What is your first thought after you finish praying? Perhaps you pray and get up and act as if nothing is going to happen. One could argue that to pray without expectation of God moving and answering your prayers is purely a religious exercise. Perhaps the person feels they have accomplished something "spiritual." However, prayer is not to be considered a religous exercise. Rather, prayer is birthed out of a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. I say it that way

Trials can take a toll on our relationship with God. A trial that comes and is quickly resolved can be somewhat easy. However, the trial that comes and doesn't go away can be very difficult. In these types of trials our faith is really put to the test. Our view of God can really be put to the test. Our relationship with God can be hindered. Asaph was a man not unlike each one of us. He was tried and tested. The comfort he longed for seemed to elude him even though he

I had the opportunity to run track at the collegiate level. The experience was both fun and challenging. My primary event was the 400 intermediate hurdles. Simply put, I ran one lap as hard as I could run and jumped ten hurdles in the process. The race was over in a very short amount of time. This is the antithesis of the Christian run. Many of us are living for a day that could be a bit more distant than my 400 intermediate hurdle finish line. In the book of Philippia