Spirit of power

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1.7

Fear is a spirit that dwells in the minds of those who are distant from the Creator. However, this same spirit is empowering those who are possessed by it to do what is evil.
But the Spirit of God gives us power to overcome evil, love to love even our enemies and a sound mind, which means balance, not to be radical.

The outcry

"This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles." Psalms 34.6

The poor man from this passage was the Psalmist himself. He cried and was heard, not because he deserved, but because of the faith in the compassion of the Almighty, expressed through his outcry.
That's how it works: God does not take into account the degree of the sin one commits, nor its amount, much less professed religion, but a sincere expression of faith in His Word.

Temperance

"And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown." I Corinthians 9.25

Competitive athletes undergo strict training, dieting and exemplary discipline. They make real sacrifices hunting for medals and the glory of this world. Even so, in time, their glory and accomplishments are forgotten.
The same does not happen to the true glory, which is reserved to the loyal and faithful to the Lord of Eternal Glory.

Sandalwood tree

“How lovely are your tents, O Jacob! Your dwellings, O Israel! Like valleys that stretch out, like gardens by the riverside, like aloes planted by the Lord,Like cedars beside the waters." Numbers 24.5-6

When the Holy Spirit makes His dwelling in the human heart, there is no way for sorrows, disappointments, annoyances and other evils remain. Instead, the person is like sandalwood tree (tree whose wood is fragrant) that the Lord has planted, like cedars beside the waters. That is, they become the perfume of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Stone or flesh

"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." Ezekiel 36.26

This promise relates to the days after the ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ. But why not everybody receives the Holy Spirit? Because not everyone has been dedicating themselves  body, soul and spirit to receive it. Not all give up sin. Then, it really is hard to receive new heart and spirit.

Which is greater?

"Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold? [...] Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift?" Matthew 23.17-19

Tithes and offerings carry a revelation in itself: what is in the offering giver's heart.
Firstfruits show faithfulness and offerings reveal love.
While there was no sin in the world, tithes and offerings were not necessary, since the communion between the creature and the Creator was perfect. With sin came the moral and spiritual corruption. Therefore, God established the tithe and offerings to prove the heart of those who approached Him.

Abominable prayer

"One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination." Proverbs 28.9

Those who despise the counsel of God will have no one to turn to when calamity strikes. And then they ask, "Where is the Lord God?"