Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

“If you pray for bread and bring no basket to carry it, you prove the doubting spirit which may be the only hinderance to the gift you ask.” ~ D.L. Moody

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

“God saved us to make us holy, not happy. Some experiences may not contribute to our happiness, but all can be made to contribute to our holiness.” ~ Vance Havner

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.

“The conduct of our lives is the only proof of the sincerity of our hearts.” ~ Robert Wilson

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade–kept in heaven for you.

“Christ is the Son of God. He died to atone for men’s sin, and after three days rose again. This is the most important fact in the universe. I die believing in Christ.” ~ Watchman Nee (in a note found under his pillow, in prison, at his death)

We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

“Our old history ends with the cross; our new history begins with the resurrection.” ~ Watchman Nee

34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save his lifen will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?

“Request grace with your dying breath, and God hears your prayer. Whoever means “whenever.”  And one more: whoever means “wherever.” Wherever you are, you’re not too far to come home.” ~ Max Lucado

18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

“It is often supposed that when people stop believing in God, they believe in nothing. Alas, it is worse than that. When they stop believing in God, they believe in anything.” ~ G.K. Chesterton

7 I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these things.

“One of the marks of spiritual maturity is the quiet confidence that God is in control - without the need to understand why He does what He does.” ~ Unknown

He replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, `Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. “

“Little is much when God is in it!” ~ Kittie Suffield

66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. 67 “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”

“More than once Jesus deliberately addressed certain issues that quickly diminished the number of onlookers…it was commitment that thinned the ranks.” ~ Chuck Swindoll