Category: Pray with Spurgeon

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

May the laws of the King of Peace be universally proclaimed, and obeyed even by those who perhaps yield not their hearts to his sway; for we do know, great King, that while you have a special kingdom in your people, yet the Lord has given you power over all flesh; and we pray this may be recognized, and we may see it. Your kingdom come, O Jesus; may your kingdom come—your Father’s kingdom; and let his 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)

“Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10)

Men have thrown off their allegiance to our Father, God; and we pray with all our might that he may, by his almighty grace, subdue them to loyal obedience. We long for the coming of King Jesus; but meanwhile we cry to our Father, “your kingdom come.” We desire for the supreme will to be done in earth, with a cheerful, constant, universal obedience like that of “heaven.”

We would have the Lord’s will carried out, not only by the great physical forces which never fail to be obedient to God, but by lovingly active spirits; by men, once rebellious, but graciously renewed. Oh, that all who say this prayer may display on earth the holy alacrity of obedience which is seen in the happy, hearty, united, and unquestioning service of perfect saints and angels before the throne. Our heart’s highest wish is for God’s honor, dominion, and glory.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

The true disciple prays that God would be glorified

In today’s prayer, Spurgeon referenced the beginning of the Lord’s Prayer — “your kingdom come, your will be done.” Last weekend, I preached on the Lord’s Prayer at my church.

You can listen to it here. I hope it encourages you to pray boldly for God to be glorified in your life.

(And if you or someone you know is moving to DC this summer, I hope you’ll visit our church at 10:30 a.m. on a Sunday!)

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

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

We have many things to ask of you, but you know, without our use of words. Give to all before you, and to all your people everywhere, exactly what you see that they need. We pray for the revival of the Church of God, for help to be given this day to all preachers, and teachers, and seekers after the souls of others. We pray, Lord, that you would add to your church daily of those who are being saved.

With our whole heart many of us at least do pray that you would bless our country, and spare it from the horrible evils of war. O God of peace, send us peace always, by all means. Sword of the Lord rest and be quiet now; and may the gospel with its benign influences spread over all nations, until there shall be no selfish clutching, no rapacious grasping at territories, no oppression of one race by another.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“When you pray, don’t babble like the Gentiles, since they imagine they’ll be heard for their many words. Don’t be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask him.” (Matthew 6:7–8)

God does not need us to pray for his information, for he “knows the things you need before you ask him;” nor to repeat the prayer over and over for his persuasion, for as our Father he is willing to bless us. Therefore let us not be superstitious and dream that there is virtue in “much speaking.”

Repetitions we may have, but not “vain repetitions.” Counting beads, and reckoning the time occupied in devotion, are both idle things. Christians’ prayers are measured by weight, and not by length. Many of the most prevailing prayers have been as short as they were strong.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

FREE: Seminary-Level Course Videos from Phoenix Seminary*

I’m REALLY excited about this one…

Phoenix Seminary (the school in Arizona where Wayne Grudem, Brian Arnold, Peter Gentry, and others teach) is GIVING AWAY all of the course videos for their Old Testament 2 and Church History 1 online courses.

Seriously, this is 100% free. No strings attached.

Just HOURS (and hours and hours and hours) of seminary-level education to help you grow your knowledge of the Bible, your love for God’s Word, and your ability to serve the church.

I’ve just started to dig into these videos and I’m already benefiting from the incredible content in my personal Bible study and preaching ministry.

Access the course videos now on PS.edu.

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

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Oh, make the non-Christians that we know to be weary until he is delivered from corruption. May there be none here that shall fancifully seek after a pretended salvation, which will leave them as they are; but may they know that Jesus saves his people from their sins; and, oh, that with self-loathing, and deep contrition, and earnest heart-searching, souls may come to you again and cast themselves before your face, trusting in Jesus, and crying out to be delivered from sin; and may this be the day of deliverance.

Oh, this weekend, you may raise up of these stones children unto Abraham. Men that seem naked and cold as stones, quicken by the mighty Spirit this very day; and may they be led to yield themselves to God, and their members instruments of righteousness. The Lord grant it, and we will bless his name.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Don’t let the one who puts on his armor boast like the one who takes it off.” (1 Kings 20:11)

It is right to learn even from the lips of the wicked, for they are seldom as foolish in worldly things as they are in spiritual. Those who put on the armor are the more apt to be proud because they often mistake their intentions for accomplishments. The text is peculiarly adapted to those who are commencing the battle of the Christian life. 

We do not always perform what we think we will, nor do we always reach where we hope to arrive; failures are as numerous as successes, and even the most successful have failures to mourn over. The gist of all I have said is this: we should trust in God but distrust ourselves.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

A New Bible Study for Husbands

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 new 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.

