Morning and Evening Devotional with C. H. Spurgeon May 21, 2026

Morning

Scripture (ESV): “If indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.” — 1 Peter 2:3

Morning Devotional

If:—then, this is not a matter to be taken for granted concerning every one of the human race. “If:”—then there is a possibility and a probability that some may not have tasted that the Lord is gracious. “If:”—then this is not a general but a special mercy; and it is needful to enquire whether we know the grace of God by inward experience. There is no spiritual favour which may not be a matter for heart-searching.

But while this should be a matter of earnest and prayerful inquiry, no one ought to be content whilst there is any such thing as an “if” about his having tasted that the Lord is gracious. A jealous and holy distrust of self may give rise to the question even in the believer’s heart, but the continuance of such a doubt would be an evil indeed. We must not rest without a desperate struggle to clasp the Saviour in the arms of faith, and say, “I know whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him.” Do not rest, O believer, till thou hast a full assurance of thine interest in Jesus. Let nothing satisfy thee till, by the infallible witness of the Holy Spirit bearing witness with thy spirit, thou art certified that thou art a child of God. Oh, trifle not here; let no “perhaps” and “peradventure” and “if” and “maybe” satisfy thy soul. Build on eternal verities, and verily build upon them. Get the sure mercies of David, and surely get them. Let thine anchor be cast into that which is within the veil, and see to it that thy soul be linked to the anchor by a cable that will not break. Advance beyond these dreary “ifs;” abide no more in the wilderness of doubts and fears; cross the Jordan of distrust, and enter the Canaan of peace, where the Canaanite still lingers, but where the land ceaseth not to flow with milk and honey.

Morning Reflection

It’s easy to drift through our days assuming we’ve truly tasted the Lord’s goodness. Spurgeon gently presses us here. The little word “if” is not meant to frighten us, but to wake us up. Have we really known His grace for ourselves, or are we living on second-hand faith? The invitation is to move from assumption to assurance — to settle the matter in our hearts until we can say with quiet confidence, “I know whom I have believed.”

Morning Nectared Goad

Is there still a quiet “if” lingering in your heart about your relationship with the Lord? What would it look like today to press in until that “if” becomes a settled “I know”?

Evening

Scripture (ESV): “There is grain in Egypt.” — Genesis 42:2

Evening Devotional

Famine pinched all the nations, and it seemed inevitable that Jacob and his family should suffer great want; but the God of providence, who never forgets the objects of electing love, had stored a granary for his people by giving the Egyptians warning of the scarcity, and leading them to treasure up the grain of the years of plenty. Little did Jacob expect deliverance from Egypt, but there was the corn in store for him. Believer, though all things are apparently against thee, rest assured that God has made a reservation on thy behalf; in the roll of thy griefs there is a saving clause. Somehow he will deliver thee, and somewhere he will provide for thee. The quarter from which thy rescue shall arise may be a very unexpected one, but help will assuredly come in thine extremity, and thou shalt magnify the name of the Lord. If men do not feed thee, ravens shall; and if earth yield not wheat, heaven shall drop with manna. Therefore be of good courage, and rest quietly in the Lord. God can make the sun rise in the west if he pleases, and make the source of distress the channel of delight. The corn in Egypt was all in the hands of the beloved Joseph; he opened or closed the granaries at will. And so the riches of providence are all in the absolute power of our Lord Jesus, who will dispense them liberally to his people. Joseph was abundantly ready to succour his own family; and Jesus is unceasing in his faithful care for his brethren. Our business is to go after the help which is provided for us: we must not sit still in despondency, but bestir ourselves. Prayer will bear us soon into the presence of our royal Brother: once before his throne we have only to ask and have: his stores are not exhausted; there is corn still: his heart is not hard, he will give the corn to us. Lord, forgive our unbelief, and this evening constrain us to draw largely from thy fulness and receive grace for grace.

Evening Reflection

Spurgeon reminds us that even when life feels like a famine, God has already made provision. The “corn in Egypt” was not an accident — it was stored up in advance by a wise and caring Joseph. In the same way, our Lord Jesus holds the keys to every storehouse we might need. The question is not whether help exists, but whether we will stir ourselves to go after it.

Evening Nectared Goad

When everything around you feels dry and empty, where are you looking for “corn”? Are you sitting still in discouragement, or are you stirring yourself to seek the Lord who has already made provision?

Tie-In

The morning calls us to move from doubt to settled assurance that we have tasted the Lord’s goodness. The evening reminds us that even when life feels like a famine, our faithful Provider has already stored up what we need. The same Lord who invites us to know Him personally is the One who holds the keys to every storehouse. We do not have to live with a lingering “if.” We can come boldly, ask freely, and rest confidently — because the One who is good has already made provision for His children.