Category: Pray with Spurgeon

Pray with Spurgeon: God, use us for your glory

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Now Lord, bless your people, our beloved church. You have been very gracious to us; be gracious to us still. Oh that we had health and strength to labor here as our heart desires: may it please you yet to give us these! But if not, use what there is of us until the last is gone, and be pleased ever to find some one or other to go in and out before this people, to feed them with knowledge and understanding. “Father, glorify Thy name.”

We ask you once more that you would, by some means, cause peace to be re-established throughout the earth.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 2:3)

The soldier is full often a suffering man. There are wounds, there are toils, there are frequent lyings in the hospitals, there may be ghastly cuts which let the soul out with the blood. Such the Christian soldier must be, ready to suffer, enduring hardness, not looking for pleasure of a worldly kind in this life, but counting it his pleasure to renounce his pleasure for Christ’s sake.

The true soldier is an ambitious being. He pants for honor, seeks for glory. On the field of strife he gathers his laurels, and amidst a thousand dangers he reaps renown. The Christian is fired by higher ambitions than earthly warrior ever knew. He sees a crown that can never fade; he loves a King who best of all is worthy to be served; he has a motive within him which moves him to the noblest deeds, a divine spirit impelling him to the most self-sacrificing actions. Thus you see the Christian is a soldier, and it is one of the main things in Christian life, to contend earnestly for the faith, and to fight valorously against sin.

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

Today we prayed that God would help us to serve him. But we will only ever be able to consistently serve God if we remember that we are forgiven of our sin by the great mercy of Christ.

One resource that’s been helpful as I’ve studied God’s Word and his promise of forgiveness 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:

Pray with Spurgeon: May we stand side by side with Jesus

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

May there be a people found in this place, and throughout this land, that will abide by the doctrines of the gospel, come what may. May we not be ashamed to be old fashioned, and to be thought fanatical. May we not wish to be thought cultured, nor aim to keep abreast of the times. May we be side by side with you, O bleeding Savior; and be content to be rejected, be willing to take up unpopular truth, and to hold fast despised teachings of sacred Scriptures even to the end. Oh make us faithful—faithful unto death.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.” (John 14:1)

I am glad the apostles were not perfect men. Otherwise they would have understood all that Jesus said at once, and we would have lost our Lord’s instructive explanations. They would also have lived above all trouble of mind, and then the Master would not have said to them these golden words, “Don’t let your heart be troubled.” The Lord takes no delight in the doubt and disquietude of his people. He would not have us sad. Great personal sorrows may well be an excuse if the griefs of others are somewhat overlooked. Yet although Jesus was going to his last bitter agony, and to death itself, he overflowed with sympathy for his followers.

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A devotional to prepare for Good Friday.

Today’s prayer asked God to help us endure to the end — to suffer for the gospel, just as Jesus did. This is what Jesus came to do — to die for his people. As we approach Good Friday and Easter, it’s important for us to slow down and think like this about why Christ died and why he rose again. Fifty Reasons Jesus Came to Die by John Piper is an excellent devotional for considering the cost and the reward of the cross.

The book offers fifty short devotionals, each explaining a different reason Jesus came to die. Fifty Reasons Jesus Came to Die is a great devotional to focus your heart on Christ and his cross.

There’s only a few days left until Good Friday, but this is a great time to dedicate extra time to remembering Jesus’ sufferings. I know this book will encourage you, so I hope you’ll grab a copy today.

Buy Fifty Reasons Jesus Came to Die:

Pray with Spurgeon: We need courage for trials, grace for joys

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

We ask you to strengthen your servants for the battles you have prepared. Give them courage for all the trials, give them grace for all the joys. Help us to be a holy and a happy people! Let the redeemed of the Lord speak well of his name, and whatever their distress may be at times, yet over all may they lift up notes of perpetual joy, glorying in the name of the Lord their God. We ask you, O God, at this time to revive religion in our land. Oh, that you would be pleased to speak by the Holy Spirit that the gospel’s power may be known: there be many that run away from the truth; Lord, hold us fast to it, bind us to it.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11)

Jesus stands in the same relationship to his people as a shepherd does to his flock. He owns his people; every one of them belong to him. He prizes them because they are his—sets a value on each of them. He takes care of them, remembering them both night and day. His heart is never off them, and because of his inward love, there is an outward goodness that he constantly extends to them. He protects them from the wolf. He guards them from a thousand dangers. He supplies all their needs. He guides them in the right way. He brings them back when they wander. He strengthens them when they are weak. He carries them when they are too feeble to go on. He sees that they are a weak flock, a silly flock, and a wandering flock; therefore he is their strength, their wisdom, their righteousness, their all.

