Hosea 7

Despite being warned by earlier Old Testament figures, Israel still runs to other nations for security rather than setting themselves apart for God. The nations guilt is increased according to what it has heard as greater knowledge means greater accountability. In the concluding verses, Israel wail into their beds (turmoil) and yet did not wail to God. They may have prayed here and there, offered sacrifices etc but they did not resort to God or place Him as their top priority. 

There is a reason I've distanced myself from women and so in a very sincere and hopeful way, this chapter was encouraging. The old habit of confiding in women is hard to kill off but I do not want my faith to be circumstantial and neither for my work in the kingdom to be conditional. When I go through trials my backbone must be God, not P Matt or Gloria or anyone else! I'm scared of not aspiring to the spiritual maturity that is lacking among some men in our western churches, I want to be radical in the kingdom. For this to be a reality, I must run to and seek approval solely from God and bury my face in scripture, not human intimacy. 

Prayer/response:
- Run to scripture and prayer when I'm in trouble, not people
- Be more welcoming at Cheil, stop using being burnt out as an excuse or petty entitlements
- Set more time aside in the morning for Bible reading