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Psalm 84:2
“My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.”

Saturdays can easily become days of errands, chores, and catching up on what the week left undone. But for the believer, Saturday holds a sacred purpose: preparation. Not merely preparing clothes or schedules, but preparing the heart. Psalm 84 is the cry of a soul that longs—achingly, desperately—for the presence of God. It reminds us that worship is not something we stumble into casually; it is approached with longing.

The psalmist does not say his soul ought to long for God. He says it does. His entire being “crieth out for the living God.” What a contrast to the modern churchgoer who arrives distracted, hurried, and emotionally fragmented. Worship requires a heart that has been warmed before the fire, not one arriving cold at the door.

This longing does not happen by accident. It is cultivated. A revived heart prepares itself for worship long before the first hymn is sung. On Saturday, the believer clears away internal clutter—unconfessed sin, unresolved conflict, unnecessary noise. Anything that competes for attention must be quieted so that the soul can hear again.

Preparation is an act of honor. When you prepare for worship, you declare that God deserves your best, not your leftovers. You declare that gathering with His people is holy, beautiful, and weighty. You declare that Sunday is not a routine but a meeting with the King of Glory.

There is also a tenderness in preparation. When you spend Saturday praying over the service, over the sermon, over the hearts who will gather, you align yourself with God’s heart. Worship becomes not merely something you receive but something you bring. You step into the sanctuary as a participant, not a spectator.

The psalmist’s language is intense—“longeth,” “fainteth,” “crieth out.” Revival often begins with restored longing. Not longing for experiences or emotional highs, but longing for God Himself. That is the cry of Psalm 84, and it is the cry of every awakened soul.

So today, slow down. Turn off the noise. Sit before the Lord. Pray for tomorrow’s service for ten minutes—pray for your pastor, your congregation, your own heart. Let worship begin on Saturday so that when Sunday dawns, your soul is already rising to meet Him.