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Teach Your Kids to Love “All Sorts of People”

The Bible paints a beautiful picture of God’s people — coming from every tribe, tongue, and nation, brought together by the blood of Jesus. This is God’s plan, so we need to teach our children to treasure it.

My family has been LOVING a new kid’s book, The Big Wide Welcome by Trillia Newbell (the latest installment in the “Tales That Tell the Truth” series, illustrated by Catalina Echeverri), which I received a copy of from The Good Book Company.

The book tells teaching from James 2 (about the sin of of favoritism — treating rich people better than poor people) in the form of a story. The book ends with truth about Jesus, who always did what was right and loved people who were different from him — including us!

This book will fill your kids with compassion and a desire to love “all sorts of people,” just as Jesus did. I know you’ll be thankful if you add it to your family’s library.

Buy The Big Wide Welcome:

Pray with Spurgeon: God, let us never wander away from you

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Above all, blessed Jesus, our Reedemer, let your love to us fire us with love to you. Stamp your dear image on our hearts, and let us never wander from the path of complete obedience to your will. Here we stand, asking to be washed again in the open fountain that every sin may be put away; but also begging to be washed in the water “from the riven side that flows,” that every wrong desire, every base aspiration, everything contrary to the mind of God may be utterly taken away from us.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory.” (2 Corinthians 4:17)

Our affliction is light compared with the blessing and privileges that we enjoy. The blessing of full and free forgiveness far outweighs any affliction we ever have to endure. And our affliction is light as we prove the power of the Lord’s sustaining grace. We may well say that no affliction weighs more than a gnat resting on an elephant when the Lord’s upholding grace is sweetly manifested to our soul in times of perplexity, anxiety, and pain. Once more our affliction is light when we see what it leads to. Our growth in grace is greatly assisted by affliction and trial. Certain propensities to evil can only be removed in the furnace—as the dross is burned away from the pure metal.

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FINAL DAY: Order Easter Gifts for Your Kids*

Today is the FINAL DAY to order a kids’ Bible and receive it in time to give to your kids on Easter. 

These Bibles have really fun covers that your kids won’t be able to stop picking up — and they also have TONS of great devotionals, illustrations, and age-appropriate resources that your kids won’t be able to put down.

Lifeway has TONS of great choices for kids’ Bibles. And you can save $5 on a purchase of $30 or more with code EASTERBIBLES.

I hope you’ll grab Bibles for your kids today, and have a happy, blessed, Christ-centered Easter together!

Shop for Kids’ Bibles on Lifeway.com

Pray with Spurgeon: God, be glorified by my life!

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

We ask that you would glorify the Father’s name in us more than ever before. Perhaps this may involve deeper trial, but let it be if we can glorify God. Perhaps this may involve the being cast aside from the service that we love; but we would prefer to be laid aside if we could glorify you better. Perhaps this may involve the ending of all life’s pleasant work and the being taken home—well, your children make no sort of stipulations with their God, but this one prayer ascends from all true hearts this morning, “Father, glorify your name.”

Will you glorify yourself, great Father, by making us more holy? Purge us every day, we ask you, from the selfishness that clings to us. Deliver us also from the fear of man, from the love of approval so far as these might lead us astray. Help us to be resolute and self-contained to do, and think, and speak the right at all times. Give us great love to our fellow men. May we love them so that we could die for them if need be.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“‘Father, glorify your name.’ Then a voice came from heaven: ‘I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.’” (John 12:28)

When you do not know how to pray, you may always present that petition, “Father, glorify your name.” You have some dear one at home very ill; you would be glad if the precious life might be spared, yet you are not sure whether you may ask for it. Well then, say, “Father, glorify your name.” Possibly, you are passing through a great trial, and you would be glad to escape from it; yet you do not know whether it is the divine will that you should do so. Well then, you may, at any rate, put up this prayer, “ ‘Father, glorify your name.’ Whatever is most for your glory, let that be my will as it is your will.”

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God is at work in your trials. Learn more from Spurgeon

Today we prayed, asking God to be glorified in our lives, even if that means we experience trials. God is always at work in our life for his glory, including when we suffer.

Spurgeon knew that suffering was an important experience in the Christian life, which is why he preached about it so often. If you want to learn Spurgeon’s biblical wisdom on trials, check out Spurgeon on Suffering: Reflections on Our Pain and God’s Grace. This is a collection of 12 classic sermons on trials, suffering, and perseverance.

I put this collection together to help suffering Christians (which is all of us!) find a deeper, more biblical hope through the worst of our trials. I know that this book will encourage you.

(Plus, buying a copy of this book is a great way to support this ministry, so I can continue to send out a newsletter each day)

Buy Spurgeon on Suffering:

Pray with Spurgeon: God always knows best (and leads us well)

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

You have led your people by a right way. With all the twisting of the wilderness march, we are persuaded that when you lead us about, still we go the nearest way. You know best, and oftentimes to retreat is to advance, and to be beaten back is to make surest headway. We would, whatever happens, lift up the song of grateful praise, raise another stone of help to record the loving-kindness of our God.

