Charles H. Spurgeon - The Promises of God: A New Edition of the Classic Devotional Based on the English Standard Version

March 22

God... gives grace to the humble.

James 4:6

Humble hearts seek grace, and therefore they get it. Humble hearts yield to the sweet influences of grace, and so it is bestowed on them with more and more largesse. Humble hearts lie in the valleys where streams of grace are flowing, and hence they drink of them. Humble hearts are grateful for grace and give the Lord the glory for it, and hence it is consistent with his honor to give it to them.

Come, dear reader, take a low place. Be little in your own esteem, that the Lord may make much of you. Perhaps the sigh breaks out, I fear I am not humble. It may be that this is the language of true humility. Some are proud of being humble, and this is one of the very worst sorts of pride. We are needy, helpless, undeserving, hell -d eserving creatures, and if we are not humble, we ought to be. Let us humble ourselves because of our sins against humility, and then the Lord will give us a taste of his favor. It is grace that makes us humble, and grace that finds in this humility an opportunity for pouring in more grace.

Let us go down that we may rise. Let us be poor in spirit that God may make us rich. Let us be humble that we may not need to be humbled, but may be exalted by the grace of God.

March

January 26

For there is no enchantment against Jacob,

no divination against Israel.

Numbers 23:23

How this should cut outroot and branchall silly, superstitious fears! Even if there were any truth in witchcraft and omens, they could not affect the people of the Lord. Those whom God blesses, devils cannot curse.

Ungodly men, like Balaam, may cunningly plot the overthrow of the Lords Israel (Numbers 23). But despite all their secrecy and scheming, they are doomed to fail. Their powder is damp; the edge of their sword is blunted. They gather together, but since the Lord is not with them, they gather together in vain. We may sit still and let them weave their nets, for we will not be captured in them. Though they call in the aid of Satan and employ all his serpentlike craft, it will not profit them at all. Their spells will not work and their divination will deceive them. What a blessing this is! How it stills the heart! Gods Jacobs wrestle with God (Gen. 32:2232), but none will wrestle with them and overcome. Gods Israels have power with God and overcome, but none will have power to overcome against them. We need not fear the fiend himself, nor any of those secret enemies whose words are full of deceit, and whose plans are deep and unfathomable. They cannot hurt those who trust in the living God. We defy the devil and all his legions!

August 10

The Lord makes poor and makes rich;

he brings low and he exalts.

1 Samuel 2:7

All my changes in fortune come from him who never changes. If I grow rich, I should see his hand in it, and I should praise him. Let me equally see his hand if I am made poor, and let me praise him just as heartily. When we go down in the world, it is of the Lord, and so we may take it patiently. When we rise in the world, it is of the Lord, and we may accept it thankfully. In either case, the Lord has done it, and it is well.

It seems that the Lords way is to lower those whom he means to raise, and to strip those whom he intends to clothe. If this is his way, it is the wisest and best way. If I am now being brought low, I may well rejoice because I see in it the prelude to being lifted up. The more we are humbled by grace, the more we will be exalted in glory. That impoverishment which will be overruled for our enrichment is to be welcomed.

Oh, Lord, you have brought me low recently, and made me feel my insignificance and sin. It is not a pleasant experience, but I pray that you will make it a profitable one to me. Oh, that in this way you would prepare me to bear a greater weight of delight and of usefulness. And when I am ready for it, then grant it to me, for Christs sake! Amen.

May 21

If the clouds are full of rain,

they empty themselves on the earth.

Ecclesiastes 11:3

Why, then, do we dread the clouds which now darken our sky? True, for a while they hide the sun, but the sun is not snuffed out. He will shine out again before long. Meanwhile, those black clouds are filled with rain. And the blacker they are, the more likely they are to produce plentiful showers. How can we have rain without clouds?

Our troubles have always brought us blessings, and they always will. They are the dark chariots of bright grace. These clouds will empty themselves before long, and every tender herb will be the gladder for the shower. Our God may drench us with grief, but he will not drown us with wrath. No, he will refresh us with mercy. Our Lords love l etters often come to us in black -e dged envelopes. His wagons rumble, but they are loaded with benefit. His rod of discipline blossoms with sweet flowers and nourishing fruits. Let us not worry about the clouds, but sing because May flowers are brought to us through the April clouds and showers.

Oh, Lord, the clouds are the dust of your feet! How near you are in the cloudy and dark day! Love beholds you, and is glad. Faith sees the clouds emptying themselves and making the little hills rejoice on every side.

February 14

Steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord .

Psalm 32:10

Oh, fair reward of trust! My Lord, grant it me to the full! Above all men, the one who trusts in the Lord feels himself to be a sinner. And, look, mercy is prepared for him. He knows that he deserves nothing, but mercy comes and provides for him on a generous scale. Oh, Lord, give me this mercy, even as I trust in you!

Observe, my soul, what a bodyguard you have! As a prince is surrounded by soldiers, so are you surrounded by steadfast love. Before and behind, and on all sides, ride these mounted guards of grace. We dwell in the center of the whole system of mercy, for we dwell in Christ Jesus .

Oh, my soul, what an atmosphere you breathe! As the air surrounds you, even so does the mercy of your Lord. To the wicked there are many sorrows, but to you there are so many mercies that your sorrows are not worth mentioning. David says, Be glad in the Lord , and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart! (Ps. 32:11). In obedience to this command, my heart will triumph in God and I will proclaim my gladness. As you have surrounded me with steadfast love, I will also surround your altars, oh, my God, with songs of thanksgiving!

April 18

I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.

Joshua 1:5

This word to Joshua is often quoted. It is the basis of that New Testament word: He has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you (Heb. 13:5).

Beloved, a life of warfare is before us, but the Lord of Hosts is with us. Are we called to lead a great but fickle people? This promise guarantees us all the wisdom and prudence that we will need. Have we to contend with cunning and powerful enemies? Here is strength and valor, prowess and victory. Have we a vast heritage to win? By this sign we will achieve our purpose: the Lord himself is with us.

It would be sad for us indeed if the Lord could fail us. But, as this can never be, the winds of uneasiness are laid to sleep in the caverns of divine faithfulness. Not even once will the Lord desert us. Whatever happens, he will be at our side. Friends drop from us, for their help is like an April shower. But God is faithful, Jesus is the same forever, and the Holy Spirit remains in us.

Come, my heart, be calm and hopeful today. Clouds may gather, but the Lord can blow them away. Since God will not fail me, my faith will not fail. And, as he will not forsake me, neither will I forsake him. Oh, for a restful faith!