Heaven is your throne, and earth is Your footstool. There is no house or building we could build that would contain You or be satisfying to You when You are the Creator of the Earth, and all that lives there or is there. You have told us through Isaiah that You look with favor on those who are humble and with a contrite in spirit, those who tremble at Your word. (From Isaiah 66:1&2)
Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many things.
Holy Spirit help me to rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for me. I will not quench the Spirit. I will not despise prophecies. I will test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstaining from every form of evil. I will do my best to present myself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. Avoiding godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.
In fact, because I want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus I will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and be deceived. But as for me, I will continue in what I have learned and have become convinced of, because I know those from whom I have learned it from, and how even in infancy I have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make me wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. I also understand that all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that I a man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
I will humble myself, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift me up in due time. I will cast all my anxiety on Him because He cares for me. I will be self-controlled and alert. Our enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. I need to resist him, standing firm in the faith, because I am aware that my brothers and sisters throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called me to His eternal glory in Christ, after I have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To Him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
[1Corinthians 15:58; 1Corinthians 16:13; 2Corinthians 1:9-11; 1Thessalonians 5:16-22; 2 Timothy 2:15&16; 2 Timothy 3:12-15; 2Timothy 3:16&17; 1Peter 5:6-11]