DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)
Oh, Lord, we ask for ourselves strength to persevere. Some of us would ask, if it were your will, restoration to health; but your will be done. Others would ask deliverance out of trouble; again, your will be done. Some would come before you with conscious guilt, and ask for a new application of the precious blood. We had better all ask it, let us all have it.
O God, how richly you have blessed us! When we look back upon past years, what has God wrought! Shall you be without our song? Even when we are suffering, shall our voice, if it be cracked and broken, still be silent? No, if every harp-string shall be broken but one, that one shall still resound the love of Jesus, and the glory of God. Long as we live we will bless your name, our King, our God of love; for there is none like you.
Amen.
VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)
“Suddenly, a violent storm arose on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves—but Jesus kept sleeping.” (Matthew 8:24)
What? A storm where Christ is? Yes, it is generally so. If all seems calm, you may question whether Christ is there, but when he goes into the boat and his disciples follow him, it is not remarkable that the devil comes after him.
Jesus slept. Here is the weakness of humanity, and here is, also, the strength of faith. Jesus went to sleep because that boat was in his Father’s hands and he would take care of it. Sometimes the best thing we can do is to go to bed. You are worrying and troubling yourself, and you can do nothing—go to sleep. It is the climax of faith to be able to shake off all care and to feel, “If the Lord cares for me, why should I not sleep?” To sleep was the best thing Jesus could do to renew his bodily energies and to prepare himself for the time when his efforts would be needed for the deliverance of his disciples from danger.
RECOMMENDED RESOURCE
A book to help the youngest kids follow Christ
Wherever You Go, I Want You To Know is a new children’s book by Melissa Kruger. The book is really fun (with great illustrations and rhymes) with an eternal message: No matter what direction their life takes, no matter what kind of work they do, our biggest dream for our children is that they follow Christ.
I know I’ve recommended this book before, but I need to buy it again because my family has completely worn through our copy (we’ve read it so many times that it’s falling off the spine). I hope it will be a blessing to your family!