I became friends with a lady at church several years ago, and we really hit if off.  We enjoyed doing a lot of the same things, and started spending a fair amount of time together.  It was really nice having a close girl friend to hang out with, but then things changed.  I started to feel like I was being used by her. We would go to a movie or lunch, and she didn't have enough money, so I would pay for her, which was okay, but it didn't really get reciprocated, and she was never thankful. When things got rough, she was nowhere around, but when things were going good, she was always around to get her share.

I was thinking about this friend the other day, and it occurred to me that our relationship was a lot like my relationship with God at times.  It's easy to just take, and not give back, and it's really easy to just "use God" when I need Him, and not have a daily relationship with Him, no matter what.  These thoughts really convicted me of how important it is for me to rely on Him every day, in every situation, and to show Him how thankful I am to Him for saving me and for giving me an incredible life.  None of us likes feeling used... and I'm sure God doesn't appreciate it either.