thoughts by Charles Spurgeon Archives - Daily Devotionals by Thoughts about God

Published August 22, 2023

Little Sins

“Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom.” Song of Solomon 2:15

A little thorn may cause much suffering. A little cloud may hide the sun. Little foxes spoil the vines; and little sins do mischief to the tender heart. These little sins burrow in the soul, and make it so full of that which is hateful to Christ, that He will hold no comfortable fellowship and communion with us. A great sin cannot destroy a Christian, but a little sin can make him or her miserable. Jesus will not walk with His people unless they turn away from every known sin. He says, “If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love.” (John 15:10)

Some Christians very seldom enjoy their Savior’s presence. How can this be? Surely it must be deeply hurtful for a tender child to be separated from their father. Aren’t you a child of God, and yet satisfied to go on without seeing your Father’s face? Aren’t you the spouse of Christ, and yet you’re content without His company? If so, you’ve fallen into a sad state, for when He has left her the pure spouse of Christ mourns like a dove without her mate.

Ask the question, what has driven Christ from you? He hides His face behind the wall of your sins. That wall may be built up of little pebbles as easily as it may be built up of great stones. The sea is made of drops; the rocks are made of grains: and the sea which divides you from Christ may be filled with the drops of your little sins; and the rock which has nearly wrecked your boat, may have been made by the daily working of the coral insects of your little sins. If you want to live with Christ, and walk with Christ, and see Christ, and have fellowship with Christ, take heed of “the little foxes that ruin the vineyards.” Jesus invites you to go with Him and take them. Jesus will surely be with you and help you eliminate foxes by His mighty power. Go with Him to the hunting!

by Charles H. Spurgeon
Used by Permission
Updated to modern English by Darren Hewer, 2008.

The Mercy of the Lord

“I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.” Psalm 52:8 (KJV)

Meditate on the mercy of the Lord.

It is tender mercy. With His gentle, loving touch, He heals broken hearts and wraps up wounds. He is not only gracious in what He provides, but also in the gracious manner He provides it.

It is great mercy. There is nothing little about God, and His mercy is like Himself: infinite. You can’t measure it. His mercy is so great that it forgives even the most terrible sins to the most terrible sinners, and then proceeds to give great favors and great privileges. His mercy raises gives us great enjoyments in the great heaven of the great God.

It is undeserved mercy, as indeed all true mercy must be. Deserved mercy is only another name for justice, and we who are sinners have no right to the kind consideration of the Most High. As rebels, who were once doomed to the eternal fire we deserve, it is the sovereign love of God alone which saves us, for we have no such power ourselves.

It is rich mercy. God’s mercy is medicine to your sagging spirits; a golden ointment to your bleeding wounds; a heavenly bandage to your broken bones; a royal chariot for your weary feet.

It is diverse mercy. As Paul Bunyan said, “All the flowers in God’s garden are double.” There is no single mercy. You may think you have only one mercy, but you will find God’s mercy is multifaceted, reflecting and shining His glory.

It is plentiful mercy. Billions have received it, yet it is far from being exhausted. It is as fresh, as full, and as free as it has ever been.

And finally it is unfailing mercy. It will never leave you. If mercy is your friend, mercy will be with you in temptation. It will be with you in times of trouble to prevent you from sinking, with you to be the light and life of your life, and with you even in imminent death, to be the joy of your soul when earthly comfort is fading fast.

Question: As you meditate on how God has shown mercy to you, to whom that you know can you demonstrate mercy today in response?

by Charles H. Spurgeon
Used by Permission
Updated to modern English by Darren Hewer, 2009.

The Slippery Path

“To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy – to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” Jude 1:24-25

In some sense the path to heaven is safe. But in other respects there is no road as dangerous; it is overrun with difficulties.

One false step (and how easy it is to step absently if grace is absent), and down we go. What a slippery path some of us tread! How many times have we cried along with the Psalmist, “My feet were almost gone, my steps had well nigh slipped.” If we were strong, sure-footed mountaineers, this would not matter so much; but relying on our own abilities, how weak we are! In the best roads we soon falter, in the smoothest paths we quickly stumble. A straw may throw us, and a pebble can wound us; we are mere children tremblingly taking our first steps in the walk of faith. Thankfully our heavenly Father holds us by the arms or we would soon fall all the way back down!

We have many foes who try to push us down. The road is rough and we are weak, but in addition to this, enemies lurk in ambush, who rush out when we least expect them, and try to trip us, or hurl us down the nearest cliff. Only an Almighty arm can preserve us from these unseen foes, who are seeking to destroy us. Such an arm is engaged for our defense.

