A. Willingly & joyfully suffer loss of position or possessions:

JOB 1:21. And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

ACT 20:23. Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.

ACT 20:24. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

PHI 3:8. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

HEB 10:34. For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.

B. Lay aside weights to run the race:

HEB 12:1. Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

1CO 9:24. Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

PHI 3:13. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

PHI 3:14. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

C. The futility of trying to hang onto things:

PRO 23:5. Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.

LUK 12:15. And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

ECC 5:13. There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.

ECC 5:14. But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand.

ECC 5:15. As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.

1TI 6:7. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

D. Paul's trials in missing loved ones:

PHI 1:7. Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.

PHI 1:8. For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.

1TH 2:17. But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.

1TH 2:18. Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.

1TH 3:10. Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

2TI 1:3. I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;

2TI 1:4. Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;

E. The Lord wants you to love Him first of all:

PSA 73:25. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.

PSA 142:4. I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.

PSA 142:5. I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.

ISA 54:1. Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD.

ISA 54:5. For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.

ISA 54:6. For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God.