Lift up your eyes on high, and see who has created these things..

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that He considered me trustworthy, appointing me to His service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown You and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.

Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules.

Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

We’ve lost a clear, Bible-informed view of sin. We don’t think of it as a violation of God’s law and character. We don’t define it as a rejection of his rule in our lives. We don’t acknowledge that sin is rebellion, a willful choice from a heart to make something besides God our ultimate concern. we don’t call sin “sin”. We excuse it, overlook it, and rename it.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

On my bed I remember you;
I think of you through the watches of the night.
Because you are my help,
I sing in the shadow of your wings.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.

He is the God of the living, not of the dead, for to Him all are alive.