Evening by Evening

It is Charles Spurgeon's evening devotional — a Scripture text and a short, searching meditation for the close of each day of the year. It is the evening half of his beloved Morning and Evening, written to draw the weary heart back to Christ before rest, and remains one of the most widely used daily devotionals in the English language.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon was the most famous English preacher of the nineteenth century, the 'Prince of Preachers,' who addressed thousands each week in London. Alongside his preaching he wrote prolifically, and his daily devotionals have kept his warm, Christ-centred voice at the bedsides and firesides of believers long after his death.

The two are the halves of Spurgeon's Morning and Evening, which gives two readings for each day. Morning by Morning is the set meant to begin the day; Evening by Evening is the set meant to close it — often a little more reflective and searching, written to send the reader to rest leaning on Christ after the day's labours.

Warm and Christ-centred, but often more reflective than the morning ones — suited to the day's end. Spurgeon writes to comfort the weary, search the conscience gently, and draw the tired heart back to the Saviour before sleep, so that the reader closes the day resting in Christ rather than in their own doings.

As a reading for each evening of the year, each pairing a short verse or phrase of Scripture with a brief meditation. It is designed to be used one evening at a time, providing a focused, restful portion of truth to end the day, and can be paired with Morning by Morning for a complete daily rhythm.

No — though dated through the year, the readings can be taken up on any evening and followed forward. Each entry stands on its own, so a reader may begin whenever they wish and simply follow the dates around, using the book as a year-long companion for the close of each day.

For any Christian wanting a short, substantial reading to end the day with God — brief enough for a tired evening, rich enough to settle the heart before rest. Generations have valued it as a faithful nightly meeting with Christ through the words of a beloved preacher, whether used alone or with its morning companion.

At today's date, and then one evening at a time. Like Spurgeon's other daily books, it is meant to be lived with across a year rather than read straight through, so the best way to begin is simply to take up tonight's reading and let it draw the heart back to Christ before rest.