Brethren, we ought always to pray for one another. Paul exhorts us to such prayer in Ephesians when he writes, “With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints” (Eph. 6:18).

Likewise, James encourages us to “pray for one another” (Jas. 5:16). This is important. Not only that we may look after each others’ welfare and desires. Prayer draws us close. Prayer is intimate.

In order to pray for someone that person first must share what is on his or her mind and heart. Yes, we can pray generically, but to pray for someone’s needs, those needs must be made known to us.

And just as prayer draws us close to God, praying for and with one another draws us close to each other.

And the context of James’ statement is that of praying for healing and forgiveness of sin. Do not allow fear of judgement to prevent you seeking prayer. And when a brother or sister comes to you for prayer, do not stand in judgement, but petition the Lord for your brother’s forgiveness.

In the book of Numbers, Moses did this many times over for Israel, even when they grumbled against him and the Lord, and the Lord’s wrath was turned.

Let us therefore seek the Lord in prayer on one another’s behalf, as Paul did, telling the Colossians that he gave thanks to God for them, and prayed always for them (Col. 1:3).

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Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening Devotions

Evening, February 6

"Pray one for another." James 5:16

As an encouragement cheerfully to offer intercessory prayer, remember that such prayer is the sweetest God ever hears, for the prayer of Christ is of this character. In all the incense which our Great High Priest now puts into the golden censer, there is not a single grain for Himself. His intercession must be the most acceptable of all supplications- and the more like our prayer is to Christ's, the sweeter it will be; thus while petitions for ourselves will be accepted, our pleadings for others, having in them more of the fruits of the Spirit, more love, more faith, more brotherly kindness, will be, through the precious merits of Jesus, the sweetest oblation that we can offer to God, the very fat of our sacrifice. Remember, again, that intercessory prayer is exceedingly prevalent. What wonders it has wrought! The Word of God teems with its marvellous deeds. Believer, thou hast a mighty engine in thy hand, use it well, use it constantly, use it with faith, and thou shalt surely be a benefactor to thy brethren. When thou hast the King's ear, speak to Him for the suffering members of His body. When thou art favoured to draw very near to His throne, and the King saith to thee, "Ask, and I will give thee what thou wilt," let thy petitions be, not for thyself alone, but for the many who need His aid. If thou hast grace at all, and art not an intercessor, that grace must be small as a grain of mustard seed. Thou hast just enough grace to float thy soul clear from the quicksand, but thou hast no deep floods of grace, or else thou wouldst carry in thy joyous bark a weighty cargo of the wants of others, and thou wouldst bring back from thy Lord, for them, rich blessings which but for thee they might not have obtained:

"Oh, let my hands forget their skill,
My tongue be silent, cold, and still,
This bounding heart forget to beat,
If I forget the mercy-seat!"

This is the coming website (under construction) for a guest interviewed by Daniel Horowitz on his Conservative Review podcast of 1/28/26. Here's the summary:
What happens when someone who grew up under Islam tells the West what it doesn’t want to hear? Former Muslim and Christian convert Danny Burmawi of the Ideological Defense Institute delivers a stark warning about mass migration, political Islam, and the future of Western civilization. Danny explains why mass Muslim migration is transforming Western societies in ways most Americans don’t understand. He bluntly warns that there is only one form of Islam and that it requires adherence to jihad. Some Muslim dictators are suppressing it in the hopes of achieving economic prosperity, but that is not trickling down to the Muslims living in the West, thanks to the subversion of Western elites allowing political Islam to operate with impunity. I also discuss my thoughts on how the Left is completely crushing Trump on immigration.

Mass Migration, Islam, and the Future of the West | Former Muslim Speaks Out
https://megaphone.link/BMDC9725841908
https://idicenter.org/

Beloved brethren, the importance of prayer in our lives can never be overstated. As with any relationship, if we wish to draw near to God, we must communicate. He communicates to us through His word and by His Spirit, and we communicate with Him through prayer.

In our flesh, we tend to pray when we are in need, when we struggle, when situations seem dire. Yet we ought also to pray when we are well, when we are blessed, when all seems right.

Thus, Paul urges us, “pray at all times” (Eph. 6:18). We are to come to God with our needs. We are to come to God to make petition for others. We are to pray for all men (1 Tim. 2:1), and for those in government (1 Tim. 2:2). We are to pray for the sick (Jas. 5:16). We are to pray for our enemies, for those who persecute us (Mt. 5:44). We are to come to God with our anxieties, our concerns, with thanksgiving and praise.

Clearly this does not mean we need to join a monastery, nor spend 24 hours per day, 7 days per week on our knees. What it does mean is that, inasmuch as possible, we are to recognize God’s presence in our lives at all times. We are to take time to separate ourselves and pray, as Jesus Himself often did (Lk. 5:16).

Realize also that our prayers aren’t simply about getting what we ask for. Prayers are not quarters, and God is not a cosmic candy dispenser. God does answer prayer, though not always as we wish. But the end goal of prayer shouldn’t be to bend God to our will, but to conform our will to His, and thus to be conformed to the likeness of Christ who prayed, “not as I will, but as you will” (Mt. 26:39; Lk. 22:42).

Let us therefore humble ourselves before the mighty hand of God and cast our anxiety on Him, because He cares for us (1 Pet. 5:6-7). Let us come to Him, not harboring worry, but giving thanks, presenting to Him our requests and He will give us a peace that surpasses all understanding (Phil. 4:6-7). Let us pray at all times that we might draw near to Him, and He will draw near to us (Jas. 4:8).

——————
Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening Devotions

Morning, February 6

"Praying always." Ephesians 6:18

What multitudes of prayers we have put up from the first moment when we learned to pray. Our first prayer was a prayer for ourselves; we asked that God would have mercy upon us, and blot out our sin. He heard us. But when He had blotted out our sins like a cloud, then we had more prayers for ourselves. We have had to pray for sanctifying grace, for constraining and restraining grace; we have been led to crave for a fresh assurance of faith, for the comfortable application of the promise, for deliverance in the hour of temptation, for help in the time of duty, and for succour in the day of trial. We have been compelled to go to God for our souls, as constant beggars asking for everything. Bear witness, children of God, you have never been able to get anything for your souls elsewhere. All the bread your soul has eaten has come down from heaven, and all the water of which it has drank has flowed from the living rock- Christ Jesus the Lord. Your soul has never grown rich in itself; it has always been a pensioner upon the daily bounty of God; and hence your prayers have ascended to heaven for a range of spiritual mercies all but infinite. Your wants were innumerable, and therefore the supplies have been infinitely great, and your prayers have been as varied as the mercies have been countless. Then have you not cause to say, "I love the Lord, because He hath heard the voice of my supplication"? For as your prayers have been many, so also have been God's answers to them. He has heard you in the day of trouble, has strengthened you, and helped you, even when you dishonoured Him by trembling and doubting at the mercy-seat. Remember this, and let it fill your heart with gratitude to God, who has thus graciously heard your poor weak prayers. "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits."

Beware of AI.

Israeli historian Yuval Harari said at the World Economic Forum that artificial intelligence will eventually take over all religious texts.

He predicts that AI will control every major world religion, including Christianity, Islam, and Judaism.

Harari pointed out that Judaism defines itself as the religion of the book, granting ultimate authority to words rather than to people.

“What happens when the greatest expert on the holy book is an AI?”

https://x.com/ShadowofEzra/status/2013629768587977088

God’s Word Superior to Man-Made Laws
An Intro to ‘The Movement to Overturn Obergefell’
https://johnhouk.substack.com/p/gods-word-superior-to-man-made-laws

SUMMARY: On June 26, 2015 SCOTUS ruled Same-Sex Marriage legal in a slim 5-4 vote with Obergefell v. Hodges case. This is the classic godless example of the so-called Living Constitution overshadowing the Originalist Constitution ignoring America’s Christian Roots and the overwhelming influence of Christianity upon America’s Founders (yup, even the so-called Deists). … There is an emerging movement to overturn SCOTUS Obergefell v. Hodges based on how Sam-Sex Marriage has been a disaster in subjecting children to Sam-Sex Parenting. …TAKE A LOOK!
#OverturnSameSexParenting #ProtectChildren

Fairfax county, with the help of anti-Christ party legislators, continued to keep the gender transitioning of school children a secret from parents under Governor Youngkin and now with the anti-Christ DEM party in control of Virginia, we cannot expect that to change for the better in the political realm.

