Our thoughts in this present life should turn on the praise of God, because it is in praising God that we shall rejoice forever in the life to come; and no one can be ready for the next life unless he trains himself for it now. So we praise God during our earthly life, and at the same time make our petitions to him. - St. Augustine, Discourse on the Psalms (*Christian Prayer* p. 2000)
Somehow this reminds me of the old saw one Baptist preacher used to bring out from time to time: "If you can't drag yourselves out to Wednesday night Prayer Meetin', what makes you think you are going to enjoy the non-stop worship in heaven?"
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