Most of us, I suspect, don’t think about getting ready for worship until much later in the week—if we truly prepare at all for gathering with the people on Sunday. It’s Monday, so it’s early in the week; yet, that fact also gives us time to prepare our hearts for the worship gathering this coming weekend. Perhaps one of these quotes will grab your attention:
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I believe that personal preparation is essential in our worship of God. That preparation is not always a pleasant thing and must include some revolutionary changes. Some things must be destroyed in your life. The gospel of Jesus Christ is not only constructive, but it is also destructive, destroying certain elements in you that should not be there, impeding worship. The fire in the burning bush only consumed those elements that should not be there. And so, as we yield ourselves to the operations of the Holy Spirit, He will begin routing out those elements in our life that impede worship; and that is both satisfying to us and acceptable to God.
A.W.. Tozer, The Purpose of Man: Designed to Worship (pp. 128-129). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
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How can we worship God publicly once each week when we do not care to worship Him privately throughout the week? Can we expect the flames of our worship of God to burn brightly in public on the Lord’s Day when they barely flicker for Him in secret on other days? Could it be that our corporate worship experience often dissatisfies us because we do not pursue satisfying worship in private?
Donald S. Whitney, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life (p. 112). The Navigators. Kindle Edition.
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There is no getting around it: worship requires discipline. We are to worship God “in spirit and in truth,” and this is impossible without discipline. We must discipline ourselves to know God’s truth so we can worship Him in truth. We must discipline our human spirits, so that authentic affections pour in spirit from our hearts to God. We must discipline ourselves in preparation for corporate worship, and that does not begin with the thirty seconds after we have breathlessly sat down.
On Saturday
- I have asked Christ to make me sensitive tomorrow to needs of people in the body who are hurting.
- I have solved the “Sunday clothes hassle” by making sure that what I will wear is ready today.
- I have spent time in confession so all will be right between myself and my Lord when we meet tomorrow.
- I have determined to get to bed early so I will be refreshed and ready for church tomorrow.
- I have planned on sustaining the delight of this time with Christ and his people by guarding against Sunday afternoon infringements.
On Sunday
- I have gotten up in plenty of time so I will not feel rushed.
- I have programmed my morning so I will not just arrive at church on time, but get there early.
- I have eaten a good breakfast, so an empty stomach will not detract from my worship.
- I have my Bible in hand plus a pen and paper for taking notes.
- I have left for church with a great sense of expectancy because I know Christ will be there.
R. Kent Hughes, Disciplines of a Godly Man. Crossway. Kindle Edition.