Category: Pray with Spurgeon

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Bless us; forgive us our trespasses wherein we have sinned against you. Seal our pardon upon our consciences, and make us feel that as we truly forgive them that trespass against us, so have you forgiven us all our iniquities. We pray that you would lead us not into temptation. Do not try us, Lord, nor suffer the devil to try us. If we must be tried then deliver us from evil, and especially from the evil one, that he may get no dominion over us.

Oh, keep us, Lord. This life is full of trial. There are many that are perplexed about temporary things. Let not the enemy lead them to do or think aught that is amiss, because of the straitness of supply

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” (Matthew 6:13)

In the course of providence, the Lord tests our graces and the sincerity of our profession; and for this purpose he does “lead us into temptation.” We ask him not to try us too severely. Lord, let not my joys or my sorrows become temptations to me.

But if I must be tried, Lord, deliver me from falling into evil, and especially preserve me from that evil one, who, above all, seeks my soul, to destroy it. Temptation or trial may be for my good, if I am delivered from evil. Lord, do this for me, for I cannot preserve myself.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

God’s grace sets us free from sin

Today, we prayed asking God to forgive us and remove every sin that separates us from God. No matter how many times we sin, we find his grace to be an inexhaustible ocean.

But God’s grace is NOT about forgiving our sin and leaving us stuck; it’s about empowering you to actually change. The book Unlimited Grace by Bryan Chappell will show you how wonderfully large and never-ending God’s grace is, and how this grace has the power to change your life from the inside out.

I know this book will encourage you and fill your heart with love and gratitude for God’s grace. If you’re feeling discouraged and shameful about your past sin, this book will assure of God’s never-ending kindness towards sinners. If you’re feeling stuck and unmoved in your present sin, this book will help you to lean into the power of God’s grace to change.

Buy Unlimited Grace:

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

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

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

We pray for the coming of our Lord very speedily to end these sluggish years, these long-delaying days. But, if he does not come yet, put power into your truth and enliven your church that she may become energetic for the spread of it, that so your kingdom may come. We seek the glory of God first and above everything. We ask for grace that we may live with this end in view.

May we lay ourselves out to it. May this be our morning thought and the thought that we have in our minds when we lay awake at nights: “What shall I do, my Savior, to praise? How can I make him illustrious and win another heart to his throne?”

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” (Matthew 6:12)

No prayer of mortal men could be complete without confession of sin. Prayer which does not seek for pardon will fail, as the Pharisee’s prayer did. Let proud men boast as they please, those who are in Christ’s kingdom will always pray, “Forgive us our debts.”

This pardon we can only obtain as we freely pass over the offenses of others against ourselves: “as we forgive our debtors.” This is a reasonable, nay, a blessed requirement, which it is a delight to fulfill. It would not be safe for God to forgive a man who will not forgive others.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

How God is at work in your life this year (and right now!)

Making goals for the new year can be an incredible fruitful activity, but we need to remember that all of our efforts to improve ourselves are worthless without God’s help.

Last year, I was really blessed reading How People Change by Paul Tripp and Timothy Lane

The goal of this book is to solve “the gospel gap.” We believe that Christ’s work has forgiven our past sins and will give us hope in the future, but we’re often confused about how a relationship with Jesus will actually change our life here and now.

This book offers an incredibly hopeful, practical, and biblical guide for growing in godliness and quitting sin. I know it will bless you this year, so I hope you’ll grab a copy and read with me.

Buy How People Change:

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

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Let our spirit and body be consecrated to God. May there be no reserves; may everything be given up to you. Reign forever! Pierced King, despised and nailed to a tree, sit on the glorious high throne in our hearts, and may our lives prove that you are Lord over us; by our every thought and desire, and imagination, and word, and act, in every respect being under your divine control.

Your people breathe to you out of our very hearts the prayer that you would reign over us without a rival. O Savior, use for yourself what you have bought with blood, drive out the enemy, and let no power have any dominion over us except the power of your good Spirit who brings about righteousness and peace.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Give us today our daily bread.” (Matthew 6:11)

We pray for providential supplies for ourselves and others—“Give us.” We ask for our food as a gift—“Give us.” We request no more than bread, or food needful for us. Our petition concerns the day, and asks only for a daily supply; bread enough for this day. We ask not for bread which belongs to others, but only for that which is honestly our own,—“our daily bread.”

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

How God’s grace helps you grow

As you make New Year’s Resolutions and plan for your growth in the New Year, do not slide into self-reliance.

God saved you by grace, and he is going to help you grow by grace too.

We ask God to help us grow in holiness, because we know that God’s grace doesn’t just save us from sin, it also gives us the power that we need to slay sin. The work of growing in godliness is a work of cooperation between us and God’s grace.

One of my all-time favorite books is The Discipline of Grace by Jerry Bridges. This book explains how God’s grace empowers Christians to slay sin and grow in godliness. It is one of the helpful, practical, and encouraging books that I have ever read! If you want to grow in godliness, start with The Discipline of Grace.

Reading The Discipline of Grace will definitely help you grow in holiness in 2024. I hope you’ll grab a copy today.

Buy The Discipline of Grace:

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

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

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

We ask that today, even today, many hearts might be won to God. Convince men of the wrong of being alienated from God, put into their hearts sorrow for sin and dread of wrath to come, and lead and drive men to Christ. Oh, how we pray for this, the salvation of our fellowmen, not so much for their sakes as for the sake of the glory of God and the rewarding of Christ for his pain.

We do with all our hearts pray “your kingdom come, your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.” Lord, help us to do your will. Take the crippled kingdom of our manhood and reign over it. Let spirit and body be consecrated to God. 

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)

Oh, that you would reign over all hearts and lands! 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.”

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

A Resource to Help You Pray in 2024

It seems like every year, I make a new year’s resolution to pray more frequently and more biblically. This is healthy — we should realize our need for prayer more and more every year. Over the last two years, my prayer life has been REALLY blessed by a really great resource, Psalms in 30 Days by Trevin Wax.

This book is a collection of thirty days of prayers (morning, midday, and evening) that includes all 150 psalms and prayers from Scripture and church history. With this book, you can pray through all of the psalms every month.

These prayers are so incredibly fresh, deep, and life-giving, and having a book that is set aside just for prayer is a physical reminder (on your table, shelf, desk, or bedside table) to pray (Plus, the book looks great!)

I’ve been using Psalms in 30 Days this year and it’s been such an incredible blessing. I’m excited to continue diving into it in 2024 (it definitely hasn’t gotten old yet!). I hope you’ll grab a copy and join me.

Buy Psalms in 30 Days:

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

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

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Now do we hoist sail and draw up anchor to sail into another year. 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 in the next year glorify your name in us more than in any other year of our lives.

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 the 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.”

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Therefore, you should pray like this: Our Father in heaven, your name be honored as holy.” (Matthew 6:9)

“Our Father” is a familiar name, but the words “which art in heaven” suggest the reverence due unto him. Our Father and yet in heaven: in heaven and yet our Father. May his name be treated reverently, and may all that is about him—his Word and his gospel—be regarded with the deepest awe! It is for us so to walk before the Lord in all lowliness, that all shall see that we reverence the character of the thrice-holy One. Then can we truly pray, “Hallowed be thy name”, when we hallow it ourselves.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Happy New Year!

I’ve been challenging parents to make a commitment to read the Bible to their kids every day this year. Let’s spend a Year in the Word with our families.

No matter how old your kids are, they NEED God’s Word and you CAN create godly habits in their lives.

Parents, you really can do it. You don’t need to have all the answers to start reading with your kids.

To help you, I’ve created some easy-to-use, interactive family devotionals that will give you everything you need to lead your kids to follow Jesus in just ten minutes each day.

Here’s what makes these devotionals unique:

• You will cover every verse of Scripture (not just the popular stories)
• You will train your kids to read the Bible for themselves (not just sit through it)

This year, we’ve been working really hard to make MORE family devotionals (now available for over 40 books of the Bible) and improve our existing family devotionals (like adding a short daily reading to explain how every Old Testament passage points to Jesus).

Find these family devotionals and some other resources for making 2024 a Year in the Word right here.

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PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH (BY SPURGEON)

Lord, listen to the voice of your children’s cry this morning as we gather. 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. 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.” Let the sighing of the prisoner come before you. Grant peace and rest to every troubled spirit within this house of worship; 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 unto himself.

Amen.

GET A FREE COURSE

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

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

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

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

WEEKEND LONG READ (SERMON BY SPURGEON)

Sermon for New Year’s Day

The newness which Jesus brings is bright, clear, heavenly, enduring. We are at this moment specially ready for a new year. The most of men have grown weary with the old cry of depression of trade and hard times; we are glad to escape from what has been to many a twelve-months of great trial. The last year had become wheezy, croaking, and decrepit, in its old age; and we lay it asleep with a psalm of judgment and mercy. We hope that this newborn year will not be worse than its predecessor, and we pray that it may be a great deal better. At any rate, it is new, and we are encouraged to couple with it the idea of happiness, as we say one to another, “I wish you a happy New Year.”

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

A FREE RESOURCE FROM MIDWESTERN

The Christians’ Connection to Moses’s Law

How should we respond to the commands in the Old Testament? Are we bound to keep these commands? Some of them? None of them?

Read the full article on For the Church

PREPARE FOR MINISTRY AT MIDWESTERN

What Jesus purchased is precious. We’ve made it our purpose. Midwestern Seminary exists for the Church, and we serve the church by biblically educating God-called men and women to be and make disciples of Jesus Christ. If you’re called to serve the church, train with us, for the Church.

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

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Great God, we long that you would be known to the ends of the earth, that the idols may be utterly abolished. We long that false doctrine may fly like birds of darkness before the light and your coming. Reign in the hearts of our fellow men. Lord, subdue sin, and under your feet let drunkenness, and unchastity, and oppression, and every form of wickedness be put away by the gospel of Jesus Christ and his Holy Spirit.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Don’t be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask him.” (Matthew 6:8)

God does not need us to pray for his information, for he “knows the things you need,” 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 “many words.” In the multitude of words, even in prayer, there wanteth not sin.

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

An Advanced Bible Reading Plan

Yesterday, I recommended a great Bible reading plan that anyone can pick up and learn from. For more advanced readers who are looking to really to expand their knowledge of Scripture (and how it fits together) in 2024, I have another plan to recommend. This is the reading plan I’m planning to use in 2024!

God’s Glory in Salvation Through Judgment by Jim Hamilton is a biblical theology that shows how all of Scripture fits together. It’s a massive read (550+ pages), but if we break it out over the course of an entire year, reading this book will be a simple task.

Some folks have put together a reading plan that walks through the whole Bible in a year and pairs the daily Bible reading with the corresponding sections from Hamilton’s book. I was surprised to see that you’ll rarely read more than 3–4 pages from Hamilton each day. Get the printable reading plan here.

I’m really looking forward to using this plan in 2024, and if you’re looking for an advanced Bible reading plan to grow your knowledge of God and his Word, I hope you’ll join me.

Buy God’s Glory in Salvation Through Judgment:

• Amazon (Hardcover or Kindle editions)
• ChristianBook.com (Hardcover or ebook editions)

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

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

We cannot cast crowns at his feet, for we have none as yet, but if there is any virtue, if there is any praise, if there is about us anything of grace and good repute, we ascribe it all to God. We cannot veil our faces with our wings, for we have none, but we veil them with something better than angelic wings, the blood and righteousness of Jesus Christ. With these we cover our faces, with these we cover our feet, and with these we fly up to God in holiest fellowship of God Glory, and honor, and power, and dominion be unto him who sits upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and for ever.

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.” (Matthew 6:7)

To repeat a form of prayer a very large number of times has always seemed to the ignorantly religious to be a praiseworthy thing; but assuredly it is not so. It is a mere exercise of memory, and of the organs of noise-making: and it is absurd to imagine that such a parrot exercise can be pleasing to the living God.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

A New Bible Reading Plan for 2024

Reading the Bible in a year can be an incredible habit, but it can also be challenging to know how it all fits together.

And that’s why I love the CSB Day-by-Day Chronological Bible — it features a daily reading plan that covers the whole Bible in one year, with readings arranged in chronological order (the order that the events took place, rather than the traditional order of books in our English Bibles).

The CSB Day-by-Day Chronological Bible also features brief daily notes to help you remember your place in the story (and who all of those kings and prophets are, exactly 😅).

The study notes are written by George Guthrie, who is a great New Testament scholar.

Reading the Bible chronologically in 2023 will grow your knowledge of the Bible and your love for God. And I know the Day-by-Day Chronological Bible will be a great resource to help you along the way.

Buy the CSB Day-by-Day Chronological Bible:

• Amazon (Paperback or LeatherTouch in Brown, Blue, and Burgundy)
• ChristianBook.com (Paperback or LeatherTouch in Blue and Burgundy)

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

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

With heart and mind, and memory and fear, and hope and joy, we worship the Most High. It is right for us to take our shoes from off our feet when we draw near to God, for the place where we stand is holy ground. If God in the bush demanded the un-sandaled foot of the prophet, how much more shall God in Christ Jesus? With lowliest reverence, with truest love, we worship God in Christ Jesus, uniting with all the redeemed host above, with angels and principalities and powers.

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)

As the very soul of prayer lies in communion with God, we shall pray best when all our attention is confined to him; and we shall best reach our end of being accepted by him when we have no regard to the opinion of anyone else. Secret prayer is truly heard and openly answered in the Lord’s own way and time. Our King reigns “in secret,” there he sets up his court, and there will he welcome our approaches. We are not where God sees when we court publicity, and pray to obtain credit for our devotion.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Resources to lead your kids to follow Jesus

Two things that I know with certainty:

1. Your kids need to know Jesus.
2. Our lives are crazy, and teaching our kids about Jesus can seem daunting.

But here’s the thing: Parents, you CAN lead your kids to follow Jesus.

You don’t need a seminary degree or a monthly family retreat — you need the Spirit of God, an open Bible, and a commitment to prioritize discipleship at home.

Parents, this week I’m challenging you to make a commitment in the new year — to make 2024 a Year in the Word by reading the Bible to your kids every day.

To help you get started, we’ve created some practical resources:

• (FREE) 6 practical steps to (actually) make family devotions a daily habit.
• (FREE) Printable habit tracker you can use to stay focused and reward success.
• (Paid Subscription) Simple family devotionals that give everything you need to teach your kids the Bible in ten minutes each day.

Ready to take the challenge?

Find (free and paid) resources to help you on GodCenteredFamily.org.

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 in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

We fear that we often begin our prayer with petitions for ourselves, and put our daily bread before your kingdom, and the pardoning of our sins before the hallowing of your name. We would not do so today, but guided by our Lord’s model of prayer, we would first pray for your glory; and here, great God, we would adore you. You have made us and not we ourselves. We are your people, and the sheep of your pasture. All glory be unto you, Lord, the only living and true God.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Whenever you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward.” (Matthew 6:5)

These religionists were not seekers of God, but seekers after popularity; men who twisted even devotion into a means for self-aggrandizement. They chose places and times which would render their saying of prayers conspicuous. The synagogues and the corners of the streets suited them admirably; for their aim was “that they may be seen of men.” They were seen. They had what they sought for. This was their reward, and the whole of it.

Lord, let me never be so profane as to pray to you with the intent of getting praise for myself.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Parents, teach your kids the Bible in 2024

Like many of you, I’m a parent. One of my greatest desires for my kids is that they would give their lives to passionately following Jesus. More than just “getting them into heaven,” I want my kids to have a life-transforming relationship with God that will shape their lives today (and forever).

In a world of distractions, kids need the Bible more than anything. Parents, you are better equipped than anyone to teach it to them.

So here’s my challenge to parents: read the Bible to your kids every day of 2024.

No matter how old they are,
No matter how busy you are,
No matter how unqualified you think you are…

Let’s make 2024 a “Year in the Word” for our families.

Ready to take the challenge?

Find (free and paid) resources to help you on GodCenteredFamily.org.