“I thank my God…always in every prayer of mine for you all, making my prayer with joy, thankful for your partnership with the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ…I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace…For God is my witness…It is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge AND discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, FILLED with the fruits of RIGHTEOUSNESS that come through Jesus Christ, to glory and praise of God” Philippians 1:3-11
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight…and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, LOOKING TO JESUS, the pioneer and perfecter of our FAITH, who for the JOY set before him endured the Cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the Right hand of the Throne of God” Hebrews 12:1-2
“Count it ALL joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials, for you know that the testing of your FAITH produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have it FULL EFFECT, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” James 1:2
In Christ Alone by Stewart Townend:
“In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid Ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand.
In Christ alone! – who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe.
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live.
There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ
No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.
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