Category: Pray with Spurgeon

Pray with Spurgeon: We complain too much (and don’t praise God enough)

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Our Father, blessed be your name forever and ever. Oh that we praised you more! We must confess we never bless you as we ought, and our life is far too full of complaining, or at the best too full of self-seeking, for even in prayer we may do this; and there is too little of lauding, and adoring, and praising, and magnifying, and singing the high praises of the Lord.

Oh God, will you teach us to begin the music of heaven! Grant us grace to have many rehearsals of the eternal Hallelujah: “My soul, bless the LORD, and all that is within me, bless his holy name” (Psalm 103:1)

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“My soul, bless the LORD, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.” (Psalm 103:1)

Our very life and essential self should be engrossed with this delightful service, and each one of us should arouse his own heart to the engagement. Let others forbear if they can: “Bless the Lord, O my soul.” Let others complain, but you will bless. Let others bless themselves and their idols, but you bless the Lord. Let others use only their tongues, but as for me I will cry, “Bless the Lord, O my soul.”

Half-hearted, ill-conceived, unintelligent praises are not such as we should render to our loving Lord. If the law of justice demanded all our heart and soul and mind for the Creator, much more may the law of gratitude put in a comprehensive claim for the homage of our whole being to the God of grace.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Say no to complaining (and other “acceptable” sins)

Today we prayed, repenting of our complaining. According to Scripture, complaining is a heinous sin, but it often goes on unchecked in our churches and in our lives. That’s not okay — when we persist in complaining, we’re persisting in unrepentant sin.

Complaining isn’t the only sin that we often give a pass to. There are many sins that we allow, because they aren’t as obvious as others. I love the book Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges. This book will unveil some of these “acceptable” sins in your own life and guide you on a path, fueled by God’s grace, to slay them.

In addition to unthankfulness, the book touches on pride, anger, anxiety, and more. In short, no one has room to hide while reading Respectable Sins.

This book will help you see your sin with biblical clarity and fight your sin with God-fueled strength. I hope you’ll grab a copy and so no to complaining today.

Buy Respectable Sins:

Pray with Spurgeon: A Prayer for Revival

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

We especially pray for our country that God would bless it; and oh, that we might have a season of revival of pure and undefiled religion in the land. We perceive that you can turn the hearts of the people, as the trees of the wood are moved in the wind.

Oh that there might come a deep searching of heart, great thoughtfulness of the Scriptures, reverence of God and the principles of justice and peace: and may this land make another stride in onward progress, and out of it may there be gathered a people whom you have chosen, who shall show forth your praise.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“… he entered the most holy place once for all time, not by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.” (Hebrews 9:12)

When Aaron went in with the blood of bulls and goats, he had only obtained a symbolic and temporary purification for the people. But we do not fear death since our Lord has obtained eternal redemption. “Eternal punishment” is a word of unspeakable terror. But it is met and fully covered by “eternal redemption.” We need not be afraid if we put out trust in the Lord Jesus as our sacrifice and priest. Nothing in the mystery of eternity need frighten us. How shall we be lost for whom an eternal ransom has been paid?

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

You need a dictionary (Seriously, you need a dictionary)

Definitions are important. When reading a book or listening to teaching, we can’t learn or apply anything if we don’t know the words an author or speaker is using.

The Baker Compact Dictionary of Theological Terms by Gregg Allison is an invaluable resource for theological studies, offering clear definitions for the most important words for understanding the Bible and theology. This is an incredible resource for looking up new words that you don’t know and for getting a quick refresher on various theological positions.

Buy The Baker Compact Dictionary of Theological Terms:

Pray with Spurgeon: God, reveal Jesus Christ to the troubled heart

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

“When he [the Holy Spirit] comes, he will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment.” (John 16:8)

O Spirit of God, lay this home; and convince sinners of righteousness. Let them see where righteousness is to be had, even in Christ! Let them know that righteousness is demanded of them; and, if they have it not from Christ, they will never have it, and they must perish in their sins.

