Category: Pray with Spurgeon

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

You are a prayer-hearing God. You know where there is prayer, though it be unuttered, and even the lips do not move. Oh, hear the tax collector who dares not lift his eyes to heaven; hear him while he cries, “God be merciful to me, a sinner.”

Hear such as seem to themselves to be appointed unto death. Let the sighing of the prisoner come before you. Oh, that you would grant peace and rest to every troubled spirit within this house; yes, and to all such all over the world, who now desire to turn their faces to the cross, and to see God in Christ Jesus reconciling them to himself.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even raise his eyes to heaven but kept striking his chest and saying, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’” (Luke 18:13)

It was the fault of the Pharisee that, though he entered the temple to pray, he did not pray; there is no prayer in all that he said. It is one excellence of the tax collector that he went up to the temple to pray and did pray; there is nothing but prayer in all that he said. “God, have mercy on me, a sinner” is a pure, unadulterated prayer throughout.

It was the fault of the Pharisee that when he went up to the temple to pray he forgot an essential part of prayer, which is confession of sin; he spoke as if he had no sins to confess but many virtues to parade. It was a chief excellence in the devotion of the tax collector that he did confess his sin and that his utterance was full of confession of sin; from beginning to end it was an acknowledgment of his guilt and an appeal for grace to the merciful God.

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Christmas Gift Idea for Parents (New and Old)

Parenting can be exhausting. And parenting faithfully is impossible without daily help from the grace of Christ. If you are still looking for a Christmas gift for a parent in your life, check out Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family by Paul David Tripp.

This book is full of encouraging, grace-saturated, biblical truth that will help parents persevere. This is not another parenting book that leaves parents feeling condemned for not doing enough —this is a life-giving book that will leave parents amazed at everything God has done.

This book is a great read for parents in any stage of the journey, so I hope you’ll grab a few copies for friends on your Christmas list this year.

Buy Parenting:

• 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)

Oh, what encouragement we have to pray to such a prayer-hearing God, who far exceeds the requests of his children! Blessed be the name of the Lord forever; our inmost heart is saying, Amen, blessed be his name! If it were only for answered prayer, or even for some unanswered prayers, we would continue to praise and bless you as long as we have any being.

And now, Lord, listen to the voice of your children’s cry this morning. Wherever there is a sincere heart seeking for greater holiness, answer that request; or wherever there is a broken spirit seeking for reconciliation with you, be pleased to answer it now.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Blessed be the LORD, for he has heard the sound of my pleading.” (Psalm 28:6)

Real praise is established upon sufficient and constraining reasons; it is not irrational emotion, but rises, like a pure spring, from the deeps of experience. Answered prayers should be acknowledged. Do we not often fail in this duty? Would it not greatly encourage others, and strengthen ourselves, if we faithfully recorded divine goodness, and made a point of extolling it with our tongue? God’s mercy is not such an inconsiderable thing that we may safely venture to receive it without so much as thanks. We should shun ingratitude, and live daily in the heavenly atmosphere of thankful love.

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Christmas Gift Idea for Your Pastors

Your pastors labor week-in and week-out to shepherd you, preach the Word, manage the church, and pray for your family. Christmas is a great opportunity to thank them for their labors with a small gift.

What do you give a pastor who has everything? Check out The Visual Word by Patrick Schreiner. This book features a visual guide for every book in the New Testament. Your pastor will LOVE reading this book and it will help him prepare sermons.

This book is absolutely beautiful and I know it will bless your pastor and your church. I hope you’ll grab a copy to gift!

Buy The Visual Word:

• Amazon
• ChristianBook.com

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Lord, in looking back, we are obliged to remember with the greatest gratitude, the many occasions in which you have heard our cry. We have been brought into deep distress, and our heart has sunk within us, and then we cried to you, and you have never refused to hear us. The prayers of our lusts you have rejected, but the prayers of our necessities you have granted; not one good thing has failed of all that you have promised.