If we are kept from falling, how much more should we bless the patient God which watches over us day by day! Think how prone we are to sin, how apt to choose danger, how often we end up bringing ourselves down, and these reflections will make us sing more sweetly than we have ever done, “Glory be to Him, who is able to keep us from falling.”

He promises that He will remain faithful, and He is able to keep us from falling, so that even with a deep sense of our utter weakness, we may cherish a firm belief in our perfect safety, and say, with joyful confidence, “Against me earth and hell combine, But on my side is power divine; Jesus is all, and He is mine!”

Question: How do you try to constantly keep your eyes on Jesus?

Originally written by Charles H. Spurgeon,
Used by Permission
Updated to modern English by Darren Hewer, 2008.

God of Love

“… the kindness and love of God our Savior …” Titus 3:4

How sweet it is to witness the Savior intimately connecting with His own beloved people! There can be nothing more delightful than being led into this fertile field of delight by the Holy Spirit. Let your mind, just for a moment, consider the history of the Redeemer’s love, and a multitude of winsome acts of God’s affection will come to mind. All of these acts of God’s love weave our hearts closer with Christ, and the intertwining of our thoughts and emotions with the mind of Jesus.

When we meditate on this amazing love, and see our glorious God granting His church all His ancient wealth, we should want to leap for joy. Who can endure such love? Even the partial sense of God’s love which the Holy Spirit is sometimes pleased to show us is more than we can contain. How incredible must it be to fully experience it! Someday we will be able to discern all the Savior’s gifts, and have wisdom to understand them, as well as time to meditate on them. We will commune with Jesus in an even closer way than we do now. But who can imagine the sweetness of such fellowship? It is one of the wonderful things that God has prepared for everyone who loves Him.

“Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face.” 1 Corinthians 13:12

When we actually see heavenly things themselves, with our own eyes, the stream of fellowship in which we will bathe will be so incredibly deep! This will simply overwhelm us with love. Until then, our loudest sonnets will be reserved for our loving benefactor, Jesus Christ our Lord, whose love to us surpasses all other loves.

Question: How could you show God’s love to someone else today?

Originally, written by Charles H. Spurgeon.
Used by Permission
Updated to modern English by Darren Hewer, 2009

The Resurrection

“But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Philippians 3:7-11

The truth of the risen Savior is ever so precious.

The resurrection is the cornerstone which supports the entire building of Christianity. It is the keystone in the arch of our salvation. It would take a volume to set forth all the streams of living water which flow from this one sacred source, the resurrection of our dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. But to know that He has risen, and to have fellowship with Him by possessing a risen life, this is even still more precious.

Because He left his tomb, we are able to leave the tomb of worldliness ourselves. The truth of the resurrection is the basis of the experience, but as the flower is more lovely than the root, so is the experience of fellowship with the risen Savior more lovely than the bare fact itself.

I encourage you to trust wholeheartedly that Christ rose from the dead, so much so as to be moved to sing about it and to derive all consolation from it. But I urge you, don’t merely rest contented there. Although you can’t see Him visibly like the disciples did, you should seek to see Jesus through spiritual eyes. And though like Mary Magdalene you may not “touch” Him, you are still privileged to converse with Him, and to know that because He is risen, you too both are and will be risen to new life in Him.

While it’s truly wonderful to know crucified Savior who died for my sins, but to know a risen Savior who has given me new life is incomparable. Short of this knowledge of the head and heart there can be no ultimate satisfaction of our deepest longings. May you today know Him and the power of His resurrection. Rise, for the Lord is risen!

Question: Where do you see head knowledge of Jesus’ resurrection overlapping with your daily heart life?

by Charles H. Spurgeon
Used by Permission
Updated to modern English by Darren Hewer, 2008.

If you are not absolutely sure that Christ is in your life, that you would go straight to heaven if you died today, you can be sure right now.

By faith, respond to the invitation of Jesus and open the door of your life to Him. Why not make this your prayer:

“Lord Jesus, I need You. I know You are the Son of God, the Savior of all men. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of my life. Make me the kind of person You want me to be. Enable me to live a supernatural life beginning today. Amen.”

Meditation for Spiritual Growth

“I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.” Psalm 119:15

There are times when solitude is better than community, and silence is wiser than speech. We will be better Christians if we take more time to be “alone” with God, and gathering spiritual strength through meditation on His Word, so that we will be refreshed to work in His service.