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

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

While we are now crying to Christ to be sanctified, may we not doubt his power to sanctify; but while crying, “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?” (Romans 7:24) as well we may; we do nevertheless shout exultingly, “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 7:25)!

And now, we beseech you, look upon some who are seeking salvation, but do not find it; who hear the simple gospel, but somehow cannot enter into its rest. We know that something hinders—Satan hinders. There may be in the heart of seekers here, attachment to a favorite sin. Oh, deliver them from that fascination. There may be still some holding fast to evil associations some predominance of evil passions. Oh God, help repentant souls to come to you, asking to be delivered from sin in every shape, from the sugar of sin as well as from the gall of sin.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?” (Romans 7:24)

However nearly we may have approached to the example of Christ, that nearness will make us the more regret the points in which we have fallen short of a complete imitation of him, and we shall still cry out, “What a wretched man I am!”

We are blessed to have come so far on the way of holiness, but wretched that I have not gone still further. Then, as Job considered himself an unclean thing, we need not wonder that he should have despaired of ever, by his own power, bringing out of himself anything that should be perfectly clean in God’s sight.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Have you considered online seminary? — Start here (for FREE)*

The internet has been so incredibly influential in my personal walk with the Lord. I was converted watching sermons on the internet, found my first church on the internet, and now, thanks to the internet, get to send this newsletter out to nearly 20,000 people every day. God is SO gracious to give us great resources.

And one incredible thing about the internet is how it gives us unprecedented access to ministry training and theological education.

I’m really excited to see how seminaries are working to make degree programs more accessible than ever, so that you can train for ministry without moving.

One of those schools is Phoenix Seminary — a school in Arizona where Wayne Grudem teaches. If you’re considering seminary, I highly encourage you to check them out. They’re doing GREAT things in the southwest.

If you want to get a taste of Phoenix Seminary’s online courses, they are giving away ALL of the videos for their Old Testament 2 and Church History 1 online courses —  FOR FREE!

I hope you’ll check out these videos and then learn more about the great online degree programs available from Phoenix Seminary!

Access the course videos now on PS.edu.

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

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Oh to be Christly! We do desire to live on earth the life of Jesus—sent into the world by him as he was sent into the world by the Father. We would closely copy all his acts, words, and spirit; for this is only how we are saved, when we are saved from the power of sin, and transformed into the likeness of Christ. Let no drunkard here imagine that his life ought to be spent in a selfish endeavor to save himself from the flames of hell; but may he rather reckon that the grand object is to be saved from the power of sin, and to be consecrated unto God, and to live unto the glory of the most High.

Oh Lord, we do fear that selfishness even enters into our most holy things; we mar and spoil our prayers, and preachings, and teachings, with the unwashed hands with which we go about them. Oh, that you would make us clean, we pray; while we thus pray to you, we do also know that believing in Christ we are clean; we thank you that we do not doubt his justifying power.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, I also send you.” (John 20:21)

Christ was saying, “You are to go forth and to bless the world, even as I have done. My Father has sent me; and ‘even so send I you.’ You are to be my delegates, to carry on my service; my commissioned officers, to go forth to conflict and to conquest in my name.”

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

A Really Fun Book for Kids — Inspire your kids to follow Christ alone!

Today we prayed, asking that God would bring about his purposes in our lives. Because this is why we were saved — not for OUR glory and comfort, but for HIS glory.

None of my children have professed faith in Christ yet, but I long for them to live with this kind of radical, God-glorifying faith. One of the ways I’m seeking to cultivate that kind of love is by regularly reading missionary biographies, and one of our favorites is Betsey Stockton: The Girl with a Missionary Dream by Laura Caputo-Wickham.

A former slave, Betsey Stockton was the first African-American missionary. She worked on a missionary team in Hawaii for the spread of the gospel. Her story is INCREDIBLE, and unfortunately is often overlooked!

This book is a great read for pre-school and early-elementary aged kiddos (And because she served in Hawaii, your kids will love seeing pictures of boats, waves, sharks, and turtles throughout the book).

Let’s work to cultivate a passion for God’s glory in our children — I know this book will help along the way!