You have given us exceedingly abundantly above what we asked, or even thought; for there was a day when our present condition would have been regarded as much too high for us ever to reach; and, in looking back, we are surprised that we who were prodigals in rags, should now be children in the Father’s bosom; that we who were companions of swine, should now be made heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7)

We know of a place in England still existing, where a dole of bread is served to every passerby who chooses to ask for it. Whoever the traveller may be, he has but to knock at the door of St. Cross Hospital, and there is the dole of bread for him. Jesus Christ so loveth sinners that he has built a St. Cross Hospital, so that whenever a sinner is hungry, he has but to knock and have his wants supplied.

Nay, he has done better; he has attached to this Hospital of the Cross a bath; and whenever a soul is black and filthy, it has but to go there and be washed. The fountain is always full, always efficacious. No sinner ever went into it and found that it could not wash away his stains. Sins which were scarlet and crimson have all disappeared, and the sinner has been whiter than snow.

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ONLY A FEW DAYS LEFT: Save up to 80% on Bibles like the Spurgeon Study Bible*

Through December 15, Lifeway is selling Bibles up to 80% off. This is a great opportunity to grab a Christ-centered Christmas gift for someone else (or a new Bible for yourself!)

AND if you use promo code BIBLEGIFT21, you can get an extra $10 off any purchase over $40.

One of the Bibles you can grab at a discount is the Spurgeon Study Bible, which is an incredible resource for Bible study — I know that you will benefit from using it in your daily reading.

The study Bible contains hundreds of notes taken right from Spurgeon’s sermons, as well as a short biography of Spurgeon, 20 outlines of his earliest sermons (in his own handwriting), an introduction from Spurgeon for each book of the Bible, and more. The Bible is available in the CSB, KJV, and Spanish RVR 1960 translations.

There are only a few days left to save, so grab your Spurgeon Study Bible now!

Grab Bibles like the Spurgeon Study Bible for up to 80% off at Lifeway.com/Bibles.
(Use promo code BIBLEGIFT21 for an extra $10 off any purchase over $40.)

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

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

This morning, we feel inclined to bless you for the many occasions in which you have not answered our prayer; for you have said that we did ask wrongly, and therefore we could not have; and we desire to register this prayer with you, that whenever we do ask wrongly, you would in great wisdom and love be pleased to refuse us.

O Lord, if we at any time present our cause without a sufficiency of resignation, do not regard us; and though we cry unto you day and night, concerning anything, yet, if you see that we are wrong in that, regard not the voice of our cry. It is our heart’s desire in our coolest moments, that this prayer might stand on record as long as we live,—“Not as I will, but as you will.”

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39)

This was a prayer of resignation. Yield, and God yields. Let it be as God wills, and God will determine for the best. Be content to leave your prayer in his hands, who knows when to give, and how to give, and what to give, and what to withhold. So pleading, earnestly, importunately, yet with humility and resignation, thou shalt surely prevail.

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Save on the Spurgeon Study Bible (and other Bibles)*

Through December 15, you can grab great Bibles for up to 80% off from Lifeway (AND if you use promo code BIBLEGIFT21, you can get an extra $10 off any purchase over $40.)

This is a great opportunity to add the Spurgeon Study Bible to your library, or grab it as a Christ-centered Christmas gift for someone else.

Here’s what you’ll find inside…

• Hundreds of notes taken right from Spurgeon’s sermons
• A short biography of Spurgeon
• 20 outlines of his earliest sermons (in his own handwriting)
• Spurgeon’s illustrations for key themes throughout the Bible.
• An introduction from Spurgeon for each book of the Bible
• Available in the CSB, KJV, and Spanish RVR 1960 translations.

This is a great resource. I hope you’ll add The Spurgeon Study Bible to your library today and save!

Grab Bibles like the Spurgeon Study Bible for up to 80% off at Lifeway.com/Bibles.
(Use promo code BIBLEGIFT21 for an extra $10 off any purchase over $40.)

