A Devotion from Charles Spurgeon

“The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds

is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land.”

—Song of Solomon 2:12

Sweet is the season of spring: the long and dreary winter helps us to appreciate its genial

warmth, and its promise of summer enhances its present delights. After periods of depression

of spirit, it is delightful to behold again the light of the Sun of Righteousness; then our

slumbering graces rise from their lethargy, like the crocus and the daffodil from their beds of

earth; then is our heart made merry with delicious notes of gratitude, far more melodious than

the warbling of birds—and the comforting assurance of peace, infinitely more delightful than

the turtle’s note, is heard within the soul. Now is the time for the soul to seek communion with

her Beloved; now must she rise from her native sordidness, and come away from her old

associations. If we do not hoist the sail when the breeze is favourable, we shall be

blameworthy: times of refreshing ought not to pass over us unimproved. When Jesus himself

visits us in tenderness, and entreats us to arise, can we be so base as to refuse his request? He

has himself risen that he may draw us after him: he now by his Holy Spirit has revived us, that

we may, in newness of life, ascend into the heavenlies, and hold communion with himself. Let

our wintry state suffice us for coldness and indifference; when the Lord creates a spring within,

let our sap flow with vigour, and our branch blossom with high resolve. O Lord, if it be not

spring time in my chilly heart, I pray thee make it so, for I am heartily weary of living at a

distance from thee. Oh! the long and dreary winter, when wilt thou bring it to an end? Come,

Holy Spirit, and renew my soul! quicken thou me! restore me, and have mercy on me! This very

night I would earnestly implore the Lord to take pity upon his servant, and send me a happy

revival of spiritual life!