Buy Betsey Stockton: The Girl with a Missionary Dream:

• 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)

As we have read the charge of your word against that unruly member, the tongue; as we have heard your servant James rebuking our envy and other evil spirits that are within us, we do feel humbled under your hand, and our prayer is, Lord, kill our envy, Lord, help us to command our tongue, grant us grace to be holy: may we be kind and gentle towards our fellow-men, having that fruit of the Spirit, which follows upon purity, even peace. Oh, that we might live for you and not for self. Slay self we pray, gracious God, whenever there is a selfish, angry disposition about us; help us to trample it out, as men put out sparks lest a fire should arise therefrom.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Now the works of the flesh are obvious… envy” (Galatians 5:19, 21)

Envy is not so much the desire to enrich oneself at another’s expense, as a wolfish craving to impoverish him and pull him down for the mere sake of it. This is a very acrid form of undiluted hate and leaves but one stronger form of hate. To desire another’s dishonor merely from envy of his superiority is simply devilish and is a sort of murder of the man’s best life.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

A Seminary-Level Education for Free?! Sign Me Up!*

If you’ve ever wanted to take your Bible and theology knowledge to the next level, I have a great resource for you!

My friends at Phoenix Seminary are GIVING AWAY all of the videos from their Old Testament 2 and Church History 1 online courses.

I’m currently studying Hosea in my personal devotions and preparing to preach through the book of Jonah at my church this fall, and the Old Testament 2 videos have already been SO HELPFUL as I seek to understand and apply the passage.

You should really check out these videos. They will help you understand God’s Word personally AND they will help you teach and share God’s Word with others as well.

(By the way — Phoenix Seminary told me that some people have had some difficulty accessing the videos. This issue has been solved, so if you weren’t able to get the videos before, you should be able to now!)

Access the course videos now on PS.edu.

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

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

We have no confidence but in Christ, this we know; but Lord, if this is a true confidence it will work by love and purify the soul. Oh, that there might be the sweet results of faith about our secret character and public life. We do sin, the Lord grant we may never leave off grieving because of sin, never may we be contented with ourselves, never fancy that we have reached a point where we may rest and be thankful, and that there is nothing more for us to do in seeking to be more than conquerors of ourselves.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.” (1 Peter 3:17)

Yet we hear persons say, “I would not mind being blamed if I deserved it,” which is very absurd, since it is the deserving of blame which ought to trouble us far more than the rebuke.

Further on, at the beginning of the next chapter, Peter says: “Because Christ suffered in the flesh, you also equip yourselves with the same way of thinking” (1 Peter 4:1). He warns us that we shall need to be clad in heavenly armor, for we shall have to pass through conflict and suffering for Christ’s sake and for righteousness’ sake.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

A Visual Guide to the Entire New Testament

We need the Bible. But we don’t just need to have it, we need to understand it; we need to know it through-and-through. We need to study every passage and learn every book.

A great guide to help you know your Bible deeper is The Visual Word by Patrick Schreiner. This book offers an outline and a visual guide to every book in the New Testament. This gives you a great overview of the entire New Testament, which you can use as a guide for jumping in deeper.

The book is simple enough (and rich enough) for any Christian to benefit from. The illustrations that accompany each outline are stunning and help guide us into the New Testament books.

The Visual Word is an incredible (and beautiful!) resource to add to your Bible study tool belt. I hope you’ll grab a copy today.

Buy The Visual Word:

• Amazon (Hardback or Kindle editions)
• ChristianBook.com (Hardback 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)

A large number of us have put on Christ by open confession of his name. Oh, Searcher of hearts, are we really in Christ? Have we been by his spirit been born again? Will you be pleased to search our hearts, that this question may be put beyond all suspicion.

Help us to be very diligent in self-examination, observing whether our spirit be the spirit of your children, whether our griefs be the griefs that tear repenting hearts, whether our joys are the joys of faith or the delusions of presumption. May we make severe trial of ourselves, often and often putting ourselves into the balances of the sanctuary, to see whether we be full weight or no. One thing we hope we can say with confidence—that our trust is stayed where you would have it stayed, even in the work, the blood, the righteousness, the person of your dear Son.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Blessed be God! He has not turned away my prayer or turned his faithful love from me.” (Psalm 66:20)

In looking back upon the character of our prayers, if we do it honestly, we shall be filled with wonder that God has ever answered them. There may be some who think their prayers worthy of acceptance—as the Pharisee did; but the true Christian, in a more enlightened retrospect, weeps over his prayers, and if he could retrace his steps he would desire to pray more earnestly.

Remember, Christian, how cold your prayers have been. When in your closet you should have wrestled as Jacob did; but instead, your petitions have been faint and few. Yet, wonderful to say, God has heard these cold prayers of yours, and not only heard, but answered them

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

FREE: Seminary-Level Course Videos from Phoenix Seminary*

Earlier this week, I sent you a free ebook and I’m excited to share another freebie with you today!