It will only get worse as it will now spread statewide throughout Virginia The best recourse of action for Virginian parents at this point is to pull their children from the public school system
https://www.dailysignal.com/2025/04/23/fairfax-county-doubles-down-keeping-secrets-from-parents/

When Moses and Israel emerged safely from the Red Sea, having traveled through it on dry land, and having seen the Egyptians consumed by the sea returning to its place over that dry land, that sang a song to the Lord. That sang of His glory. They sang of His power. They sang of His salvation. They sang of who God is and what He does.

When we gather, we are encouraged by Scripture to do likewise. We are instructed to speak to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Eph. 5:19). We are told that by these psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs we should be teaching and admonishing one another (Col. 3:16). We are exhorted to sing with thankfulness in our hearts to God (Eph. 5:20, Col. 3:16).

Too many sing shallow, self-centered song supposing it to be “worship,” and much of it is often at odds with Scripture. This should never be!

Our songs should be deep, rich in their content, full of praise and wonder, focused on and directed toward our God and Father who loves us and watches over us.

This is how Israel sang upon their Exodus from Egypt. This is the manner in which David authored the Psalms he wrote. As David exclaims, “I will sing praises to You” (Ps. 138:`), and that the kings of the earth would “sing of the ways of the Lord” (Psalm. 138:5).

Are you singing of the ways of the Lord? Do you give thanks and praise Him with your voice, making a joyful noise to God (Ps. 66:1, 98:4)?

Let us sing to Him always, as did Moses and Israel, as did David, remembering, as the hymnist wrote (based on Lam. 3:22-23):

Great is thy faithfulness,
Great is thy faithfulness,
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed thy hand hast provided;
Great is thy faithfulness,
Lord unto me.

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Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening Devotions

Morning, February 1

"They shall sing in the ways of the Lord." Psalm 138:5

The time when Christians begin to sing in the ways of the Lord is when they first lose their burden at the foot of the Cross. Not even the songs of the angels seem so sweet as the first song of rapture which gushes from the inmost soul of the forgiven child of God. You know how John Bunyan describes it. He says when poor Pilgrim lost his burden at the Cross, he gave three great leaps, and went on his way singing:

"Blest Cross! blest Sepulchre! blest rather be
The Man that there was put to shame for me!"

Believer, do you recollect the day when your fetters fell off? Do you remember the place when Jesus met you, and said, "I have loved thee with an everlasting love; I have blotted out as a cloud thy transgressions, and as a thick cloud thy sins; they shall not be mentioned against thee any more for ever." Oh! what a sweet season is that when Jesus takes away the pain of sin. When the Lord first pardoned my sin, I was so joyous that I could scarce refrain from dancing. I thought on my road home from the house where I had been set at liberty, that I must tell the stones in the street the story of my deliverance. So full was my soul of joy, that I wanted to tell every snow-flake that was falling from heaven of the wondrous love of Jesus, who had blotted out the sins of one of the chief of rebels. But it is not only at the commencement of the Christian life that believers have reason for song; as long as they live they discover cause to sing in the ways of the Lord, and their experience of His constant lovingkindness leads them to say, "I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth." See to it, brother, that thou magnifiest the Lord this day.

"Long as we tread this desert land,
New mercies shall new songs demand."

Very well stated Article. Thank you, Jack.

On Christians, ICE, and Immigration Enforcement
https://jackwilkie.co/p/on-christians-ice-and-immigration?publication_id=1320202&post_id=185972705&isFreemail=true&r=6v3c8d&triedRedirect=true&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

Beloved brethren, be thankful that our salvation depends not upon our own righteousness. For as Paul wrote to Titus, “He saved us, not on the basis of our deeds done in righteousness” (Tit. 3:5). Likewise, Isaiah, tells us that “all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment” (Isa. 64.6). Isaiah’s description, though appearing mild in the English translation here, is rather appalling.

Yet so is our own righteousness in God’s eyes.

Thank God for the Lord Jesus Christ in whom we are made righteous before God. That righteousness that is accounted because of faith, as it was for Abraham when he believed God (Rom. 4:3). Our righteousness is not a righteousness of our own, but it is that which comes from God on the basis of faith (Phil. 3:9)

More so, Christ is our righteousness. It is His name - “The Lord our righteousness” (Jer. 23:6). Let us therefore be grateful that it does not depend on us, but on Him, who is righteous. Let us remember that the Lord our righteousness saved us, not because of our own righteousness, but despite our own unrighteousness and iniquity, on the basis of His mercy.

Always remember how blessed we are, as David sang, “whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered,” and “to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity!”

——————
Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening Devotions

Morning, January 31

"The Lord our Righteousness." Jeremiah 23:6

It will always give a Christian the greatest calm, quiet, ease, and peace, to think of the perfect righteousness of Christ. How often are the saints of God downcast and sad! I do not think they ought to be. I do not think they would if they could always see their perfection in Christ. There are some who are always talking about corruption, and the depravity of the heart, and the innate evil of the soul. This is quite true, but why not go a little further, and remember that we are "perfect in Christ Jesus." It is no wonder that those who are dwelling upon their own corruption should wear such downcast looks; but surely if we call to mind that "Christ is made unto us righteousness," we shall be of good cheer. What though distresses afflict me, though Satan assault me, though there may be many things to be experienced before I get to heaven, those are done for me in the covenant of divine grace; there is nothing wanting in my Lord, Christ hath done it all. On the cross He said, "It is finished!" and if it be finished, then am I complete in Him, and can rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory, "Not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith." You will not find on this side heaven a holier people than those who receive into their hearts the doctrine of Christ's righteousness. When the believer says, "I live on Christ alone; I rest on Him solely for salvation; and I believe that, however unworthy, I am still saved in Jesus;" then there rises up as a motive of gratitude this thought- "Shall I not live to Christ? Shall I not love Him and serve Him, seeing that I am saved by His merits?" "The love of Christ constraineth us," "that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves but unto Him which died for them." If saved by imputed righteousness, we shall greatly value imparted righteousness.

But how many hours is she willing to spend on undoing the lies her children are taught every school day?
https://www.christianpost.com/news/jen-wilkin-addresses-criticism-of-her-views-on-public-schools.html?utm_source=webapp&utm_medium=notification&utm_content=headline&utm_source=onesignal&utm_campaign=2023-03-01

The perfect Democrat, an ascending star indeed!
Bouncing checks...

"Christopher Hale has positioned himself as an ascending star in the Tennessee Democratic Party over the last two years..."

https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/congressional-candidate-hale-accused-broken-promises-and-bounced-checks

Brethren, on what do you set your sights daily? Is your aim success as the world defines it? Is it leisure? Perhaps it is more simple, more stoic, to “live and let live” as they say.

Forget not, we are but sojourners here; our citizenship is in heaven (Phil. 3:20). And so should be our focus.

Jesus exhorted that where our treasure is, so would our hearts be (Mt. 6:21). So Paul exhorts that we look not at those things visible and temporal, but we see beyond to those things which are invisible and eternal, we look to “the things which are not seen” (2 Cor. 4:18).

Do not let that which is around you distract you from the goal. Run the race “in such a way that you may win” (1 Cor. 9:24). We have not been left without guidance to wander aimless in this world. We have God’s word, we know what lies ahead, and we know how to get there. So, “as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul” (1 Pet. 2:11). Discipline yourself so that you will not be “disqualified” (1 Cor. 9:27). Present yourself as a living and holy sacrifice to the one true God, and be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Rom. 12:1-2).

Never weary of doing the Lord’s work (1 Cor. 15:58). Then in the end, we shall receive an imperishable wreath (1 Cor. 9:25), an “unfading crown of glory” (1 Pet. 5:4), and be blessed to hear the words from our Lord, “well done, good and faithful servant” (Mt. 25:21).

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Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening Devotions

Morning, January 29

"The things which are not seen." 2 Corinthians 4:18

In our Christian pilgrimage it is well, for the most part, to be looking forward. Forward lies the crown, and onward is the goal. Whether it be for hope, for joy, for consolation, or for the inspiring of our love, the future must, after all, be the grand object of the eye of faith. Looking into the future we see sin cast out, the body of sin and death destroyed, the soul made perfect, and fit to be a partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light. Looking further yet, the believer's enlightened eye can see death's river passed, the gloomy stream forded, and the hills of light attained on which standeth the celestial city; he seeth himself enter within the pearly gates, hailed as more than conqueror, crowned by the hand of Christ, embraced in the arms of Jesus, glorified with Him, and made to sit together with Him on His throne, even as He has overcome and has sat down with the Father on His throne. The thought of this future may well relieve the darkness of the past and the gloom of the present. The joys of heaven will surely compensate for the sorrows of earth. Hush, hush, my doubts! death is but a narrow stream, and thou shalt soon have forded it. Time, how short- eternity, how long! Death, how brief- immortality, how endless! Methinks I even now eat of Eshcol's clusters, and sip of the well which is within the gate. The road is so, so short! I shall soon be there.

"When the world my heart is rending
With its heaviest storm of care,
My glad thoughts to heaven ascending,
Find a refuge from despair.
Faith's bright vision shall sustain me
Till life's pilgrimage is past;
Fears may vex and troubles pain me,
I shall reach my home at last."

Believer, are you perfect? Of course not; no one is. We are on our way, and in “that day,” we will be truly complete. Until then, the Christian life, the true Christian life, is not one of ease. There are peaks and valleys, twists and turns, trials and tribulations (Jn. 16:33).

We all fail from time to time, some more than others. It is the nature of humanity. Paul struggled to do what he knew to be right, as he explains in Romans 7. Our flesh wishes to dominate, but we must walk in the spirit that we might not indulge the flesh (Gal. 5:16-24).

When failure comes, as it inevitably does, we must learn from it and move past it, put it behind and forget it, pressing forward toward our goal (Phil. 3:13-14).

Moreover, we must remember that, while we seek to be “complete in Christ” (Col. 1:28), it is not merely by our own effort. Let us share in Paul’s confidence that “He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:6).

His goal is that He might present us “holy and blameless” before our Father (Col. 1:22), therefore, let us continue in our faith knowing that He will make us “perfect” for that day.

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Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening Devotions

Morning, January 28

"Perfect in Christ Jesus." Colossians 1:28

Do you not feel in your own soul that perfection is not in you? Does not every day teach you that? Every tear which trickles from your eye, weeps "imperfection"; every harsh word which proceeds from your lip, mutters "imperfection." You have too frequently had a view of your own heart to dream for a moment of any perfection in yourself. But amidst this sad consciousness of imperfection, here is comfort for you- you are "perfect in Christ Jesus." In God's sight, you are "complete in Him;" even now you are "accepted in the Beloved." But there is a second perfection, yet to be realized, which is sure to all the seed. Is it not delightful to look forward to the time when every stain of sin shall be removed from the believer, and he shall be presented faultless before the throne, without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing? The Church of Christ then will be so pure, that not even the eye of Omniscience will see a spot or blemish in her; so holy and so glorious, that Hart did not go beyond the truth when he said:

"With my Saviour's garments on,
Holy as the Holy One."

Then shall we know, and taste, and feel the happiness of this vast but short sentence, "Complete in Christ." Not till then shall we fully comprehend the heights and depths of the salvation of Jesus. Doth not thy heart leap for joy at the thought of it? Black as thou art, thou shalt be white one day; filthy as thou art, thou shalt be clean. Oh, it is a marvellous salvation this! Christ takes a worm and transforms it into an angel; Christ takes a black and deformed thing and makes it clean and matchless in His glory, peerless in His beauty, and fit to be the companion of seraphs. O my soul, stand and admire this blessed truth of perfection in Christ.

This is how Christians should respond when Jews try to quote our Scriptures to us.

https://x.com/i/status/2015905203548041229