Hebrews 12:1-4 - Do you see what this means -- all these pioneers who blazed the way, the great cloud of witnesses, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running -- and never quit!  No extra spiritual fat, lay aside every weight, no parasitic sins.  2  Keep your eyes on and consider Jesus, who both began and finished this race of faith that we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed -- that exhilarating finish in and with God -- he could put up with anything along the way:  The Cross, shame, whatever.   And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God at His throne.  3 When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again by considering Jesus, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls and you won't grow weary and lose heart!  4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

"As Christians, we see the unseen. We conquer by yielding.  We find rest under a yoke.  We reign by serving.  We are made great by becoming small.  We are exalted, when we are humble.  We become wise, by becoming fools for Christ.  We are made free by becoming bondservants.  We gain strength through weakness.  We triumph in defeat.  We live by dying."
Richard P. Hansenis

Matthew 16:24-26- Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself [disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself and his own interests] and take up his cross and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying, also].   25  For whoever is bent on saving his [temporal] life [his comfort and security here] shall lose it [eternal life]; and whoever loses his life [his comfort and security here] for My sake shall find it [life everlasting].   26  For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life [his blessed life in the kingdom of God]? Or what would a man give as an exchange for his [blessed] life [in the kingdom of God]?

Judges 16:25-30 - While they were in high spirits, they shouted, "Bring out Samson to entertain us." So they called Samson out of the prison, and he performed for them.  When they stood him among the pillars,  26  Samson said to the servant who held his hand, "Put me where I can feel the pillars that support the temple, so that I may lean against them."  27 Now the temple was crowded with men and women; all the rulers of the Philistines were there, and on the roof were about three thousand men and women watching Samson perform.  28 Then Samson prayed to the LORD, "O LORD, remember me. O God, please strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes."  29  Then Samson reached toward the two central pillars on which the temple stood. Bracing himself against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other,  30  Samson said, "Let me die with the Philistines!" Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived.
 
I John 5:4 - For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.