And oh, Divine Spirit, set before them judgment to come. Let them tremble at the thought that you will come, that the great trial of judgment shall be held, and rebels against God and his Christ must be punished, with eternal destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.

Thus bring the sinner to his knees; thus bring the conscience to tenderness; and then, sweet Spirit, reveal Jesus Christ to the troubled heart, and let there be the peace of God through faith. We have many things to pray for this morning, but, Lord, you know them all.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“For this is what love for God is: to keep his commands. And his commands are not a burden.” (1 John 5:3)

Anything that makes us think that God’s will is burdensome is of the spirit of the world against which we have to fight. If, for instance, we are tempted to think that the restrictions of God’s law—his commandments and precepts—are too stringent, it is the spirit of the world that tempts us to think so, for “his commandments are not a burden” to those who truly love him. It is only to the rebellious world that the restrictions of God appear to be too stringent, or that the commands of Christ become burdensome.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

A devotional to reflect on our great salvation.

Today we prayed for sinners to repent, acknowledging that our only hope is to know Christ and his righteousness. This is what Jesus came to do — to save a people for himself. It is important for Christians to 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: We must believe in Jesus — our only hope

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Now we put up most fervent and earnest prayer for such who, as yet, do not know you. O Spirit of God, convince men of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment to come (John 16:8); and especially convince the human heart of the sin of not believing in the Lord Jesus Christ. Oh, make this to be very clear to the heart, that not believing in Jesus is the highest act of enmity against God. The rejection of God, when he became man and dies, out of infinite love—surely this is the highest crime and misdemeanor against the great King.

Oh that this might strike, like an arrow, into the heart of some. If they cannot accuse themselves of any gross sin of the body, yet may this grossest of all sins be laid, like a millstone, upon their conscience, that they have refused the Son of God and done despite to his precious blood: and how shall they escape if they neglect so great salvation (Hebrews 2:3)!

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“When he comes, he will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment…” (John 16:8)

The Holy Spirit attested the life of Christ, the teaching of the apostles, and all the grand truths that were contained therein, by what he did in the way of miracle, and by what he did in the way of enlightening, impressing, and subduing human hearts. Henceforth man is accused, and rebuked by the great Advocate; and all who remain in opposition to the Lord Jesus, remain so in defiance of the clearest proofs of his mission. He who rejects human testimony when it is true is foolish; but he who despises the witness of the Holy Ghost is profane, for he gives the lie to the Spirit of truth. Let him beware lest he so sin against the Holy Spirit as to come under the most terrible of curses; for it is written of him that speaks against the Holy Spirit, “never has forgiveness” (Mark 3:29).

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

A kid’s book to teach the importance of evangelism

Today, we prayed that God would bring sinners to know him. By God’s design, this usually happens when one Christian shares about his hope with a non-believer. Evangelism is a crucial topic in the Christian life that we need to teach others, including our children.

Lately my family has been loving a new book that focuses on “How God uses people to save people.” It’s called The Prisoners, the Earthquake, and the Midnight Song by Bob Hartman, illustrated by Catalina Echeverri. This book tells the story of Paul and Silas while they were in prison in Philippi for proclaiming Christ, and encourages children to proclaim Christ with the same kind of boldness.

The book is incredibly creative (without sacrificing faithfulness to the biblical text) and the illustrations are stunning. It’s a ton of fun and children under ten will love it. Your kids will be amazed at the story of Paul, Silas, and the incredible work that God did in Philippi.

This isn’t just a cheap Bible story — this is a great book full of rich theology, an incredible (true!) story, and an important message. It will encourage kids of all ages to boldly proclaim Christ, no matter the cost.

I hope you’ll add this book to your family’s library!

Buy The Prisoners, the Earthquake, and the Midnight Song:

Pray with Spurgeon: God, save me from anxiety

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

The Lord deliver his people from anxiety and care; and, indeed, from caring about themselves! Oh, for power to roll our burden upon our God, and to sing all day long because we are the Lord’s, and he is ours.

