Category: Pray with Spurgeon

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Oh God, cover we ask you, with your feathers, all the people of Christ; and keep your church, even until he shall come who, having loved his own that were in the world, loved them even to the end (John 13:1).

We would, each one of us, ask this morning that our feet may be washed. We trust you have bathed us once for all in the sin-removing fountain. You have also washed us in the waters of regeneration, and given us the renewing of our minds through Jesus Christ. But oh, for daily cleansing! Do you see any fault in us?—oh, we know that you do—wash us that we may be clean. Are we deficient in any virtue? Oh, supply it, that we may exhibit a perfect character, to the glory of him who has made us anew in Christ Jesus. Or, is there something that would be good, carried to excess? Be pleased to modify it, lest one virtue should slaughter another, and we should not be the image of Christ completely.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Simon Peter said to him, ‘Lord, not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.’ ‘One who has bathed,’ Jesus told him, ‘doesn’t need to wash anything except his feet, but he is completely clean. You are clean, but not all of you.’” (John 13:9–10)

Then our Savior meekly, gently, quietly explained that there was no need for the washing of his head and his hands, for his whole being had already been renewed by the one great act of regeneration; and as he had been cleansed from sin by the free gift of pardon at the time when he first believed, there was no need of any repetition of the spiritual bathing.

He that believes in Christ is fully forgiven. He is like a man who has gone into the bath, and washed, but, when he steps out of the bath, and puts his foot on the ground, he often soils it, so that, before he robes himself, he needs to wash his feet again. That is our condition as believers in Jesus; we are washed in his precious blood, and are whiter than snow; but these feet of ours constantly touch this defiling earth, so they need every day to be washed.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

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

Today we reflected, in prayer and Bible study, on Jesus’ washing of his disciples feet. This beautiful act was a display of Jesus’ incredible humility, but also a picture of the forgiveness that he would purchase with his blood just a few hours later.

Remembering this truth — that we are forgiven of our sins, washed in the blood of Christ — is a crucial step for finding freedom from legalism, pride, and anxiety. We can know that we are forgiven forever, because it was purchased by Christ himself.

A great book to help you dive deeper into this topic of our forgiveness is Justification by Grace through Faith: Finding Freedom from Legalism, Lawlessness, Pride, and Despair by Brian Vickers. This book walks through the Bible’s teaching on justification and forgiveness in a way that is thoroughly biblical and intensely practical.

The good news that this book contains is just as stunning, just as comforting, and just as necessary as Jesus washing his disciples’ feet. I hope you’ll grab a copy — I know it will bless and encourage you.

Buy Justification by Grace through Faith:

• Amazon
• ChristianBook.com

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

We cry to you this morning, for the preservation of your church in the world, and especially for her purity. Oh Father, keep us, we ask you, with all keeping, that the Evil One touch us not. We shall be tempted, but let him not prevail against us. In a thousand ways he will lay snares for our feet, but, oh, deliver us as a bird from the snare of the fowler. May the snare be broken that we may escape.

Let the church not suffer dishonor at any time; but may her garments be always white. Let no-one come in among her, that are not of her, utterly despoil her. Oh Christ, as you did groan concerning Judas, so may your children cry to you concerning any that have fallen aside into crooked ways, lest the cause of Christ in the earth should be dishonored.

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)

After a man is converted and has received forgiveness of sins, soon he will be tempted by the devil, for Satan cannot bear to lose his subjects. And when Satan sees someone cross the border and escape out of his hand, he gathers up all his forces and exercises all his cunning that he may slay him at once.

To meet this special assault, the Lord makes the heart watchful. This is thus a prayer of watchfulness, which is necessary from the commencement of the Christian life even to its close. There is no hour in which a believer can afford to slumber. And in addition to watchfulness, a believer must never deliberately enter temptation. Anyone who does so is a liar before God.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Feeling weary? Be refreshed in the glorious gospel of God’s grace*

Spurgeon’s classic book All of Grace is a much-needed message for our current day. So many Christians (myself included!) are feeling weary and worn down by the weight of our sin. If you’re feeling weary as the year draws to a close—you need to know that God has grace for you.

