Pray with Spurgeon

Daily Newsletter from SpurgeonBooks

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8)

The first birth, at its best, can only give you flesh; there must be another birth, a birth from above, to bring you into the realm of spirit that you may understand and share in spiritual things. The Spirit is a mysterious person, not to be understood by carnal man. You see his outward life, but you cannot see the hidden spring by which that life is moved and controlled, for that mysterious inner life is only discerned by those who possess it.

PRAY FOR THE NATIONS

This week, we’re praying for the Muhamasheen in Yemen.

Last year, portions of the Bible were translated in the Muhamasheen’s language for the very first time.

Pray that efforts to distribute Scripture and Christian resources among the Muhamasheen would be successful.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

The Holy Spirit for Parents

This week, the newsletter is focusing on God the Holy Spirit. Rightly understanding the work of God the Holy Spirit can be an incredible encouragement for parents. As we read in today’s Verse of the Day, only God the Holy Spirit can cause someone to be born again. If you long for your children to come to Christ, grow in godliness, and hold fast to God as a lifelong follower of Jesus, only God the Holy Spirit can do these things.

And so we trust him — it’s not up to us.

And so we rest — God the Holy Spirit is more powerful than we are; we don’t need to worry about our children’s spiritual future.

And so we read the Bible in our homes — because the Spirit who inspired God’s Word loves to use it to bring new life.

Parents, lead your kids to be lifelong followers of Jesus. Family devotionals from God Centered Family give you everything you need. Learn more at GodCenteredFamily.org.

FAITH’S CHECKBOOK

Spurgeon’s classic devotional, The Chequebook of the Bank of Faith, contains a promise of God for every day of the year. Pray with Spurgeon Plus subscribers receive the daily readings every weekday.

If you want to strengthen your faith in God’s promises (and support this ministry!), subscribe to Pray with Spurgeon Plus here.

“… from this day on I will bless you.” (Haggai 2:19)

Future things are hidden from us, but here is a telescope in which we may see the unborn years. The Lord says, “From this day on I will bless you.”

It is worthwhile to note the day which is referred to in this promise. There had been failure of crops, “blight, mildew, and hail” (Haggai 2:17) because of the people’s sin. Now, the Lord saw these disciplined ones beginning to obey his word and build his temple; therefore he says, “ from the day the foundation of the LORD’s temple was laid… from this day on I will bless you” (Haggai 2:18–19). If we have lived in any sin, and the Spirit leads us to purge ourselves of it, we may reckon upon the blessing of the Lord. His smile, his Spirit, his grace, his fuller revelation of his truth will all prove to be an enlarged blessing to us. We may fall into greater opposition from man because of our faithfulness but we shall rise to closer dealings with the Lord our God and a clearer sight of our acceptance in him.

Lord, I am resolved to be more true to you and more exact in my following of your doctrine and your commands. I pray, therefore, by Christ Jesus, that you would increase the blessedness of my daily life from now on and forever.

Something to think about today if you’re feeling needy: God has promised to bless you.