Phoenix Seminary (the school in Arizona where Wayne Grudem, Brian Arnold, Peter Gentry, and others teach) is GIVING AWAY all of the course videos for their Old Testament 2 and Church History 1 online courses.

Seriously, this is 100% free. No strings attached.

Just HOURS (and hours and hours and hours) of seminary-level education to help you grow your knowledge of the Bible, your love for God’s Word, and your ability to serve the church.

I’ve just started to dig into these videos and I’m already benefiting from the incredible content in my personal Bible study and preaching ministry.
Access the course videos now on PS.edu.

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 do confess that our nature is at enmity with you. The fallen corrupt nature of Adam has revolted and gone aside from God; and though we hope that by your free grace you have renewed us, yet the old rebellions come up at times, and the evil nature urges us still to oppose you.

Therefore our prayer this morning is, that we may not only extol you with our words, as we do now; but by the entire submission of our hearts in loyal reverence to you, we may pay you the truest homage. But, Lord, lest we should not have done this, or thinking that we have done so, should still have failed, we will make this the burden of our morning prayer.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“In the same way faith, if it does not have works, is dead by itself.” (James 2:17)

Regeneration is making the old thing new. It is infusing a new nature into a person. The new birth is making the person a new creation in Christ Jesus. But can a new creature have no repentance, good works, private prayer, charity, or holiness of any kind? The new birth would be a thing to be ridiculed if it did not really produce a hatred of sin and a love of holiness.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

God wants you to be confident in your salvation. Here’s how.

Today we prayed, asking God to subdue the sin that remains in us. Often, when we honestly see the sin that remains in our lives, we’re paralyzed with fear, worrying about whether or not we’re really saved. Friend, if this is you, know that this is not God’s design for your life. God wants you to walk confident in your eternal security, not because of your own goodness, but because of Christ’s grace.

If you’re walking in worry about whether or not you’re really saved, Stop Asking Jesus Into Your Heart by J.D. Greear is a great resource. Greear offers a diagnostic for Christians to “know for sure that you’re saved.” It’s not rooted in looking back at the moment of your conversion, but about honestly evaluating God’s preserving work in your life right now.

This book is really biblical and really practical. I hope God will use it to encourage you and end your worry. You don’t need to get saved again, because Christ will always hold onto you.

This is a great, simple, and short read to put on the top of your summer reading list — I know it will fill you with great Christ-centered confidence.

Buy Stop Asking Jesus Into Your Heart:

• Amazon (Hardback, Kindle, or audiobook editions)
• ChristianBook.com (Hardback 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)

Through the rebellion of our flesh we cannot delight ourselves in your ways, because they are hard and afflictive apparently; yet we do delight in you, and we will at all times rest our souls in the excellence and goodness and lovingkindness of the Most High. As you have revealed yourself in Christ Jesus, you have now become to your people the object of inexpressible delight.

You have bidden us delight in you, promising to give us the desire of our hearts. We trust we can, many of us, truly say that you are our exceeding joy; the thought of God does bring exceeding pleasure to our soul. Our soul exults in her God: He is our God and we will extol him, he is our fathers’ God and we will glorify him.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. This is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.” (Exodus 15:2)

Notice, the song is all of God; there is not a word about Moses. Read this song through, and neither Moses, nor Aaron, nor Miriam are in it: God is all in all: “I will sing to the Lord.” That is blessed praise when self lies with the Egyptians at the bottom of the sea, and when everything that is in us that is commendable is traced to the grace of God, and the Lord is magnified for it. Oh for the glorification of Jesus, and none but Jesus!

Brothers, we spoil our music by diverting our thoughts to man. Let us forget men, forget earth, forget time, forget self, forget this mortal life, and only think of our God. The song shall be all for you, O Lord, for you are all in all; and if we have one note that is determined to go astray we will this day bind it with cords, even with cords to the horns of your altar, O Lord.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

You really should learn about church history.*

3 Reasons to Study Church History:

1. The stories are incredible. God is so faithful to his people.

2. It will improve our theology. The early church answered many of the questions we’re asking today.

3. It will increase our faith. It’s reassuring to see that the gospel hasn’t changed in 2,000 years.

And if you’re looking for a great introduction to church history, I have really great news for you: Phoenix Seminary in Arizona (where Wayne Grudem, Brian Arnold, Peter Gentry, and others teach) is giving away ALL of the lecture videos from their online Church History 1 course.

This is a great way to learn our family story and all of the ways God sustained and expanded his people in the first thousand years after Jesus’ resurrection.

(And all the videos from the Old Testament 2 course are included as well!!)

So, what are you waiting for?! Get access to these free videos and start learning today!
Access the course videos now on PS.edu.