concentration

¹³Everything is possible in him who has strengthened me.

⁷For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of virtue, and of love, and of self-restraint.

²⁵And one who competes in a contest abstains from all things. And they do this, of course, so that they may achieve a corruptible crown. But we do this, so that we may achieve what is incorruptible. ²⁶And so I run, but not with uncertainty. And so I fight, but not by flailing in the air. ²⁷Instead, I chastise my body, so as to redirect it into servitude. Otherwise, I might preach to others, but become myself an outcast.

²Consider the things that are above, not the things that are upon the earth.

²And do not choose to be conformed to this age, but instead choose to be reformed in the newness of your mind, so that you may demonstrate what is the will of God: what is good, and what is well-pleasing, and what is perfect.

²⁸Come to me, all you who labor and have been burdened, and I will refresh you.

⁵and height that extols itself contrary to the wisdom of God, and leading every intellect into the captivity of obedience to Christ,

⁸I will give you understanding, and I will instruct you in this way, in which you will walk. I will fix my eyes upon you.

²You desire, and you do not have. You envy and you kill, and you are unable to obtain. You argue and you fight, and you do not have, because you do not ask.

¹And so, I beg you, brothers, by the mercy of God, that you offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, with the subservience of your mind.

¹For I want you to know the kind of solicitude that I have for you, and for those who are at Laodicea, as well as for those who have not seen my face in the flesh. ²May their hearts be consoled and instructed in charity, with all the riches of a plenitude of understanding, with knowledge of the mystery of God the Father and of Christ Jesus. ³For in him are hidden all treasures of wisdom and knowledge. ⁴Now I say this, so that no one may deceive you with grandiose words. ⁵For though I may be absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit. And I rejoice as I gaze upon your order and its foundation, which is in Christ, your faith. ⁶Therefore, just as you have received the Lord Jesus Christ, walk in him.

⁸Concerning the rest, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is chaste, whatever is just, whatever is holy, whatever is worthy to be loved, whatever is of good repute, if there is any virtue, if there is any praiseworthy discipline: meditate on these.

⁵And Joshua said to the people: “Be sanctified. For tomorrow the Lord will accomplish miracles among you.”

¹⁸You need not call to mind the past, nor consider the things of antiquity. ¹⁹Behold, I am accomplishing new things. And presently, they will spring forth. With certainty, you will know them. I will make a way in the desert, and rivers in an impassible place.

¹³Let us all listen together to the end of the discourse. Fear God, and observe his commandments. This is everything for man.