"Therefore, get your minds ready for action by being fully sober and set your hope completely upon the grace that will be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed" 1 Peter 1:13 NET
To most military members in a combat or emergency situation (such as I dealt with as a Damage Controlman), this is a necessary condition in which they try to prepare themselves to be in before hostile forces, human or inhuman, are engaged. When faced with a fire, flood, or Chemical/Biological/Radiological situation; I would use the time in route to the situation to bring my mind into a sober state. I would try and tame my body's natural adrenaline response of hurry, hurry with a more moderate or tempered calm in which my training could take over. Sober also means to be marked by sedate or earnestly thoughtful character or demeanor, rather than reacting with emotion and poor character traits to any situation.
I can't tell you all of the times that I ran into a situation where a bit of 'thoughtful character' would have saved me a heap of trouble. And I cannot tell you how many times I've gone barreling into something and made a mess of it, or have been 'sideswiped' by consequences or reactions I was totally unprepared for.
Peter tells us to 'get our minds ready for action'. In the Greek translation of "binding up the loins of your mind", this is a figure of speech referring to a Middle Eastern practice of binding up the loincloths and robes in preparation of getting to work. Just like the solider, sailor, marine, or air force personnel that go into harm's way, we need to not only prepare for the labor of God's Kingdom daily with our physical armor that Paul speaks of in Ephesians 6, but also with our spiritual minds—to guard against attacks from the Enemy, who seeks to derail us.
Do you prepare each day by putting on the armor of God, as Paul tells us, to guard against the unseen? Do you also prepare your mind, as Peter tells us, to guard against ungodly thoughts or emotions that only come from the Enemy? As any military member can tell you, you've got to be completely equipped, mentally and physically, when you enter the battlefield. Are you prepared each day?
Heavenly Father,
As we put on the armor that You have provided; the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shield of faith, shoes of preparation, helmet of salvation, and the sword of Your word, let us also not neglect to focus our mind upon You, seeking a clarity and focus that allows us to guard against the spiritual attacks of the Enemy.
Help us "bind up the loins of our minds" with the strength of Your truth, wisdom, and discernment until the battle is over when the Captain of our hearts, Jesus Christ, is revealed."
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