We should take time to ponder God’s word, because then we get real nourishment out of it. Truth is something like a cluster of grapes on the vine: if we want wine, we must work for it; we must press and squeeze it many times. The worker’s feet must come down joyfully upon the bunches, or else the juice will not flow. They must stomp the grapes well, or else much of the precious liquid will be wasted. So likewise we must, by meditation, work at God’s clusters of truth, if we really want to grow through God’s wisdom.

Our bodies are not sustained just by putting food into our mouths. The process which supplies our muscle, nerves, and bones is the process of digestion. By digestion the outward food becomes absorbed into our bodies. Likewise, our souls don’t become well-nourished merely by listening to this and that, to part here and there of divine truth. Hearing, reading, and learning require inwardly digesting to be useful, and this digesting of the truth requires meditating upon it.

We may wonder why some Christians, although they hear many sermons, make slow advances in their spiritual walk? It’s because they do not thoughtfully meditate on God’s Word. They love the wheat, but they do not grind it. They would eat the corn, but they will not go into the field to gather it. The fruit hangs upon the tree, but they will not pluck it. The water flows at their feet, but they will not stoop to drink it.

Our prayer today is “Lord, help us overcome such foolishness.” And let this be our firm intention in response: “God, I will meditate on your precepts.”

Originally written by Charles H. Spurgeon.
Updated to modern English by Darren Hewer, 2008.
Used by Permission

Faith Through Trials

“… for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith, of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire, may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”
1 Peter 1:6b-7

Untested faith may be real faith, but it is sure to be immature faith. It is likely to remain immature as long as it never faces difficulties.

When all things seem against it, faith often prospers. Storms are faith’s illuminators. When a calm reigns on the sea, spreading a ship’s sails is futile because the ship will never leave its harbor. However, when the howling winds rush forth causing the water to crash intensely around the ship, even though the vessel may rock and its deck may be flooded by the waves, it is only then that it will progress towards its destination.

No stars gleam as brightly as those which glisten in the polar sky. No water tastes so sweet as that which springs amid the desert sand. And no faith is so precious as that which lives and triumphs through adversity. Tested faith brings experience. You would never have believed your own weakness had you not needed to pass through trials. And you would never have known God’s strength had His strength not been needed to carry you through. Faith is precious, and since they may build faith they are precious too.

This shouldn’t, however, discourage anyone who is young in faith. You’ll face enough trials without even looking for them! These faith building tests will be measured out to you in due time. Meanwhile, if you currently lack experience, thank God for what grace you’ve received and praise Him for the degree of holy confidence you’ve attained so far, while honestly asking Him to bring you even more. Continue to walk in faith, and, through success and adversity, you will have more and more of the blessing of God until your faith is powerful enough to move mountains!

Question: What trials have you faced lately, and how could they be working to mature your faith?

Originally written by Charles H Spurgeon
Updated to modern English, by Darren Hewer, 2008.
Used by Permission

To Him be the Glory

“To Him be the glory forever! Amen.” Romans 11:36

“To Him be the glory forever!” This should be the single desire of all Christians. All other wishes must be come second to this one. The Christian may wish for prosperity in their business, but only insofar as it may help us to promote this–“To Him be the glory forever!” We may desire to attain more gifts and more graces, but it should only be that “To Him be the glory forever!”

You are not acting as you ought to do when you are moved by any other motive than to give glory to your Lord. As a Christian, if you are “of God, and through God,” then live “to God.” Let nothing ever set your heart beating so mightily as love to Him. Let this ambition fire your soul; let it become the foundation of everything you do, and become your sustaining motive whenever your passion grows cold. Make God your only goal. When I depend on myself, sorrow begins; but my joy will be complete when God becomes my supreme delight. Let your desire for God’s glory be a growing desire. If you blessed Him in your youth, do not be content with the kind of praises you gave Him then.

Has God prospered your business? Give Him more as He has given you more.

Has God given you experience? Praise Him by stronger faith than you exercised at first.

Does your knowledge grow? Then sing more sweetly.

Do you enjoy happier times than you once had? Have you been healed from sickness, and has your sorrow been turned into peace and joy? Then give Him more music; increase the thankful fervor of your praise. Practically in your life give Him honor. The “Amen” to your praise to your great and gracious Lord will then increasingly become your own individual service and increasing holiness.

Question: Why is it sometimes tempting to take the praise and glory for ourselves instead of giving it to God?

Originally written by Charles H. Spurgeon
Updated to modern English by Darren Hewer.

