Ecclesiastes 5:1-2,“Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Better to approach in obedience than to offer the sacrifice as fools do, for they ignorantly do wrong. Do not be hasty to speak, and do not be impulsive to make a speech before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.”

This verse is a reminder to show reverence to God when we enter the church building. Although church is a time of fellowship, even more importantly it is a time to worship the Lord, pray, and hear what He wants to say to us. When we are in God’s house, we should speak less and listen more. He speaks to us corporately through the sermons we hear, but He also speaks to us individually.

When we are in church, we should have a praying spirit and be ready to hear and receive whatever it is God wants to tell us. There is a lot going on in churches, and there are various forms of activities and entertainment. However, let us not forget our main purpose for being there. We serve a God who has a great work for us to do, and we need to hear His voice so we can be ready to execute.

I remember a couple of years ago walking into the church trying to get to the sanctuary, but first I had to make my way through the donut section, with the big screen T.V. This area of course, was filled with people who were talking, eating donuts, and watching the worship service on the big screen T.V, the same worship service that was going on live in the sanctuary. I clearly heard the Lord’s voice say, “These people need to pray.”

That is a moment I’ll never forget.

I don’t think the Lord is against donuts, but I do believe He was saying that day and now in the present, we need to be reverent of Him, aware of His presence, and keep His perspective at all times. When we lose sight of what He desires, it’s detrimental to our relationship with Him, and the purpose He has for the church of Jesus Christ.

Let us pray that “thy will be done” in our churches, and that we would follow God’s command to pray.