story really can impact every part of your life.

It’s called “The Story of Everything” and it’s available FOR FREE right now.

Click here to get started with this FREE seminary-level course.

WEEKEND LONG READ (SERMON BY SPURGEON)

The Tender Pity of the Lord

Remembering how feeble and how frail we are, the Lord bears and forbears with his weak and sinful children, and is gentle towards them as a nurse with her child. With a text from the Old Testament, I purpose to take you straight away to the New, and the tenderness and pitifulness of the Father shall be illustrated by the meekness and lowliness of the Son towards his immediate disciples, the apostles. While the Holy Spirit shows you thus the pity of Jesus Christ towards his own personal attendants, you will see as in a glass his pity towards you. 

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

A FREE RESOURCE FROM MIDWESTERN

Through Agony, Comes Forth Life: How Childbirth Points Us To The Hope Found in Christ’s Death

Birth is merely a picture of Christ’s death—it cannot secure all that Jesus did, but it can point us to the greater reality of the suffering that took place for our own lives. Maybe, with this perspective in mind, we will have joy in the agony of bringing forth life because Jesus submitted himself to the will of the Father for the bringing forth of our very lives.

Read the full article on For the Church

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)

Our Father, your children who know you delight themselves in your presence. We are never happier than when we are near you. We have found a little heaven in prayer. It has eased our load to tell you of its weight; it has relieved our wound to tell you of its pain; it has restored our spirit to confess to you its wanderings. There is no place like the mercy seat for us.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“There is no speech; there are no words; their voice is not heard.” (Psalm 19:3)

Every man may hear the voices of the stars. Many are the languages of people on the earth, to stars there is but one, and that one may be understood by every willing mind. The lowest heathen are without excuse if they do not discover the invisible things of God in the works which he has made. Sun, moon, and stars are God’s traveling preachers; they are apostles upon their journey confirming those who regard the Lord, and judges on circuit condemning those who worship idols.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Read Spurgeon’s hope-filled final message

Shortly before his death, Spurgeon delivered a message titled The Greatest Fight in the World, in which he expressed his confidence in God’s Word alone for the Christian life and the Christian ministry.

I read The Greatest Fight for the first time last year and was so encouraged by Spurgeon’s confidence in God — the kind of confidence that perseveres, even in the face of death.

Today, more than 100 years after his death, Spurgeon’s final message can encourage us to stay faithful to God’s Word as we trust in Christ alone to keep us to the end. I know that it will encourage you, so I hope you’ll grab a copy.

Buy The Greatest Fight in the World:

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

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

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Remember your people in their families and convert their children; give us help and strength; spare precious lives that are in danger; be gracious to any that are dying; may the life of God swallow up the death of the body. Prepare us all for your glorious arrival; keep us waiting and watching, and do come quickly to our heart’s desire, for we pray “your kingdom come, your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven, for yours is the kingdom, and the power and the glory, forever and ever.”

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Day after day they pour out speech; night after night they communicate knowledge.” (Psalm 19:2)

The witnesses above [the heavens, testifying to the glory of God] cannot be slain or silenced; from their elevated seats they constantly preach the knowledge of God, undeterred and unbiassed by the judgments of men. Even the changes of alternating night and day are mutely eloquent, and light and shade equally reveal the Invisible One; let the changes of our circumstances do the same, and while we bless the God of our days of joy, let us also extol him who gives “songs in the night.”

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:

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

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

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Lord, give us day by day our daily bread; provide for your poor people; let them not think that the provision for themselves rests fully on themselves; but may they cry to you, for you have said, “Your bread shall be given you, your waters shall be sure.” If we follow you, if you lead us into a desert, you will cover our path with manna. May your people believe this, and let them have no worry, but like the birds of the air which neither sow nor gather into barns, and yet are fed, so may your people be.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the expanse proclaims the work of his hands.” (Psalm 19:1)

It is not merely glory that the heavens declare, but the “glory of God,” for they deliver to us such unanswerable arguments for a conscious, intelligent, planning, controlling, and presiding Creator, that no unprejudiced person can remain unconvinced by them. The testimony given by the heavens is no mere hint, but a plain, unmistakeable declaration; and it is a declaration of the most constant and abiding kind. Yet for all this, to what avail is the loudest declaration to a deaf man, or the clearest showing to one spiritually blind? God the Holy Spirit must illuminate us, or all the suns in the milky way never will.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Real Hope for All Your Fears and Anxiety

Today we prayed that God would help us to note worry or doubt. 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 a prayer from Spurgeon in your inbox every day. Subscribe to the Pray with Spurgeon newsletter for free.