God Blesses You

“You crown the year with a bountiful harvest; even the hard pathways overflow with abundance.” Psalm 65:11

All year round, every hour of every day, God is richly blessing us.

He blesses us when we sleep, and when we wake His mercy is upon us. The sun may leave us a legacy of darkness, but our God never ceases to shine on His children with beams of love.

Like a river, His loving kindness is always flowing, with a fullness as inexhaustible as His own nature. Like the atmosphere which constantly surrounds the earth and sustains all life, the compassion of God surrounds all His creatures. In it, we live, and move, and have our being. (Acts 17:27-28)

Yet as the sun on summer days encourages us with beams more warm and bright than at other times, and as rivers are at certain seasons swollen by the rain, so is it with the mercy of God. His mercy has its golden hours, its days of overflow, when the Lord magnifies His grace to His children.

The blessings of the joyous days of harvest are a special season of excessive favor. It is in the glory of autumn that the ripe gifts of providence are abundantly bestowed. It is the mellow season of realization. Before there was nothing but hope and expectation, but great is the joy of harvest. Happy are the harvesters who fill their arms with the yield of heaven!

The Psalmist tells us that the harvest is the “crown of the year.” Surely these crowning mercies call for crowning thanksgiving! Let us give it all to God it by fostering the inward emotion of gratitude. Let our hearts be warmed! Let our spirits remember, meditate, and think about the goodness of the Lord! Then let us praise Him with our lips, and magnify His name, from whose abundance all goodness flows. Finally, let us glorify God by yielding our gifts to His cause, giving a practical proof of our gratitude to the Lord of the harvest!

Question: How has God blessed you lately? Can you set aside time today to thank Him?

Originally written by Charles H. Spurgeon,
Used by Permission
Updated to modern English by Darren Hewer, 2011.

God with Us, and We with Him

“Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14 (KJV)

Let’s today imagine ourselves in Bethlehem, in company of astounded shepherds and adoring Magi who have gathered to see Him who was born King of the Jews. Together we can sing in faith “Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.” Jesus is Jehovah incarnate, our Lord and our God, and yet our brother and friend. This is a new opportunity for us adore and admire Him.

Remember first His miraculous conception. It was a thing unheard of before, and unparalleled since, that a virgin would conceive and give birth to a Son.

God’s first promise in the Garden of Eden says “The seed of the woman,” not the offspring of man. A woman sinned in the Garden, but in God’s grace a woman also had the privilege of ushering in the one would will restore Paradise. Our Savior, although fully human, was in His human nature the Holy One of God. This realization should cause us to reverently bow before the holy Child whose innocence restores humankind to its ancient glory. Jesus is, in fact, our previous, and only, hope of glory.

Remember second His humble parents. His mother is described simply as “a virgin.” Not a princess, or prophetess. Not rich or powerful. What humble accommodations for a new-born king! Yet she could still sing the sweetest songs of praise and was chosen for her faithfulness to God despite her modest circumstances.

Immanuel, God with us … in our nature, our sorrow, our life, our death, and now with us forever. Or rather we are with Him, in resurrection, ascension, triumph, and glorious triumph.

Question: God with us … where do you turn when it feels like God isn’t with us, even though we know He is?

By Charles H. Spurgeon
Used by Permission

When Satan Hinders You

“Wherefore we would have come unto you … but Satan hindered us.” 1 Thessalonians 2:18 (KJV)

Since the first hour in which goodness came into conflict with evil, it has never ceased to be true in spiritual experience that Satan hinders us. From all points of the compass, all along the line of battle, in front and behind, at the dawn of day and in the midnight hour, Satan hinders us. If we toil in the field, he seeks to break the plow. If we build a wall, he labors to cast down the stones. If we serve God in suffering or in conflict, everywhere Satan hinders us.

He hinders us when we are first coming to Jesus Christ. Everyone experiences fierce conflicts with Satan when we first look to the cross and live. When we are saved, Satan endeavors to hinder the completeness of our personal character. You may be congratulating yourself, thinking “I have until now walked consistently and no one can challenge my integrity.” Beware of boasting, for your virtue will yet be tested. Satan will direct his efforts against that virtue for which you have become proud.

If you continue as a firm believer, your faith will soon be attacked. If you have been meek as Moses, expect to be tempted to speak unadvisedly with your lips. The birds will peck at your ripest fruit, and the wild boar will bludgeon his tusks against your choicest vines.