*Sponsored advertising content

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, we would first ask you whether you have anything against us as your children. It may be that some creature comfort is nearer to us than our God. We had better have been without it, and have dwelt in God, and have found our joy in him. But now, Lord, in these perilous circumstances, give us grace that we may not turn away from you.

If our position now isn’t what you would have allotted to us, had we been wiser, yet, nevertheless, grant that we may be taught to behave ourselves rightly, even now, lest the mercies you have given should become a cause of stumbling, and the obtaining of our heart’s desire should become a temptation to us.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal.” (Matthew 6:20)

Let our desires and efforts go after heavenly things. These are not liable to any decay within themselves, nor can they be taken from us by force or fraud. Does not wisdom bid us seek such sure possessions? Out of our earthly possessions that which is used for God is laid up in heaven. What is given to the poor and to the Lord’s cause is deposited in the Bank of Eternity. To heaven we are going; let us send our treasures before us. There they will be safe from decay, and robbery: but in no other place may we reckon them to be secure.

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A Book to Help You Really Enjoy God*

Scripture reveals a picture of God that is not only true, but also incredibly beautiful. God is not merely an idea — he is a person who calls us to know and enjoy him forever.

So many of us read the Bible every day and we forget to be amazed at how truly astonishing our God is. We need solid, biblical resources that shake us out of our sleepiness and open our eyes to the wonder and beauty of our God.

I’m so thankful for the book Incomparable by Andrew Wilson. This book is absolutely stunning. It will fill you with wonder at the greatness of God and fill you with thankfulness to know him.

Each chapter takes a different name, description, or attribute of God from Scripture and gives a short description of these attributes and how they magnify the greatness of our God.

Incomparable will grow your love for God. Grab a copy for yourself and another one to give as a Christmas gift.

Buy Incomparable from 10 of Those.
(And, by the way, shipping at 10 of Those is always $1 in the U.S., so make sure to fill your cart!)

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

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

God of Israel, God of Jesus Christ, our God forever and ever; help us now by the sacred Spirit, to approach you rightly, with deepest reverence, but not with servile fear; with holiest boldness, but not with presumption. Oh teach us as children to speak to the Father, and yet, as creatures to bow before our Maker.

Our Father, we would first ask you whether you have anything against us as your children. Have we been asking something of you wrongly, and have you given us that which we have sought? We are not conscious of it, but it may be so; and now we are brought, as an answer to our presumptuous prayers, into a more difficult position than the one we occupied before.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and don’t receive because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.” (James 4:2–3)

With all your efforts you do not succeed, because you omit to pray to God. Prayer would have brought you every blessing that you need; but, instead of going to God, and asking at his hands, you rush upon your neighbor, and seek to take what you desire as spoil from him.

Perhaps some say, “But we do ask.” “Well, then,” says the apostle, “you ask wrongly.” The lusts of the flesh come in, and put us upon the wrong track; or if we take the right road, yet, if the lusts are there, God will not bless us, because, in doing so, he would be helping us to gratify our lusts.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Christmas Gift for a Non-Believer

Christmas is a great opportunity to start conversations with non-believing friends, family members, neighbors, and co-workers about Christ. People are already thinking about Christ’s birth and might be more open to talking about it.

One way to start those conversations is with a Christ-centered Christmas gift. And a great place to start is the book Jesus or Nothing by Dan DeWitt. This book shows how Christianity alone offers a reasonable explanation for our lives and the world around in. Without the gospel, nothing makes sense — life and death, right and wrong, none of it makes any sense if Christ is still in the grave.

Jesus or Nothing is a friendly, approachable book that offers solid arguments for Christianity. But it also offers arguments that are attractive, beautiful, and persuasive (because Christ himself is attractive, beautiful, and persuasive!)

Buying a few copies of Jesus or Nothing for non-Christians you know is a great way to honor Christ this Christmas. I hope you’ll buy a few copies and share them with the people you know and love.

Buy Jesus or Nothing:

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

God of Israel, God of Jesus Christ, our God forever and ever; help us now by the sacred Spirit, to approach you aright, with deepest reverence, but not with servile fear; with holiest boldness, but not with presumption. Oh teach us as children to speak to the Father, and yet, as creatures to bow before our Maker.

Everything we ask, we ask all in Christ’s dear name, dear to us and dear to you, our Father. And unto the Father, to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, be glory everlasting.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:6)

Be alone; enter into a little room into which no other may intrude; keep out every interloper by shutting the door; and there, and then, with all your heart pour out your supplication. Prayer is mainly to be addressed to God the Father; and always to God as our Father. Pray to your Father who is present there, to your Father who sees you and especially takes note of that which is evidently meant for him only, seeing it is done “in secret,” where no eye can see but his own. If it be indeed to God that we pray, there can be no need for anyone else to be present; for it would hinder rather than help devotion to have a third person for a witness of the heart’s private intercourse with the Lord.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Christmas Gift Idea for a Teen: Help them Know Their Faith

Teenagers today are living in a really difficult environment. If a teen wants to follow Christ today, he is surrounded every day with a seemingly endless list of objections to the gospel. From evolution to LGBT issues; from racism to God’s sovereignty over suffering, it can be hard to follow Christ in the midst of a hostile world (or a hostile high school!)

A great resource for teens to help them know, understand, and defend their faith is 10 Questions Every Teen Should Ask (and Answer) about Christianity by Rebecca McLaughlin. This book is tackles ten really pressing, important topics with Bible-saturated reasoning and Christ-centered hope.

We should never discourage our teens from asking questions about God or his world — but we should always help them find solid, true, biblical answers to their questions.

10 Questions is a great resource to help your teen follow Christ, and it’s a great Christ-centered Christmas gift. I hope you’ll grab a few copies for teens that you love (in your family or your church).

Buy 10 Questions Every Teen Should Ask (and Answer) about Christianity:

• 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)

Now, Lord, bless your universal church, and grant to it mercy and favor. Gather together your elect from under all heaven. Let the company of the faithful be accomplished, and the universal reign of Christ established.

Bless our own dear country. God save and bless our leaders with every mercy; guide, uphold, sustain, and direct our rulers. Let them be guilty of no folly; but the Lord teach our senators wisdom.

And may it please you, Lord, to bless other countries too; especially those lands which love our common Christ, and speak our mother tongue; and, indeed, all the nations where Jesus Christ is known, visit with a revival. And the unreached, oh, let the light break in upon their midnight, let the day dawn and Christ be glorified.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“The people who live in darkness have seen a great light, and for those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.” (Isaiah 9:2, Matthew 4:16)

Christ went where he was needed. The “great light” encountered the great darkness; the far-off ones were visited by him who gathers together the outcasts of Israel. Our Lord courts not those who glory in their light, but those who pine in their darkness: he comes with heavenly life, not to those who boast of their own life and energy, but to those who are under condemnation, and who feel the shades of death shutting them out from light and hope.

“Great light” is a very suggestive figure for the gospel, and “sitting in the region and shadow of death” is a very graphic description of men bowed under the power of sin, and paralyzed by fear of condemnation. What a mercy that to those who appear out of the reach of the usual means, to those who dwell “by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles,” Jesus comes with power to enlighten and quicken!

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Buy the Spurgeon Study Bible (and other Christ-centered Christmas Gifts)*

Through December 15, Bibles like the Spurgeon Study Bible are available for up to 80% off from Lifeway. AND if you use promo code BIBLEGIFT21, you can get an extra $10 off any purchase over $40.

Here’s what you’ll find inside the Spurgeon Study Bible…

• Hundreds of notes taken right from Spurgeon’s sermons
• A short biography of Spurgeon
• 20 outlines of his earliest sermons (in his own handwriting)
• Spurgeon’s illustrations for key themes throughout the Bible.
• An introduction from Spurgeon for each book of the Bible
• Available in the CSB, KJV, and Spanish RVR 1960 translations.