O blessed Pilot of the future as of the past, we are so happy to leave all to you; but in leaving all to you we have one wish, and it is that you would glorify the Father’s name in us more than in any other season of our lives.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“You know, then, that those who have faith, these are Abraham’s sons.” (Galatians 3:7)

There is no communion with God except by faith, without which we cannot ever please God. The favorites of heaven are in every case people who believe in God. Faith has the golden key of the ivory palaces. Faith opens the secret chambers of communion to those who love her. The works of the law bring no nearness to God. When we are under a sense of backsliding, when we feel unworthy to be called God’s child, when we have erred and strayed from his ways like lost sheep, we must not rush like a madman to the law, for that would be to leap into the fire, but still say, “Lord, I believe in you. As a sinner I trust the sinner’s substitute.”

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Only a few days left to get Easter gifts*

If you want to grab a Christ-centered Easter gift for your children, consider grabbing them a Bible from Lifeway. Here are a few highlights: (But keep in mind, in the continental U.S. you have to order before 4/11 to receive your order by Easter)

  • The CSB Kids’ Bible — Dozens of full-color pages with study helps to expand your kids’ Bible knowledge (plus a lot of really fun covers!)
  • One Big Story Bible — Connect every little story to the big story about Jesus. (This is PACKED with 146 full-color illustrations and TONS of devotionals and other feaetures).
  • The Defend Your Faith Bible — This is an AMAZING resource!! It introduces elementary-aged kids to apologetics and equips them to understand what they believe, why they believe it, and how to defend it.

I hope you’ll check out these Bibles (there are other options too, and a lot of covers available).

Shop for Kids’ Bibles on Lifeway.com

Pray with Spurgeon: God is (always, always, always) good

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Since the hour when we knew your love and learned to say “Abba, Father,” we do confess we have been unworthy still. We have but little felt your goodness; we have often acted very ungratefully, very distrustfully. But Lord, you have not changed, but still your faithfulness abounds to your servants; for which again we can only say, Blessed be the name of the Lord!

Especially would we make mention of the goodness of the Lord during another year. Each believer here has trodden a different pathway: to some it has been a very smooth road, to others a very rough climb: to some a deep descent into the valley of sorrow and humiliation. But you have led your people by a right way.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“The LORD is good and upright; therefore he shows sinners the way.” (Psalm 25:8)

Here the goodness and the uprightness of the divine character are beheld in friendly union; he who would see them thus united in bonds of perfect amity must stand at the foot of the cross and view them blended in the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus. It is no less true than wonderful that through the atonement the justice of God pleads as strongly as his grace for the salvation of the sinners whom Jesus died to save. Moreover, as a good man naturally endeavours to make others like himself, so will the Lord our God in his compassion bring sinners into the way of holiness and conform them to his own image; thus the goodness of our God leads us to expect the reclaiming of sinful men. We may not conclude from God’s goodness that he will save those sinners who continue to wander in their own ways, but we may be assured that he will renew transgressors’ hearts and guide them into the way of holiness. Let those who desire to be delivered from sin take comfort from this. God himself will condescend to be the teacher of sinners. What a ragged school is this for God to teach in! God’s teaching is practical; he teaches sinners not only the doctrine, but the way.

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Do your kids have real Bibles of their very own?*

As Christian parents, we are tirelessly working to teach our children the truth of God’s Word, but often our kids don’t have real Bibles of their own.

If your kids don’t have a Bible that they love, Easter is a GREAT time to give them a special Bible — just for them.

There are some really faithful (and really fun!) kids’ Bibles available from Lifeway. They are packed with great devotionals, resources, and illustrations for any age group.

“Pray with Spurgeon” subscribers can save $5 on a purchase of $30 or more with code EASTERBIBLES.

I hope you’ll buy a Christ-centered Easter gift for your children today! (Order by April 11 to get it in time for Easter)

Shop for Kids’ Bibles on Lifeway.com

Pray with Spurgeon: God’s never-ending, Son-giving love

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

In the recollection of all that you have done for us your people, we are filled with amazement, as well as with gratitude, that you should have loved us before the foundation of the world; that sovereign love should have pitched upon us poor unworthy ones, that you should love us so much to redeem us with the blood of Jesus and give the Only Begotten to die for unworthy creatures like us; that you should love us notwithstanding our sins and transgressions, that you should love us despite the hardness of our hearts and the rebellion of our nature. It is strange, it surpasses belief at times; yet do we know it to be so.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“From noon until three in the afternoon, darkness came over the whole land.” (Matthew 27:45)

The darkness was surely a rebuke to the insulting cruelty of sinful man. It was such a strong rebuke, though without a voice, that was experienced by that assembled throng! The Roman in his pride, the Jewish man in his bigotry, and the Gentile in his hatred of all that was sacred—they were all there, and all did their utmost to pour contempt on Christ. And in the midst of it, they were all smitten with blindness. This was an amazing rebuke by God against the wickedness of man, which came to its climax around the cross of the Savior.

