"Lord, you have been our dwelling place     in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth,     or ever you had formed the earth and the world,     from everlasting to everlasting you are God" (Psalm 90:1-2, ESV). "Nevertheless, I am continually with you;     you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel,     and afterward you will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but you?     And there is nothing on earth that I desire . . .

"Why do you say, O Jacob,     and speak, O Israel, 'My way is hidden from the Lord,     and my right is disregarded by my God'? Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God,     the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary;     his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint,     and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be . . .

"For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself'" (Galatians 5:13–14, ESV). "if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, 'Everyone . . .

"I lift up my eyes to the hills.     From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord,     who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved;     he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel     will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper;     the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day,     nor . . .

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so . . .

"For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he . . .

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was 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, ESV). "But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear . . .

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:34–35, ESV). "Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw . . .