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!