All of Grace is such a valuable book. Spurgeon’s joy in God’s grace is overflowing from every page. This book is more refreshing than a dip in the pool this summer.

There’s a new audiobook of All of Grace available now. Listening to solid Christian audio is a great way to redeem the time spent on menial tasks (like doing dishes, commuting, or anything else). I hope you’ll check out the All of Grace audiobook. I know that it will encourage your faith and help you grow in grace.

Listen to a free sample of All of Grace on Audible.
(Also available in paperback or Kindle)

*Sponsored advertising content.

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Holy Father, keep your people we ask you, for Jesus’ sake: though they are in the world let them not be of it (John 15:9); but may there be a marked distinction between them and the rest of mankind.

Even as their Lord was “holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners” (Hebrews 7:26), so may it be with believers in Christ. May they follow him; and may they not know the voice of strangers, but come out from the rest, that they may follow him out of the camp.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. However, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of it, the world hates you.” (John 15:19)

Here is distinguishing grace and discriminating regard; for some are made the special objects of divine affection. Do not be afraid to dwell upon this high doctrine of election. When your mind is most heavy and depressed, you will find it to be a bottle of richest cordial. Desire to have your mind enlarged, that you may comprehend more and more the eternal, everlasting, discriminating love of God.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

A Personal Story to Boost Your Confidence in God*

We all love to hear a good testimony, right? We love to hear stories of how God has been faithful, and shown his power to protect his people and advance his own glory. Recently, I’ve been incredibly blessed to read a stunning book-length testimony about how God worked in and through the life of a missionary pilot and his wife, Immeasurably More: Flying for the Way-Maker by Liz Parker.

This new book is an incredible memoir of a missionary pilot family and their work in Africa. Liz and her family are not famous, and they probably never will be, but they are true heroes. They have laid down their lives and comfort for the glory of Christ in Africa, and we all have a lot to learn from their story.

Immeasurably More is a breathtaking story, showing the faithfulness of our a way-making, promise-keeping God, who has done immeasurably more than Liz and her family could have ever asked or imagined.

This book has been a comfort, challenge, and blessing to me, and I know that it will bless you as well. I hope you’ll grab a copy from 10 of Those.

Buy Immeasurably More from 10 of Those.

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DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

O Lord, our God, you love your people! You have placed all the saints in the hand of Jesus; and you have given Jesus to be to them a Leader, a Commander, and a Husband; and we know that you delight to hear us cry on the behalf of your church; for you care for Jesus, and you are ready to grant to him according to the covenant provisions which you have laid up in store for Christ Jesus.

Therefore we pray this morning, entreating you to behold and visit the vine, and the vineyard which your right hand has planted. Look upon Zion the city of our solemnities; look upon those whom you have chosen from before the foundation of the world, whom Christ has redeemed with blood, whose hearts he has won and holds, and who are his own, though they be in the world.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him.” (Ephesians 1:4)

That is the commencement of all blessing, God’s electing love. This is the fountain from which the living waters flow. There would have been no stream of blessing to us at all if it had not been for this first primeval choice of us by God, even as Jesus said to his disciples, “you have not chosen me, but I have chosen you” (John 15:16).

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

ONE DAY LEFT: Save 50% on Spurgeon’s Lost Sermons*

This month, every volume in The Lost Sermons of C. H. Spurgeon series is 50% off. That means tomorrow is the final day for this offer.

The Lost Sermons books are incredible resources — reading Spurgeon’s earliest sermons will be a great blessing to you and will encourage you to walk in godliness.

The series contains hundreds of outlines and sermons from Spurgeon’s early ministry, full-color scans of Spurgeon’s personal notebooks, and study notes to help you connect these early sermons with Spurgeon’s early influences and later ministry.