Satan is sure to hinder us when we are earnest in prayer. He attacks our persistence, and weakens our faith in order that, if possible, we may miss out on God’s blessing. Satan is vigilant in obstructing Christian effort. There was never a revival of religion without a revival of his opposition. As soon as Ezra and Nehemiah begin to labor, Sanballat and Tobiah are stirred up to hinder them.

We should not be alarmed when Satan hinders us. It is a proof that we are on the Lord’s side and are doing the Lord’s work. In His strength we shall win the victory, and triumph over our adversary.

Question: How have you been under spiritual attack lately? What resources has God provided to prevail against such attack?

Originally written by Charles H. Spurgeon.
Updated to modern English by Darren Hewer, 2011.
Used by permission

Never Forsaken

“O LORD, do not forsake me; be not far from me, O my God.” Psalm 38:21

Frequently we pray that God will not forsake us in our hour of trial and temptation, but we forget that this prayer should be on our lips at all times. There is no moment of our life, however holy, when we can live without God’s constant upholding.

Whether in light or in darkness, in communion with the Lord or in temptation, we at all times need the prayer,

“O LORD, do not forsake me; be not far from me, O my God.” (Psalm 38:21)

A little child, while learning to walk, always needs her parents’ aid. The ship abandoned by the captain drifts at once from its course. Likewise, we cannot do without continued aid from above.

Let it then be your prayer to-day:

“Do not forsake me Lord. Father, do not forsake your child, or he will fall by the hand of the enemy. Shepherd, do not forsake your lamb, or he will wander from the safety of the fold. Great Gardener, do not forsake your plant, or it will wither and die. ‘O LORD, do not forsake me; be not far from me, O my God,’ and do not forsake me at any moment of my life. Do not forsake me in my joys, or they will absorb my heart. Do not forsake me in my sorrows, or I will murmur against you. Do not forsake me in the day of my repentance, or I will lose the hope of pardon, and fall into despair. And do not forsake me in the day of my strongest faith, or my faith will degenerate into presumption. Do not forsake me, for without you I am weak, but with you I am strong. Do not forsake me, for my path is dangerous, and full of snares, and I cannot live without your guidance. The hen forsakes not her own brood, and I ask that you will even more cover me with your feathers, and permit me under your wings to find my refuge.

‘Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.’ (Psalm 22:11)

‘Leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.‘ (Psalm 27:9)”

“O ever in our cleansed breast, Bid Thine Eternal Spirit rest; And make our secret soul to be A temple pure and worthy Thee.”

Question: Have you ever felt forsaken by God? Were you really forsaken?

By Charles Spurgeon
Used by Permission

Go To Him

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

The cry of the Christian faith is the gentle word, “Come.” The Jewish law harshly said, “Go, step carefully on the path in which you walk. If you break the commandments, you will perish; keep them, and you will live.” The law was a burden even as it was a blessing, which drove men and women before it harshly; the gospel draws with arms of love.

Jesus is the good Shepherd going before His sheep, urging them follow Him, and always leading them onwards with the sweet word, “Come.” The law repels, the gospel attracts. The law shows the distance which there is between God and man; the gospel bridges that awful chasm, and brings the sinner across it.

From the first moment of your spiritual life until you are ushered into glory, the language of Christ to you will be, “Come, come to me.” As a mother puts out her finger to her little child and woos it to walk by saying, “Come,” even so does Jesus. He will always be ahead of you, urging you follow Him as the soldier follows his captain. He will always go before you to pave your way, and clear your path, and you will hear His winsome voice calling you after Him all through your life. Later, in the solemn hour of death, His sweet words with which He will usher you into the heavenly world will be “Come, you who are so blessed of my Father.”

This is not only Christ’s cry to you, but, if you are a believer, this is your cry to Christ: “Come! come!” You will be longing for His second coming; you will be saying, “Come quickly, come Lord Jesus.” You will be yearning for nearer and closer communion with Him. As His voice calls to you “Come,” your response to Him will also be “Come, Lord, and live with me. Come, and occupy alone the throne of my heart; reign there without a rival, and dedicate me entirely to Your service.”

Questions: When God calls you, are you ready to hear and obey? How can you prepare your mind and heart?

Originally written by Charles H. Spurgeon.
Used by Permission
Updated to modern English by Darren Hewer, 2008.

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Teaching Your Children in the Faith

“Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation.” Joel 1:3

In this simple way, by God’s grace, a living testimony for truth is always kept alive in the world. The beloved of the Lord are to hand down their witness of the gospel and the covenant to their heirs. And these heirs will pass it along to their next descendants.

