DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)
Oh we desire perfection. We know what it is to make a conscience of our every thought. We have looked upon every act of our lives, and desired that in all things we might be conformed to your will; and you know this makes us walk very tenderly at times, and with much brokenness of spirit before you, because the more we look into our lives, the more we see to lament; and in proportion as you do make us holy, in that very proportion do we spy out our unholiness, and find nests of sin where we never dreamt that the loathsome things had been.
Father, cleanse us from secret faults. Purge us! You have purged us with hyssop once, and we are clean; now wash us with water, even as you, blessed Jesus, did wash your disciples’ feet, and make us clean everywhere, that we may be your priests and kings, sanctified wholly; and make us a people zealous of good works.
Amen.
VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)
“Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.” (Psalm 51:7)
Sprinkle the atoning blood upon me with the appointed means. Give me the reality which legal ceremonies symbolise. Nothing but blood can take away my blood-stains, nothing but the strongest purification can avail to cleanse me. Let the sin-offering purge my sin. Let him who was appointed to atone, execute his sacred office on me; for none can need it more than I. Foul as I am, there is such power in the divine propitiation, that my sin shall vanish quite away.
RECOMMENDED RESOURCE
How God’s grace helps you grow
Today we prayed that God would help us grow in holiness and set us free from sin. 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. I hope you’ll grab a copy today.