Category: Pray with Spurgeon

Pray with Spurgeon: God is our helper (and he will never sleep)

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

O God, you are our God. Early in life many of us were brought to put our trust in you, and since then you have been our God in many and many an experience. We have been in troubles often, but you have always been our Helper. We have been in danger, but he who keeps Israel has neither slumbered nor slept. We can truly say this morning, “Because you have been my help, therefore in the shadow of your wings I will rejoice.”

What a God you have been to us in our experience—so tender over our weakness, ever teaching us little by little as we have been able to bear it; so long-suffering with our follies, chastening only in measure, and comforting without measure.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Summoning his twelve disciples, he gave them authority over unclean spirits, to drive them out and to heal every disease and sickness.” (Matthew 10:1)

See the way of making apostles. They were first disciples, and afterwards teachers of others: they were especially his, and then they were given to be a blessing to men. They were “called unto him”; and thus their higher call came to them. In the presence of their Lord they received their equipment: “He gave them power.” Is that so with us in our own special office?

Let us come to him, that we may be clothed with his authority and girded with his strength. Their power was miraculous; but it was an imitation of their Lord’s, and the words applied to it are very much the same as we have seen in use about his miracles of healing. The twelve were made to represent their Lord. We, too, may be enabled to do what Jesus did among men. Oh, for such an endowment!

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See Jesus with more clarity, and love him for it.

This weekend, I’m preaching on Hebrews 1, teaching about how Jesus is the Son of God. And while I’ve heard this title applied to Jesus a lot, I’ve never heard anyone attempt to give a clear definition for it. So this week I read, Jesus the Son of God by D.A. Carson.

This book is really incredible. Carson, a New Testament scholar, approaches the question, “What does it mean for Jesus to be the Son of God?” in an incredibly logical, thoroughly biblical way. Carson masterfully categorizes and explains a huge amount of biblical data, in a short, accessible book.

I will say that this is not the most exciting book you will read (the writing is pretty dry), but the journey is worth it. I walked away from this book with greater love and deeper amazement at the wonders of Christ, the Son of God.

If you’ve ever had questions about what it means for Jesus to be the Son of God, or if you need some solidly biblical fuel for your love for Christ, this book will be a blessing to you. I hope you’ll buy a copy today.

Buy Jesus the Son of God:

Pray with Spurgeon: Help us trust God and not worry

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

O Lord, enrich us with all spiritual blessings according to your riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Give us first complete peace of mind. Deliver us from all slavish fear. Let us rest in the great Father’s love. Save us also from carefulness and that anxiety which frets and eats like a canker. Help us to cast our burden upon you today, whatever that burden may be.

Work in us, O God, the precious gift of faith, and increase faith if we have it. Let us not only have life, but have it more abundantly. Brighten our hope, and may we joyfully expect the coming of the Lord. Every day inflame our love, and may we more intensely love our God, our Savior, and our brethren, and our fellow men. Work in us, we pray, the blessed character of our divine example. Lead us to follow in his steps. May we be truly Christians, as truly as he was Christ.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Jesus replied, ‘This is the work of God—that you believe in the one he has sent.’” (John 6:29)

Faith is most pleasing to God because it is the comprehensive summary of all true work. There lies within a heart of faith every possible form of holiness. As a forest may lie asleep within an acorn, so within the bounds of faith, little though it is, every virtue lies hidden. It may be microscopic in form, but it is certainly there and only needs development.

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Don’t Just Read Scripture in 2023 — Live it Out.*

We know that when we read Scripture, we need to be seeking to have our lives transformed, not only collect more information. And yet, it can be difficult to apply Scripture in a way that is faithful to the text and specific to our lives.

That’s a great feature of the CSB Day-by-Day Chronological Bible. Each day’s reading features reflection questions to consider while you read and there’s also a weekly recap to help you consider the big things that you have learned.

These reflection questions are really helpful for growing in godliness as you read Scripture. One thing that I love about these questions is that they’re really diverse — they don’t say the same thing 365 different ways, they will address your heart, your beliefs, and your actions.

I’m confident that the Day-by-Day Chronological Bible will help you follow Christ this year, so I hope you’ll pick up a copy today.

