That Saturday challenge

I am need of a heart check. It is always amazing how I get challenged with my own life and junk, right before I am about to preach. I was forced earlier today to look at the proverty of my own heart and realized that I was responding to my wife and some life circumstances 180 degrees from what I am going to exhort the congregation tomorrow morning. I have to preach the sermon to myself before I preach it to my church. It wasn't too soon after I responded in the way I did, that the Lord brought to mind all that I had been studying this past week. I immediatly went to the cross and to the feet of Jesus, and repented of my unbelief. I repented to my wife and asked her to forgive me. Preaching isn't merely an exercise of studying some text and expounding on it, but more than that- preaching is a means that God uses to bring about santification for the pastor. If you are reading this on Saturday - pray for me tomorrow morning.