Duty, Preparation for – Charles Spurgeon

EARNESTNESS says: “I shall undertake some fresh duty this afternoon.” Stop, dear brother, just a minute. If you want to praise God, would not it be as well first to begin with yourself? The musician said: “I will praise God better;” but the pipes of his instrument were foul; he had better look to them first. If the strings have slipped from their proper tension, it will be well to correct them before beginning the tune. If we would praise God more, it is not to be done as boys rush into a bath—head first. No; prepare yourself; make your heart ready. You need the Spirit’s aid to make your soul fit for praising God. It is not every fool’s work. Go, then, to your chamber, confess the sins of the past, and ask the Lord to give you much more grace that you may begin to praise him.