Buy the CSB Day-by-Day Chronological Bible from Lifeway — up to 40% off:

Pray with Spurgeon: We find all our joy in God

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

God bless his dear people with patience; make patience have her perfect work that we may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. The Lord give us perfect consecration, and a holy waiting for his coming. May we be looking for the appearing of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and so always be on the watch for the setting loose of earthly things, finding our joy not here nor there, but in him and waiting for his appearing.

Revive your church at this time. Oh that there would come a heavenly wind to blow over your fainting church! Lord, she has been ill-fed of late; she has eaten ashes with her bread, false doctrine with your truth. Come and purge away false doctrine and error, and may your own truth be proclaimed again. Then men, feeding upon it, shall have the old gladness, the old holiness, the old service of God.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.” (Titus 3:3)

That is what we were once; and if the grace of God has made a change in us, we must not boast, we must not censure others, we must not set up as self-righteous judges of others. Oh, no! our action must be the very reverse of all this.

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My Bible Study for Husbands

If you’ve made any New Years Resolutions to grow as a husband, I have a resource that I think can help.

Husbands, we are called to lay down our lives in service for our wives — how can we grow to be the sacrificial leader that God has called us to be?

I’ve created a resource, The God Centered Husband Bible Study Workbook to help husbands understand God’s call on their lives and equip them to follow it. 

This is a simple, hands-on Bible study workbook for married guys. It will walk you through six passages of Scripture about being a husband and challenge you to serve your wife sacrificially, lead her consistently, and show her the character of God.

Every man lives for something. This Bible study will challenge you to stop living for yourself, your wife, or your career, and live for God more faithfully.

Perfect for individual, small group, or one-on-one Bible study, my prayer is that this Bible study will help you become the husband that God has called you to be.

If you’re a husband, grab a copy for yourself and a guy you know.

If you’re a wife, grab a copy for your husband.
(Trust me, he’ll thank you)

Buy The God Centered Husband Bible Study Workbook on Amazon.

Pray with Spurgeon: God can strengthen our faith

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Bless your own people, especially, by giving us more faith. May we believe you fully. May we believe, and believe, and still believe! May we never stagger at a promise through unbelief, and may no affliction ever stagger us. If we are in the cave may we sing David’s cave-song: “O God, my heart is fixed, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise.”

Lord save us from unbelief, which brings misery, but a childlike trust brings happiness. Give us greater love for you, shame that we should need to pray the prayer, but we do. Inflame us with your love; may all our hearts be taken up with love to Christ; may we live love to him and so to our fellow-men.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“I will tend my flock and let them lie down. This is the declaration of the Lord GOD.” (Ezekiel 34:15)

A flock cannot be fed until it is in existence. It cannot be fed, as a flock, until all the scattered sheep will have been brought together. We find the Lord declaring that he will search out his sheep and seek them. One of the Lord’s sheep—a woman who had forsaken the paths of virtue—had had five husbands and was then living with one who was not her husband. Yet he must go through Samaria to meet with her. He must—such was the divine necessity that this sheep, which had wandered as far as it well could, should be brought back.

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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:

Pray with Spurgeon: God help me, I am very weak

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

O God, help us. We are very weak, and if we get a little strength, it only adds to our weakness. We grow more and more dependent upon an Almighty arm. If we did not have God, we would have nothing. Bless your servants who preach the gospel. May they never dream that they can save a soul. May they leave salvation with the Savior whose work it is. May we be instruments in the hands of God, and be content to give him all the praise when we have the largest success.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20)

If they open their eyes, people who have never heard the gospel can see God in his works. Enough is written on the face of nature to condemn people if they do not turn to God. There is a gospel in the sea, in the heavens, in the stars, and in the sun; and if people will not read it, they are guilty; for they are willfully ignorant of what they might know and ought to know.

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How Does All of the Bible Fit Together?*

When we try to read the entire Bible in a year, we might find ourselves faced with a lot of questions: How does the whole story of the Bible fit together and point to Jesus? Why is Leviticus in there? Why are there so many chapters about family records or distribution of lands?

These questions are good, but we can’t let them stop us from diving deep into all of Scripture.

A great resource for reading the entire Bible in a year and thinking carefully about questions like these ones is the CSB Day-by-Day Chronological Bible.

This Bible has arranged every chapter of Scripture based on the order the events took place, so you can see how it all fits together.

There are also some really helpful notes that will help you learn why each part of the Bible matters, and keep up with the story.

Buy the CSB Day-by-Day Chronological Bible from Lifeway — up to 40% off:

Pray with Spurgeon: We give all praise to God

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Lord, we adore you. We worship Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, the one God of Israel. We wish every blessing to the God of blessing, to whom be glory, and honor, and power, and light, and might, and dominion forever and ever. We wish we could be always adoring. It is our heaven on earth, and it will be our heaven in heaven for ever to glorify God. This is our chief end, and we only find our bliss as we are able to reach unto it. But, blessed God, words cannot speak our reverence; praise sits on our tongue while we adore the God of the Covenant, the God and Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, our God forever and ever, who shall be our guide even unto death.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“The LORD is my helper; therefore, I will look in triumph on those who hate me.” (Psalm 118:7)

What a comforting fact it is that the Lord takes our part, and that when he raises up friends for us he does not leave them to fight for us alone, but he himself as our chief defender deigns to come into the battle and wage war on our behalf.

We are not to disdain or think little of the generous friends who rally around us; but still our great dependence and our grand confidence must be fixed upon the Lord alone. Without him the strong helpers fail; indeed, apart from him in the sons of men there is no help; but when our gracious Lord is pleased to support and strengthen those who aid us, they become substantial helpers to us.

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: God is worthy of endless praise

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

We praise you. The last week was a week of many blessings for many of us, and if we did not praise you we could not pray, for he who does not remember favors received, can hardly ask for more. You have done great things for us, and we are glad. You have daily loaded us with benefits, our cup runs over. “Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name.” Let not your people withhold their praises; may they pour them out like rivers of oil. As the incense rose in clouds from the holy altar, so may praise go up to God like the smoke of the morning sacrifice.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“The LORD is for me; I will not be afraid. What can a mere mortal do to me?” (Psalm 118:6)

Man can do nothing more than God permits; at the very uttermost he can only kill the body, but he has nothing more that he can do. God having purposed to set his servant upon the throne, the whole race of mankind could do nothing to thwart the divine decree: the settled purpose of the Lord’s heart could not be turned aside, nor its accomplishment delayed, much less prevented, by the most rancorous hostility of the most powerful of men.

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Read (And Understand) the Whole Bible in 2023*

Reading the Bible in a year is a GREAT goal for any Christian — we can always become better acquainted with Scripture. But it’s important that we don’t just mindlessly read, just to check the box and finish in a year. We need to be learning as we read Scripture.

The CSB Day-by-Day Chronological Bible is a great resource to help you. This Bible is formatted as a chronological reading plan, so you never have to wonder what to read next (just turn the page).

Each day’s reading features some really valuable notes that will help you understand and remember the context and significance of each day’s readings. When reading the entire Bible in a year, it can be helpful to have simple guides like this to help us not lose track.

Grow your knowledge of the Word (and your love for the Word!) in 2023 with the CSB Day-by-Day Chronological Bible.

Buy the CSB Day-by-Day Chronological Bible from Lifeway — up to 40% off:

Pray with Spurgeon: We cannot even pray with Jesus

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Our Father, we feel unworthy to go into your holy presence and to take your name upon our lips, yet in Christ we have a worthiness which is perfect. Making mention of his name we are not afraid to stand before the blessed throne of Deity. For Christ’s sake hear us, we pray.

But we are also helpless in prayer. Who can rightly pray for himself without the teaching of the Spirit of God? My Lord, I am as unable as I am unworthy; nevertheless hear and help.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“I called to the LORD in distress; the LORD answered me and put me in a spacious place.” (Psalm 118:5)

Nothing was left him but prayer, his agony was too great for aught beside; but having the heart and the privilege to pray he possessed all things. Prayers which come out of distress generally come out of the heart, and therefore they go to the heart of God.