O Lord, make us a holy and a happy people. Help us to live the separated life, and to tread it with firm and brave step. Help us, while we wrestle not with flesh and blood, to fight with principalities, and powers, and spiritual wickednesses in high places; and may it be ours to be made, by your Spirit, to triumph in every place, being led in triumph by you from strength to strength, from time to time, from age to age, until the history of your whole church shall be one long triumph for the conquering Lord. Glorify yourself in us, we pray, even in these mortal bodies, and in our spirits which are yours.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.” (Ephesians 6:12)

Our great fight is not against our fellow men. As Christians, we go not forth armed with sword and shield to fight against “flesh and blood,”— But against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Our battle is against evil wherever it is to be found, against evil in every shape and form. Evil is as much in the world today as it was in Paul’s time, and we must fight against it everywhere. We are not to shut our eyes to it, or try to patch up a compromise with it. Christians are bound to fight against evil principalities, evil powers, the evil rulers of the darkness of this world, and wicked spirits in high places.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Real Hope for All Your Fears and Anxiety

Today we prayed that God would heal us of our worry and anxiety by teaching us to give all of our burdens to him. Unfortunately, dealing with our anxiety isn’t always so easy, is it? We won’t grow past our worries unless we address them with solid biblical truth.

That’s the point of Running Scared: Fear, Worry, and the God of Rest by Ed Welch. This book offers a biblical perspective on fear and worry in general, and then zooms in to offer biblical hope for some of the most common fears (e.g., fear of money, fear of people, fear of death, etc.).

Reading Running Scared will give you more confidence in God and his Word that will help you deal with your own fears and to share the hope of the Bible with others too. I know this book will encourage you to trust God — I hope you’ll grab a copy.

Buy Running Scared:

Pray with Spurgeon: Destroy all our sin; comfort us when we suffer

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Lord, purify us! You have pardoned; now purify, until every sin shall be destroyed within our hearts. We pray, hear the prayers of you children who also ask for strength and help in their time of need. O Spirit of God help our infirmities. If we be pressed down with a load of sorrow; if we are in perplexity and know not what to do; if we are slandered and persecuted; if we in any way are made to feel the weight of the cross, help us, we pray.

Let not our weakness be staggered by that portion of our estate which comes under the head of tribulation. May we rather rejoice in infirmities, because the power of God does rest upon us; and may we glory in tribulations also, because these work in us, by your good Spirit, all manner of holy graces to your glory.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little while.” (1 Peter 5:10)

It must be after you have suffered awhile. You cannot be perfected except by the fire. There is no way of ridding you of your dross and your tin but by the flames of the furnace of affliction. Your folly is so bound up in your hearts, you children of God, that nothing but the rod can bring it out of you. It is through the blueness of your wounds that your heart is made better. You must pass through tribulation so that through the Spirit it may act as a refining fire to you, so that, pure, holy, purged, and washed, you may stand before the face of your God, rid of every imperfection and delivered from every corruption within.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Cultivate a Christ-centered spirit this Christmas.

Did you know that Christmas is just 50 days away? Before you start worrying about all the shopping, party-planning, and travel arrangements, make a plan to cultivate a Christ-centered celebration this Christmas. How will you remember the reason for the season?

A few years ago, I started a tradition of reading Spurgeon’s Christmas sermons out loud to my family. This has been such a helpful practice to help us focus on Christ throughout the holiday season.

If you want to read Spurgeon’s Christmas sermons this year, I created a compilation book of some of his best — Spurgeon on Christmas. These sermons are beautiful and I know that they will help you focus on Christ this Christmas.

I pray that Spurgeon on Christmas is a blessing to you. And buying a copy is a great way to support this ministry, so I can continue sending out this daily prayer newsletter!

Buy Spurgeon on Christmas now on Amazon.

Pray with Spurgeon: We are children of God, not the devil

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Now, Lord, next to this, give each one of your children power to become the sons of God in their actions. May we become more and more like the Firstborn; may we begin to exercise our sonship by conquering ourselves. Help us to put down sin. May every sinful thought be driven out, and every thought be brought into captivity to the Spirit of God. Oh help us to be perfectly consecrated to your service, because we are the children of God. May we not live like children of the devil, neither serve him, nor serve our affections and lusts.

