Selfishness

The more spiritually you grow, the more you realize just how much your thoughts are actually focused on yourself. Even the thoughts that formerly seemed good and acceptable all of the sudden look selfish. Only then do the words "look to Jesus" finally take on real meaning.

 

Doctrine 

You can have all of your doctrines right yet still not have the presence of God.

The Book of Hosea

 

Steps to knowing God:

Hosea, perhaps more than any other prophet, reveals the loving heart of God. God desires to bless, not to chastise His people. The Lord puts a premium value on His relationship with us.

Guidelines for Growing in Godliness:

Paul caught the essence of godliness when he wrote, “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children" (Eph 5:1). 

Just as God called Hosea to live out His undying, eternal love for His people by instructing him to marry an unfaithful woman, He callus to illustrate His Word and His very character in the way we live.

Meditation

When you think about a problem over and over in your mind that is called worry. When you think about God’s word over and over again in your mind that is meditation. So, if you know how to worry then you already know how to meditate.

Evangelism

.. The men and women whom God uses … have moved out of religious routine into the winds of the Holy Spirit.

.. The essential thing is the anointing of God. Until you do have that, all else is presumption. When you have His orders, it is presumption not to obey.

2 Chronicles 7:14

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 

While this is a passage often emphasized when talking about the problems with nations and governments, let's remember that the truest application of this must find its home in us and in our churches. We can begin revival in our land if we will commit to daily prayer, weekly fasting, and hearts yearning for God to enter our world and transform it.