Many of us can join with the Psalmist in the declarations of this verse: deep was our distress on account of sin, and we were shut up as in a prison under the law, but in answer to the prayer of faith we obtained the liberty of full justification wherewith Christ makes men free, and we are free indeed.

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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, let your truth spread; let your Kingdom come

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Put an end to that revival of heresy, which we see on every side! Your glorious Word is treated as a common book. It is hardly as well respected as a poor almanack. The Lord have mercy upon those who doubt his Word, and bring back a reverence for every line of inspiration, above all a deep love to the atoning sacrifice. Let it not be despised, but may the precious blood be preached everywhere and multitudes washed in it and made clean.

We pray for our country and our leaders. We pray for every other country and ask that peace may rule everywhere; and we close our prayer with this deepest wish: “your Kingdom come”—yourself, Great King, even so come quickly, Lord Jesus.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Let those who fear the LORD say, “‘His faithful love endures forever.’” (Psalm 118:4)

We are not only to believe, but to declare the goodness of God; truth is not to be hushed up, but proclaimed. God would have his people act as witnesses, and not stand silent in the day when his honor is opposed. It is our joy to speak out to the honor and glory of God when we think upon the exaltation of his dear Son. We should shout “Hosannah,” and sing loud “Hallelujahs” when we behold the stone which the builders rejected lifted into its proper place.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Reading the Bible as One Story That Points to Jesus*

It’s important to remember that the Bible isn’t just a collection of stories — the Bible tells one unified story, the story of the Creator God working to save a people for himself. This story finds its climax in Jesus’ death in our place and glorious resurrection.

If you want to learn more about the story of the Bible, a great resource is the CSB Day-by-Day Chronological Bible. This is a really great resource that puts every passage of Scripture in chronological order (the order that the events took place in), so you can read the whole Bible as a story.

This Bible also has a lot of really helpful tools to help you know what’s going on and why it matters for God’s salvation plan, including daily notes that help you remember what’s going on in the story.

The CSB Day-by-Day Chronological Bible is formatted with a reading plan for a whole year, but the readings aren’t dated, so you can start any time.

I know this Bible will help you read and understand Scripture this year, so I hope you’ll grab one today.

Buy the CSB Day-by-Day Chronological Bible from Lifeway — up to 40% off:

Pray with Spurgeon: God, bring unity and peace to your church

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

We pray with great earnestness that you would bless our church. We thank you for additions constantly made to our members; we pray that they may be good men, and true, holy women, in their very hearts. Lord, keep those that are in membership. Let us not fall; let us not fall. Make us all useful.

Keep the church in unity, peace and concord, and give it zeal and passionate longing for the conversion of the souls of men. May many be brought in who now think nothing of you. While we are preaching, may the Holy Spirit be working, may souls be saved by thousands.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Let the house of Aaron say, ‘His faithful love endures forever.’” (Psalm 118:3)

The sons of Aaron were specially set apart to come nearest to God, and it was only because of his mercy that they were enabled to live in the presence of the thrice holy Lord, who is a consuming fire. Every time the morning and evening lamb was sacrificed, the priests saw the continual mercy of the Lord. When the high priest went in unto the holy place and came forth accepted, he might, above all men, sing of the eternal mercy.

Our Lord Jesus, having made all his people priests unto God, may well call upon us in that capacity to magnify the everlasting mercy of the Most High. Can any one of the royal priesthood be silent?

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

A great memoir to fill you with hope

Recently, I read Everything Sad is Untrue by Daniel Nayeri, after having the book recommended to me by tons of sources and individuals — Christians and non-Christians.

The book is a memoir about a refugee family who had to flee from their homeland in Iran because they were persecuted for their Christian faith.

This is an absolutely breathtaking read that I think will bless and benefit every Christian. It is a great testimony of God’s work around the world and a beautiful example of Christian hope. This book will also expose you to the experience of refugees and persecuted Christians, filling you with compassion.

Nayeri writes from the perspective of his 12-year-old self, and this book is an absolutely incredible patchwork of his own experiences, Persian myths, and cultural analysis.

I know this book will bless you, so I hope you’ll grab a copy today.

Buy Everything Sad is Untrue: