DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)
We ask you would forgive all the vices of our nature; but at the same time kill them, for we hate ourselves to think we should fall into such evils. Especially have mercy upon us for our unbelief. You have given us proof of your existence, and of your love to us, and of your care over us: especially you have given us your only begotten Son, best pledge of love.
And yet we acknowledge that we do doubt. Unbelief comes into the soul. We are quite ashamed of this. We could lie in the very dust to think it should be so. Lord, have mercy upon us; but also help us to be strong in faith in the future, giving glory to God.
Amen.
VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)
“And climbing out of the boat, Peter started walking on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand, caught hold of him, and said to him, ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’” (Matthew 14:29–31)
No sooner does Peter begin to sink and cry out for deliverance than there is manifest goodwill and quick help in the Savior’s movement. Our Lord did not pause for debate. He did not upbraid Peter or say to him, “You have dishonored me by your unbelief.” Jesus did not accuse him harshly, rebuke him sternly, or punish him severely, leaving him to go down twice and then pulling him up the third time—thus inflicting on him the pangs of death without its extreme penalty. No! The prompt help of the Savior was ready for the pressing emergency of the one in need.
RECOMMENDED RESOURCE
Fight unbelief with the truths of faith
Today we prayed for an end to our unbelief and doubt. Asking questions is not a bad thing — we just need to labor to answer our questions in a faith-filled, biblical way. There ARE answers available for even the toughest questions about the Bible — do you know those answers?
A great resource for being equipped to defend your faith is Confronting Christianity: 12 Hard Questions for the World’s Largest Religion by Rebecca McLaughlin. This book gives practical, biblical, and winsome answers to some of the world’s most pressing objections to the gospel.
Be equipped to answer questions like “Isn’t Christianity homophobic?” and “How can you say there’s only one true faith?” with Bible-centered wisdom and Christ-centered hope.
Confronting Christianity will bolster your own faith and equip you to be a bold witness for Christ. I hope you’ll buy a copy today and read it this summer.