A Prayer for the Church by Chelsea Dementias, read by Leah Martin.

If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit, Galatians 5.25.

Have you ever walked around thinking you knew God's Word said something, perhaps even shared

it as an absolute truth, and then only to find out it wasn't in His Word at all?

I speak this with conviction.

For years I took what others said about the Lord in His Word, and made that the absolute

truth of what God had said.

In this generation of Christianity, we see more people sharing what they prefer Scripture

to say, rather than knowing what it actually says.

And this has been fumbling around in my head for some time.

It struck me one day as I sat with Galatians 5.25.

It says, if we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

That led me to look at the social media pages of churches across America.

And I felt sick afterward.

They were flooded with pastors' quotes, slick outfits, and stunning worship sets.

Not much mention of the one whom the church is there to worship.

Is this really the example of living by the Spirit that we can give?

Well, I don't believe that this is the entire reason the American church lacks desire

to grow in knowledge and understanding of the Lord.

I do believe it's a big part of it.

The American church has become an experience, one that elevates the words,

looks, and fleeting emotions of man over elevating the only one worthy of our praise.

...