DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)
The Lord bless our country. God save the Queen. Keep us in peace, we beseech you and in times of congress and deliberation may there sit in the council chamber One higher than the kings of the earth, and greater than the ambassadors thereof.
Oh, that long-continued peace might happen to this poor earth, for its wounds are many. Behold, how all things languish for the lack of peace—the Lord send it. Quicken trade and commerce, remove the complaining that is now heard in our streets. Kindly consider us in the matter of the weather, that the harvests may not be spoiled, and bless the people, O Lord. Let the people praise you, and “then shall the earth yield her increase” (Psalm 67:6). The Lord grant all this, with the forgiveness of sin, the acceptance of our person, and assist us ever to live to his glory, for Jesus’ sake.
Amen.
VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)
“The earth has produced its harvest; God, our God, blesses us.” (Psalm 67:6)
Sin first laid a curse on the soil, and grace alone can remove it. Under tyrannical governments lands become unproductive; even the land which flowed with milk and honey is almost a wilderness under Turkish rule; but, when the principles of true religion shall have elevated mankind, and the dominion of Jesus shall be universally acknowledged, the science of tillage shall be perfected, men shall be encouraged to labor, industry shall banish penury, and the soil shall be restored to more than its highest condition of fertility. There is certainly an intimate relation between moral and physical evil, and between spiritual and physical good.
RECOMMENDED RESOURCE
Finding peace in the Prince of Peace
As today’s prayer and Scripture commentary remind us, we live in a broken, sin-cursed, fallen world. We desperately need the Prince of Peace to come and redeem us, to make his blessing known as far as the curse is found.
In our salvation, this cosmic redemption is already breaking in. Christ is already at work in our hearts to free us from the curse of sin and death.
Life in this fallen world is full of many things to be afraid of, but recognizing the good presence of Christ with us gives us the power to choose faith over fear.
That’s the message of Fear and Faith: Finding the Peace Your Heart Craves by Trillia Newbell. In this book, Newbell addresses a variety of common fears, and shows how the truth of God’s Word and the power of the gospel can help us overcome those fears with faith.
This book will encourage you, boost your confidence in God, and help you walk with faith every day. I hope you’ll grab a copy today.