Plus, these books are beautiful (inside and out!) and will look great in your library!

Tomorrow is the last day to save, so grab a few volumes in the Lost Sermons series now!

Buy the Lost Sermons of C. H. Spurgeon on Lifeway.com (Use promo code LOSTSERMONS to save 50%)

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

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

We believe the world will be brought in, when the church believes her God: the Kingdom will come, and the glory shall be made visible to all flesh, when once we have the confidence we ought to have in him, who is worthy to be praised, and to be trusted evermore.

And now, by the precious blood of Jesus, accept this feeble prayer of ours, and send down a shower of benedictions; and to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, be glory forever and ever.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“And they sang a new song: You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slaughtered, and you purchased people for God by your blood from every tribe and language and people and nation.” (Revelation 5:9)

Have I been redeemed? Has the mortgage that was on me through sin been removed? Do I believe in Jesus Christ? If I believe that Jesus is the Christ and trust in him alone, I have been bought back with a countless price. The sufferings and death of Jesus have set his people free from slavery to sin. They have been purchased—redeemed. They come back to God as lands come back to the owner when the mortgage is discharged. We come back to God to whom we always belonged because Jesus has purchased us for God by his blood.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Give Godly Role Models to Your Children

Today we prayed for God’s glory to extend over the whole earth, for “the world to be brought in.” This is God’s passion — are we teaching this passion to our children?

I’ve been really excited about a new series of kid’s books from The Good Book Company — Do Great Things for God. Each book in this series features a short child-friendly biography of a Christian woman.

I recently received a copy of Betty Greene: The Girl Who Longed to Fly and I was blown away by the compelling story of this little-known hero’s life and service. Betty was one of the founding members of MAF (Missions Aviation Fellowship), and her story is an incredible testimony of how one woman used her gifts for God’s glory.

The storytelling is enjoyable for kids of any age (and their parents!), the illustrations are approachable and beautiful, and the lesson is amazing: Betty was able to do great things, because her God is great!

I’ve loved reading this biography to my daughter and I’m praying she’ll find great, faithful heroes like Betty that will point her to a greater and more faithful God.

I hope you’ll grab a copy of Betty Greene for your family today.

Pre-order Betty Greene:

• Amazon
• ChristianBook.com

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

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Give a blessing this morning, we pray, to us all; may we make a distinct advance in the divine life; may we get to a higher platform; may we leave the mists of doubt and fear below us in the valley, and quit the marshes of the plain, and climb the glittering hill-tops of eternal security in Christ and blessed oneness with him, by simply believing him who cannot lie—who hath sworn by two immutable things, and cannot from his purpose turn nor from his word draw back. O God, grant this faith to the entire church.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“But the LORD sits enthroned forever; he has established his throne for judgment.” (Psalm 9:7)

In the light of the past the future is not doubtful. Since the same Almighty God fills the throne of power, we can, with unhesitating confidence, exult in our security for all time to come. The enduring existence and unchanging dominion of our Jehovah are the firm foundations of our joy. The enemy and his destructive ways shall come to a perpetual end, but God and his throne shall “endure forever.” The eternity of divine sovereignty yields unfailing consolation.

This verse and commentary were taken from Daily Treasure, a new 366-day devotional on the Psalms by Spurgeon. This month only, you can get this book for 25% off from 10 of Those — use promo code SPURGEONBOOKS. Click here to learn more.*

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

A Bible-saturated plan to grow in godliness

Today we prayed that God would help us grow to be more like him. We don’t want to be controlled by worldly passions anymore — we want to live for God.

While our growth in holiness is a miracle that only God can do, we also have a role to play in this work. You will not automatically grow in godliness — you need to pursue godliness with the strength that God the Holy Spirit gives you.

A great, practical book on growing in godliness (self-control, taming the tongue, and more) is The Practice of Godliness by Jerry Bridges. This book won’t just tell you that something is sinful, it will actually equip you practical tools and truths from God’s Word to slay your sin and live in godliness.

Whatever pressing sin you are currently facing and want to grow in, The Practice of Godliness by Jerry Bridges is a great resource to help you take your next steps. I hope you pick up a copy today.

Buy The Practice of Godliness:

• 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)

Give us more faith. May the prayers that go up before you be salted with faith. When we preach, may we preach in faith; and may all that is done for the brotherhood for Christ, be done in simple confidence in God.

We know, that if we do not believe we shall never be established. We cannot expect to see result from our service, unless it is done in faith; for you have said “According to your faith be it done to you” (Matthew 9:29). O give us the childlike simplicity that never thinks of doubting God; but may we go forward—in all weakness made strong, by the strength of the Mighty God of Jacob.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Then he touched their eyes, saying, ‘Let it be done for you according to your faith.’” (Matthew 9:29)

throws the whole responsibility upon their confidence in him. Again he arouses their faith; and this time he throws the whole responsibility upon their confidence in him. He touched them with his hand; but they must also touch him with their faith.

The word of power in the last sentence is one upon which he acts so continually, that we may call it, as to many blessings, a rule of the kingdom. We have the measuring of our own mercies; our faith obtains less or more according to its own capacity to receive. Had these men been mere pretenders to faith they would have remained blind. If we will not in very truth trust our Lord, we shall die in our sins.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Grow in godliness. Let Spurgeon be your guide.*

Today, we prayed that God would increase our faith. And we know that this our only hope. Our faith comes from God himself.

Through all of life’s twists and turns, our great God is helping you, holding you, inviting you to know him.

That’s the topic of Spurgeon’s book, The Saint and His Saviour. He wrote this book to help you know God and find more joy in him.

This book is an incredibly practical guide to pursuing God and fighting sin.

I promise you, if you read this book, you will grow in godliness, you will enjoy God more.

It will be well worth your time to read.

I’m incredibly thankful for a new audiobook edition of The Saint and His Saviour, out now from Goodwill Audiobook Classics Library. This audiobook is a great production — it’s one of the best ways to start reading The Saint and His Saviour today.

This audiobook is an incredible resource — I hope you’ll grab this new audiobook and be blessed by it.

Buy The Saint and His Saviour Audiobook Now.
(It’s also available in paperback and Kindle formats.)

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

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

O God, have mercy upon the unbelievers whom we know, who have heard your word, and who profess to believe in the inspiration of your sacred Book, and yet have never come and put their confidence in Christ. We know that they are condemned already, because they have not believed upon the Son of God. But oh deliver them from this great sin; and may they come at this very hour, and cast their helpless souls upon him on whom you have laid our help.

May they begin to believe this morning, and then they shall begin to live; and you will breathe peace into such, and you will give them rest, and strength, and holiness; and they shall be more than conquerors, if they will but believe their God.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.” (John 3:18)

If you have heard of Christ’s salvation, and you have not believed in him, that is evidence enough of your condemnation. There is no need to prove your evil works, no need to fetch your diary, and turn over the record of your life.

If you have not believed in Jesus Christ, it shows a natural want of holiness, a lack of love to the loving God; and by that evidence you are condemned already, because you have not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God. The dislike of Christ is caused by a love of sin. If men did not hug their sins, they would embrace the Savior.

But God brings comfort to the mind of every sinner who will now believe in Christ!

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Tell your children the great stories of the Bible, all pointing to Jesus*

Parents, we have a responsibility to fill our children with the truth of the Bible. This is obviously a huge task, so it’s important that we get started early, with faithful resources to help us along the way.

One new resource that I’m really excited about is Bible Stories Every Child Should Know by Kenneth N. Taylor (published by 10 of Those). This book is an incredible collection of over 120 Bible stories, retold for the littlest hearts.