And, oh, grant us also to become sons by reason of the spirit of boldness that we shall feel. Give us not again the spirit of bondage that we may fear; but give us, we pray, more and more of the spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abba, Father.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age.” (Titus 2:11–12)

Christians are not to run out of the world, as monks and hermits sought to do, but to live “in the present age.” Yet, while in the world, we are to be godly, that is, full of God. That kind of life which is without God is not for Christians. Those worldly desires, the pride and ambition, which are common to worldly men, are not to have power over us; we are to deny them, and to live soberly. This word relates not only to eating and drinking, but to the general sobriety of a man’s mind.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

God’s grace will grow you. Here’s a practical guide.

Today we prayed that God would make us more like himself — that we would live as his children instead of children of the devil. This is our goal, to know our Father and become more like him every day. And the reason we pray for this, is because we can’t grow in godliness without God’s help.

God didn’t just start your salvation, he’s going to complete it as well. And the path to true growth is not just trying harder, but by pressing deeper into the truths of God’s saving, sanctifying grace.

That’s the point of Deeper: Real Change for Real Sinners by Dane Ortlund. In this book, Dane (author of Gentle and Lowly) offers a beautiful, biblical picture of what it looks like to actually grow in godliness. The teaching is incredibly practical and will leave you amazed at the wonder of God’s grace to change you.

I hope you’ll grab a copy of Deeper and use it to slay sin in your life, by God’s grace.

Buy Deeper:

Pray with Spurgeon: Cleaned by the blood of Jesus, I will never be destroyed

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Our Father, we earnestly ask that every believer here may feel the power of the sprinkled blood most vividly and consciously. May we hear Jesus say by it, “he is completely clean” (John 13:10); and may we have a sense of entire security, because you have yourself said it—“When I see the blood, I will pass over you” (Exodus 12:13). This is the blood of our passover, and no destroying angel can touch us.

Now, Lord, next to this, give each one of your children power to become the sons of God in their actions. May we become more and more like the Firstborn; may we begin to exercise our sonship by conquering ourselves. Help us to put down sin.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“When I see the blood, I will pass over you.” (Exodus 12:13)

My own sight of the precious blood is for my comfort; but it is the Lord’s sight of it which secures my safety. Even when I am unable to behold it, the Lord looks at it, and passes over me because of it. If I am not so much at ease as I ought to be, because my faith is dim, yet I am equally safe, because the Lord’s eye is not dim, and he sees the blood of the great Sacrifice with steady gaze. What a joy is this!

Now rest we in calm security. We have God’s Sacrifice and God’s Word to create in us a sense of perfect security. He will, he must, pass over us, because he spared not our glorious Substitute. Justice joins hands with love to provide everlasting salvation for all the blood-besprinkled ones.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Find deeper joy in the God who saves you and keeps you

Today’s prayer and Scripture passage reminded us that we are surely saved by the blood of Christ. Even when we don’t feel it, we know that God has saved us and will keep us to the end. This is our only hope and joy. If we continue to reflect on God’s grace in his Word, we will see this hope and joy increase.

A great resource to help you focus on the wonders of God’s grace is PROOF: Finding Freedom through the Intoxicating Joy of Irresistible Graceby Timothy Paul Jones. This book is a a great, thoroughly biblical approach to unpacking God’s sovereignty in salvation — the wonderful truth that God is in control of all things, so that we know he will definitely save his people!

Whether the doctrine of God’s sovereignty has been precious to you or if you’re hesitant to embrace it, PROOF will encourage you as it takes you on a stunning journey to reflect on God’s Planned, Resurrecting, Outrageous, Overcoming, and Forever grace.

I know that PROOF will deepen your joy and confidence in God, so I hope you’ll grab a copy today.