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Oh, keep us, Lord. This life is full of trial. There are many that are perplexed about temporary things. Let not the enemy lead them to do or think that anything is amiss, because of the limited supply. Others are blessed with prosperity. Lord, let it not be a curse to them. Let them know how to abound as well as to suffer loss. In all things may they be instructed to glorify God, not only with all they are, but with all they have, and even with all they have not, by a holy contentment to do without that which it does not please you to bestow.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Fathers, don’t stir up anger in your children, but bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4)

Undue harshness, and irritating severity are here forbidden, but holy discipline and religious training are commanded. Wise fathers will take note of this verse. Fathers must not be ill-humored and morose to their sons and daughters, nor must they exact from them more service than they can render, nor ridicule them, nor shew partiality to one above another, nor stint them in necessaries, for this is to provoke them to anger.

Editor’s Note: If you’re looking for resources to help you lead your kids to be lifelong followers of Jesus, check out the family devotionals from God Centered Family.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

A Beautiful Book to Help Children Understand Pain

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 parents) 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:

• 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)

Above all, give us spiritual help. Give us wisdom, which is profitable to get. Give us the absence of all self-seeking, and a complete yielding up of our desires to the will of God.

Help us to be as Christ was, who was not his own, but gave himself to his Father for our sins; so may we for his sake give ourselves up to do or suffer the will of our Father who is in heaven.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“For if you forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well. But if you don’t forgive others, your Father will not forgive your offenses.” (Matthew 6:14–15)

This enforces Christian action by limiting the power of prayer according to our obedience to the command to forgive. If we would be forgiven, we must forgive: if we will not forgive, we cannot be forgiven. This yoke is easy; this burden is light. Very sweet is it to pass by other men’s offenses against ourselves; for thus we learn how sweet it is to the Lord to pardon us.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

New Family Devotional on Matthew’s Gospel

Today, we wrapped up our Verse of the Day series on Jesus’ teaching on prayer from Matthew 6. Later this week, we’ll return to the Psalms for the Verse of the Day.

Parents, if you want to keep studying Matthew, I want to recommend the latest family devotional from God Centered Family — this is a great resource to help you lead your kids to be lifelong followers of Jesus.

If you want to show your kids a glorious picture of Jesus as the gentle savior and mighty king of all nations, the fulfillment of the Old Testament, read Matthew to them. This family devotional will give you everything you need to teach your kids the Bible (and it just takes ten minutes every day).

Subscribers to God Centered Family get instant access to a growing library of devotionals.

Learn more and subscribe to God Centered Family ($6 /month)

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)

Today, as we gather, we pray that your truth may prevail against the many anti-Christs that have gone forth against it. Our Father, restore a pure language to your Zion once again. Take away, we pray, the itching for new doctrine, the longing for that which is thought to be scientific and wise above what is written, and may your church come to her moorings, may she cast anchor in the truth of God and there abide; and if it be your will may we live to see brighter and better times.

Amen.

GET A FREE COURSE

Thanks to Midwestern Seminary for sponsoring the Weekend Edition of this newsletter.

My friends at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary have put together a GREAT video class from Jared Wilson that unpacks exactly how God’s story really can impact every part of your life.

It’s called “The Story of Everything” and it’s available FOR FREE right now.

Click here to get started with this FREE seminary-level course.

WEEKEND LONG READ (SERMON BY SPURGEON)

A Faithful Friend

“… there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.” (Proverbs 18:24)

The world’s friendship is ever brittle. Trust to it, and you have trusted a robber; rely upon it, and you have leaned upon a thorn; ay, worse than that, upon a spear which shall pierce you to the soul with agony. Yet Solomon says he had found “a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” Not in the haunts of his unbridled pleasures, nor in the wanderings of his unlimited resources, but in the pavilion of the Most High, the secret dwelling-place of God, in the person of Jesus, the Son of God, the Friend of sinners.

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

A FREE RESOURCE FROM MIDWESTERN

The Problem with Resolutions

On this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ross Ferguson discuss the problems we run into when we make New Year’s resolutions — or resolutions of any kind — and how to best handle new commitments and new habits in the Christian life.

Listen to this podcast on For the Church

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.