The book is wonderful. Parents will love it because the stories are incredibly faithful, while simple enough for the youngest kids to enjoy. Kids will be drawn in by the beautiful illustrations. There are also questions at the end of each story to help your child understand and retain the details of each story.

This is a great resource that I know will be a blessing to your family! I hope you’ll buy a copy and start enjoying the great story of God’s Word together.

Buy Bible Stories Every Child Should Know from 10 of Those.
(At 10 of Those, shipping is always $1 in the U.S., so make sure you fill your cart! Consider grabbing the rest of the Child Should Know series as well.)

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

DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)

Are any of your servants this morning in great trial? Lord help them! Whatever they fail in, let them not fail in faith. May we scorn to doubt our God. Oh, let not the devil get so much power over us as to cause us to mistrust the Eternal, who must not be mistrusted; but may we glorify you.

May we snatch the great opportunities of glorifying you, which troubles and trials bring; and count ourselves to have a high talent committed to us, when we have the opportunity of showing our conquest of self, and our glorying in God in the time of trial. The Lord bless his people here with Abrahamic faith, which staggers not at the promise through unbelief.

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

God is at work in your suffering

Today we prayed that God would continue to preserve us and use us in our trials. That reminds us that, no matter how much we are suffering, we are not alone — God is always at work.

This was one of the major themes in Spurgeon’s teaching on suffering, but it was not all he had to say on the topic. Spurgeon learned supernatural wisdom from God’s Word and his own pain on how to address our suffering in a God-glorifying, hopeful way.

Spurgeon’s teaching on suffering is very useful, so I compiled a brief collection of it in a short book, Spurgeon on Suffering. This book contains 12 classic sermons from Spurgeon on suffering, pain, and God’s grace through it all.

I hope you’ll buy a copy today, and I hope it will bless you.

(As a side note, purchasing a copy is a great way to support this ministry so that I can continue to send this daily newsletter!)

Buy Spurgeon on Suffering 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, teach us to be resigned to your will; teach us to delight in your law; teach us to have no will but your will; teach us to be sure that everything you do is good—is the very best that can be done.

Help us to leave our concerns in your divine hands, being persuaded that you have sway even over evil; that you bring good out of it, and better still, and better still in infinite progression, till your high purposes shall develop in your own perfect glory, and in the perfect bliss of all who put their trust in you.

Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“You will keep the mind that is dependent on you in perfect peace, for it is trusting in you.” (Isaiah 26:3)

“Peace, peace,” that is the form of the Hebrew, and it means a double peace, the perfection of peace; a great depth of peace, the reality of peace, peace upon peace belongs to the man who trusts in the Lord.

Are you vexed, and worried, and perplexed, dear friend? Are you tossed to and fro as upon a stormy sea? This verse shows you the way in which you may obtain perfect peace: trust in the Lord forever.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Be encouraged by Spurgeon’s earliest sermons*

If this newsletter encourages you every day, I know you’ll find more encouragement in Spurgeon’s other writings.

Recently, I’ve been really blessed by The Lost Sermons of C. H. Spurgeon, a collection of books featuring Spurgeon’s earliest sermon outlines.

Up until a few years ago, these sermons were locked away in the archives and weren’t available for reading anywhere. Now, they’re available for our benefit in The Lost Sermons series.

Here’s what you can expect:

• Hundreds of outlines and sermons from Spurgeon’s early ministry
• Full-color scans of Spurgeon’s personal notebooks
• Critical footnotes to connect with Spurgeon’s early influences and later ministry
• Introductions by well-known pastors and scholars
• Beautiful books that will look stunning in your library
• Thousands of pages of gospel-saturated teaching

This month only (time is running out!), you can get any volume in the Lost Sermons collection (or all of them!) for 50% off. Just use promo code LOSTSERMONS when you check out on Lifeway.com.

Buy the Lost Sermons of C. H. Spurgeon on Lifeway.com (Use promo code LOSTSERMONS to save 50%)