Buy PROOF: Finding Freedom through the Intoxicating Joy of Irresistible Grace:

Pray with Spurgeon: Every heart is open before God

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

O God, we stand, therefore, now in your immediate presence, and our very heart speaks to you, and we rejoice that you who searches the heart, know what our heart would say; and if these lips should fail to speak out the heart’s utterances, you will interpret what is written in every bosom; and if no lip this morning should express the desire of some of your saints, because their groanings are such that they cannot utter them themselves, and, therefore, cannot expect anyone else to do it, yet you will read every heart; for every heart is open before you as a book, and you read the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart.” (Psalm 7:10)

Oh, how good to have a true and upright heart. Crooked sinners, with all their craftiness, are foiled by the upright in heart. God defends the right. Filth will not long abide on the pure white garments of the saints, but shall be brushed off by divine providence, to the vexation of the men by whose base hands it was thrown upon the godly.

When God shall try our cause, our sun has risen, and the sun of the wicked is set forever. Truth, like oil, is ever above, no power of our enemies can drown it; we shall refute their slanders in the day when the trumpet wakes the dead, and we shall shine in honor when lying lips are put to silence. O believer, fear not all that your foes can do or say against you, for the tree which God plants no winds can hurt.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Understanding the Roman Catholic Church

Yesterday was Reformation Day, the anniversary of Martin Luther nailing his 95 theses to the church door at Wittenberg — an event that sparked the Protestant Reformation.

Today, more than 500 years later, the Reformation is not finished. It’s just as important now that we seek to understand and engage our Roman Catholic neighbors. A great resource for starting (or continuing) your study on this important issue is 40 Questions about Roman Catholicism by Gregg Allison.

I received a review copy of this book, and I’m incredibly thankful for the thorough, biblical, honest, and fair approach to Roman Catholic theology and practice that the book takes.

Many Protestants have an unfair, simplistic view of Roman Catholic theology, based on a few erroneous doctrines. This book takes a big-picture approach to understanding what Catholics believe and makes them different from Protestants. The question-and-answer format makes the book easy to read and accessible to reference.

Reading 40 Questions about Roman Catholicism will fill you with love for God’s Word and God’s gospel, rejecting any counterfeits, like Roman Catholicism. This book will equip you to better understand Roman Catholic theology and more faithfully engage your Catholic neighbor in evangelism.

Buy 40 Questions about Roman Catholicism:

Pray with Spurgeon: Sin necessitates death. Jesus died.

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

We would in spirit now pass into that inner place, into which the High Priest of Israel dared not come but once a year, and then not without blood. We bless you that the veil is torn; and now every believer is made a priest, and permitted to come into the Holy of Holies, and to draw near unto the mercy-seat, all blood-besprinkled, without fear of being regarded as an intruder, or smitten down like Nadab and Abihu.

O God, we stand, therefore, now in your immediate presence, and our very heart speaks to you, and we rejoice that you who searches the heart, knows what our heart would say.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“But Christ has appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come. In the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands (that is, not of this creation), he entered the most holy place once for all time, not by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.” (Hebrews 9:11–12)

The sacrifice presented by our Lord was unique. He offered his own blood—blood from the veins of a man. But what a man! He was without spot. In his birth he received no taint of original sin. He was pure and holy. Therefore he was able to bear the sin of others since he had none of his own. The sacrifice of our Lord was, in the highest sense, substitutionary. Sin necessitates death. Jesus died. The Lord Jesus Christ did not come to earth to make reconciliation by the holiness of his life, or by the earnestness of his teaching, but by his death.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Know how you were forgiven — be freed from pride and despair.

Today we reflected, in prayer and Bible study, on Jesus’ work as high priest — he entered the most Holy place, gave himself for our salvation, and rose again. Oh, what a glorious truth!

Over the summer, my church preached through the Book of Exodus together and I was able to preach on the construction of the Tabernacle in Exodus 25–26. This passage shows us these same themes — The Holy God will dwell with his people, but sin separates, so God saves.

You can listen to this sermon here. I hope it encourages you!