And the Spurgeon Study Bible is only the beginning of this incredible sale. There are tons of great Bibles and resources available.

There’s only two weeks left to shop at this discount. I hope you’ll browse the deals now and get your order placed by December 15 — just in time for Christmas!

Grab Bibles like the Spurgeon Study Bible for up to 80% off at Lifeway.com/Bibles.

(Use promo code BIBLEGIFT21 for an extra $10 off any purchase over $40.)

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

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Today we pray that if we are right with you, help us to be right in all the transactions of daily life. Help us to be right with regard to your providential dealings with us.

Lord, give much patience to those that are tried. Give a holy resignation both to the sick and to the bereaved, and to such as are brought into poverty. Be very gracious to your dear children, that they may never dishonor you when they are in affliction. Oh Lord, grant us to be holy, grant us to be accepted in the Beloved, and you shall have all the praise.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“So then, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in him,” (Colossians 2:6)

If we have received Christ himself in our inmost hearts, our new life will manifest its intimate acquaintance with him by a walk of faith in him. Walking implies action. Our religion is not to be confined to our closet; we must carry out into practical effect that which we believe. If a man walks in Christ, then he so acts as Christ would act; for Christ being in him, his hope, his love, his joy, his life, he is the reflex of the image of Jesus; and men say of that man, “He is like his Master; he lives like Jesus Christ.”

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Glorify God this Christmas.

Every year, it seems harder than ever to focus on Christ at Christmas. As the world is screaming about gifts and Santa and holiday travels, it’s easy to lose sight of the meaning behind it all — the baby in the manger who was Savior and Lord.

I put together a book, Spurgeon on Christmas — a collection of Christmas sermons from Charles Spurgeon. These sermons are rich and I know that they will help you focus on Christ this Christmas.
(Plus, buying a copy of this book will help support this ministry, so I can continue sending this daily email!)

I hope you’ll buy a copy of Spurgeon on Christmas and be encouraged throughout this Advent and Christmas season.

Buy Spurgeon on Christmas now on Amazon (Paperback or Kindle edition)

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

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Lord, you have not taken away your blessing from us. We do rejoice in this: every day you aid us, and this month you have sent us perhaps more than ever—glory be to your name! And you do provide for all the work of the church, and send prosperity to it in every part and quarter of it; and therefore do we fear and tremble, because of all the goodness which you make to pass before us; and our heart is jealous with a godly jealousy, lest in anything we should vex the Spirit of God. Oh Lord, grant us to be holy, grant us to be accepted in the Beloved, and you shall have all the praise.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever does and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:19)

Our King has not come to abrogate the law, but to confirm and reassert it. His commands are eternal; and if any of the teachers of it should through error break his law, and teach that its least command is nullified, they will lose rank, and subside into the lowest place. The peerage of his kingdom is ordered according to obedience. Not birth, knowledge, or success will make a man great; but humble and precise obedience, both in word and in deed.

The Lord Jesus does not set up a milder law, nor will he allow any one of his servants to presume to do so. Our King fulfills the ancient law, and his Spirit works in us to will and to do of God’s good pleasure as set forth in the immutable statutes of righteousness.

Lord, make me a right loyal subject of your kingdom, and may I both “do and teach” according to your Word! Whether I am little or great on earth, make me great in obedience to you.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Christmas Gift Idea for the Littlest Kiddos

Wherever You Go, I Want You To Know is an incredible children’s book by Melissa Kruger. The book is really fun (with great illustrations and rhymes) with an eternal message: No matter what direction their life takes, no matter what kind of work they do, our biggest dream for our children is that they follow Christ.

If you’re buying any Christmas presents for families with young kids, you definitely need to grab a copy of Wherever You Go I Want You to Know.

My family loves this book — I need to buy it again because my family has completely worn through our copy (we’ve read it so many times that it’s falling off the spine). I hope it will be a blessing to your family!

Buy Wherever You Go, I Want You To Know:

• Amazon (Hardback edition)
• ChristianBook.com (Hardback edition)