This is our first duty. We are to begin in our own family homes. A person who does not start his ministry at home is an inadequate witness. Now, all people who do not know Christ are to be sought by all means, and all the highways and hedges are to be searched. But home has a greater priority, and woe to those who reverse the order of the Lord’s appointments.

To teach our children is a personal duty. We cannot delegate it to Sunday school teachers, or other friendly aids. These can assist us, but cannot deliver us from the sacred obligation. Any substitutes are evil and insufficient. Mothers and fathers must, like Abraham, command their households in the fear of God, and talk with their offspring concerning the wondrous works of the Most High. Parental teaching is a natural duty. Who are more fit to look after a child’s well-being as those who are the authors of his actual being?

To neglect the instruction of our children is worse than wicked. Education in the faith is necessary for the world, for the family itself, and for the church of God. In a thousand ways insidious false teaching is covertly advancing in the world, and one of the most effective means for resisting it is almost always neglected, namely, the instruction of children in the faith.

I pray that parents would awaken to the importance of this matter. It is a pleasant duty to talk about Jesus with our sons and daughters, and all the more so because God has saved children through their parents’ prayers and patient instruction. May every house into which this devotional is read honor the Lord and receive His smile.

Questions: What makes it difficult to instruct children in the Christian faith? What nevertheless makes that effort so necessary and worthwhile?

Originally written by Charles H. Spurgeon.
Updated to modern English by Darren Hewer
Used by Permission

If you don’t see our comment form you can find it here: https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/bethany-hayes_expectations/

God is Just What You Want

“God, even our own God.” Psalm 67:6

It is strange how little use we make of the spiritual blessings which God gives us, but it is stranger still how little use we make of God Himself. Though He is ‘our own God,’ we rarely take our problems to Him, and ask little of Him. Seldom do we seek counsel at the hands of the Lord. In fact, we often we go about our daily lives without seeking His guidance!

In our troubles we constantly strive to bear our burdens ourselves, instead of casting them upon the Lord so that He will sustain us. We can take our problems to God, for the Lord seems to say,

“I am yours, come and make use of me as you need; you may come freely to use my resources, and to Me, the welcome offerer.”

It is our own fault if we don’t make use of the riches of our God. Since you have such a friend, and He invites you, draw from Him daily. Never crave spiritual nourishment when you have such a great God to go to; never fear or faint while you have God to help you. Go to your treasure and take whatever you need “there is all that you can want. Learn the divine skill of making God all things to you. He can supply you with all, or, better still, He can simply ‘be’ to you instead of all”.

Let me urge you, then, to make use of your God. Make use of Him in prayer. Go to Him often, because He is your God. Who would disdain to use so great a privilege? Fly to Him, tell Him all your wants. Use Him constantly by faith at all times. If some dark thoughts are clouding your mind, use thy God as a ‘sun’. If someone is causing you harm, find in God a ‘shield’. For He is a sun and shield to His people. If you have lost your way in the mazes of life, use Him as a ‘guide’ for He will direct your steps. Whatever you are, and wherever you are, remember God is just what you want, and just where you want, and that He can do all you want.

Questions: Do you sometimes find it difficult to pray? What prevents you from having a more active prayer life?

By Charles Spurgeon
Updated to modern English by Darren Hewer, 2008.
Used by Permission

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“Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom.” Song of Solomon 2:15

Further Reading

Further Reading

In some sense the path to heaven is safe. But in other respects there is no road as dangerous; it is overrun with difficulties.

Question: How do you try to constantly keep your eyes on Jesus?

Further Reading

“… the kindness and love of God our Savior …” Titus 3:4

“Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face.” 1 Corinthians 13:12

Further Reading

The truth of the risen Savior is ever so precious.

Further Reading

“I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.” Psalm 119:15

Further Reading

Further Reading

“To Him be the glory forever! Amen.” Romans 11:36

Further Reading

All year round, every hour of every day, God is richly blessing us.

Further Reading

“Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14 (KJV)

Further Reading

“Wherefore we would have come unto you … but Satan hindered us.” 1 Thessalonians 2:18 (KJV)

Further Reading

“O LORD, do not forsake me; be not far from me, O my God.” Psalm 38:21

“O ever in our cleansed breast, Bid Thine Eternal Spirit rest; And make our secret soul to be A temple pure and worthy Thee.”

Further Reading

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

Further Reading

Further Reading

“God, even our own God.” Psalm 67:6

Questions: Do you sometimes find it difficult to pray? What prevents you from having a more active prayer life?

Further Reading