A few weeks ago I wrote about a personal routine that I rehearse in the moments before walking up to preach. I want to now briefly consider a practice that preachers can perform when walking down from preaching God’s word.

I remember times in years gone by when I would preach, step down from the pulpit, and think to myself, “That was good. I may have even killed it.”

Those were the good ‘ol days.

These days I seem to preach, step down from the pulpit, and immediately think to myself, “Well, there’s always next week. God, help me do better.” I’m sure that anyone who preaches with any regularity can sympathize. Maybe your experience of doubt or despair takes a few hours longer to germinate, but I bet it shows up nonetheless. We need wisdom from the Spirit to discern whether these groanings of the soul are wrought by God to remind us of our weakness and His sufficiency, or if they are fire-tipped arrows from the Devil to crush our confidence in Christ’s word.

When he walked up to preach Spurgeon was said to repeat with each step, “I believe in the Holy Spirit.” Brother preacher, let’s be diligent to repeat the same thing when we walk down those same steps. When you walk down from preaching renew your faith in the Spirit’s power and gird the loins of your soul with this truth:

“The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Heb. 4:12).

Insofar as you are faithful to declare the truth of God’s word and the mystery of His gospel, your words have this kind of power.¹