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A devotional to prepare for Good Friday.

Today’s prayer thanked God for his astounding, never-ending love, which was supremely displayed on the cross. This is what Jesus came to do — to die for his people. As we approach Good Friday and Easter, it’s important for us to slow down and think like this about why Christ died and why he rose again. Fifty Reasons Jesus Came to Die by John Piper is an excellent devotional for considering the cost and the reward of the cross.

The book offers fifty short devotionals, each explaining a different reason Jesus came to die. Fifty Reasons Jesus Came to Die is a great devotional to focus your heart on Christ and his cross.

This book will definitely “reveal Jesus Christ to the troubled heart,” showing you the depth of your sin and the wonder of God’s love. I know it will encourage you — I hope you’ll grab a copy today.

Buy Fifty Reasons Jesus Came to Die:

Pray with Spurgeon: Thanking God for Trials?

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

O Lord, our God, how excellent is your name in all the earth! Some of us have to thank you for many mercies bestowed. We thank you for them; for we feel that we are entirely in your hands in all respects. Others of us have been brought very low, bruised full sore, but having a little strength remaining, we desire to praise and bless the Giver of every gift. You are good when you give, and you are good when you take away. You are good when the night gathers heavy about us. You are good when the sun shines and gladdens our pathway. You are always good and do good, and blessed be the name of the Lord from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof, and through the night watches let his praise be still celebrated.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“LORD, our Lord, how magnificent is your name throughout the earth! You have covered the heavens with your majesty.” (Psalm 8:1)

Unable to express the glory of God, the psalmist utters a note of exclamation. O Lord our Lord! We need not wonder at this, for no heart can measure, no tongue can utter, the half of the greatness of the Lord. The whole creation is full of his glory and radiant with the excellency of his power; his goodness and his wisdom are manifested on every hand.

The countless myriads of terrestrial beings, from man the head, to the creeping worm at the foot, are all supported and nourished by the Divine bounty. The solid fabric of the universe leans upon his eternal arm. Universally is he present, and everywhere is his name excellent. God works at all times and in all places.

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An Easter Gift Your Kids Will LOVE*

Easter is just around the corner and it is SO WORTH celebrating! Jesus is alive — he has conquered death! Satan, sin, and death are defeated! Seriously, thinking about Easter should make us want to jump out of our chairs with excitement.

I hope you’ll celebrate Easter with your family. One great way to cultivate Christ-centered joy this Easter is to give your children a Christ-centered gift.

One great idea is a kids Bible from Lifeway. These Bibles have really fun covers that your kids won’t be able to stop picking up — and they also have TONS of great devotionals, illustrations, and age-appropriate resources that your kids won’t be able to put down.

Lifeway has TONS of great choices for kids’ Bibles. And you can save $5 on a purchase of $30 or more with code EASTERBIBLES.

I hope you’ll grab Bibles for your kids today.

Shop for Kids’ Bibles on Lifeway.com

Pray with Spurgeon: God is with us through every trial

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Bless every preacher of the Word this weekend, and all Sunday schools, classes of young men and women, all tract-distributing and street preaching, and every form of holy service. Accept the prayers and praises of your people. Receive them even from the sick beds of those detained at home. Let not one of your mourners, the weary watchers of the night, be kept without a smile from God.

The Lord bless us now, and all his chosen people. Our soul cries out for it. Break, O everlasting morning, break o’er the dark hills! Let our eyes behold you, and till the day break and the shadows flee away, abide with us, O our Beloved, abide with us now.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials” (1 Peter 1:6)

We who love the Lord have our joy even in our present adversity. We have two heavens; a heaven here and a heaven hereafter. Jesus is with us, and this is heaven. We are soon to be with Jesus, and that is another heaven. Though sometimes cast down, we are glad at heart.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

The (not-so-surprising) cure for anxiety

Today’s prayer ended with a beautiful cry of hope, that God will be with us until “all the shadows flee away.” This is good news — no matter what trials we face today, we know that God is with us through it all. And that’s why pride is often the source of our worries.

The path to a peaceful life, free of anxiety, starts by laying down your pride, by relying on the Savior instead of yourself. If you want peace in your life, start by growing in humility.

That’s the point of Humble Roots by Hannah Anderson. This book discusses Christ’s call to humility and practical steps to walk in it. It will definitely encourage you, shape you into Christlikeness, and fill you up with peace.

Buy Humble Roots: