Preparing Your Minds for Action

November 19, 2020
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Preparing Your Minds for Action
“Prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:13)

Interestingly, some Bible versions translate the opening phrase as “Gird up your loins!” This phrase doesn’t have much significance today because we typically don’t wear long robes to work. But in Jesus’ day, this phrase had meaning. It meant, “pull your thoughts together and have a disciplined mind!” The image is that of a man tucking his long robe’s skirts into his belt, so he was free to work, fight, or free to move more easily. They “girded,” so they were prepared for what faced them.

How do we prepare? Unfortunately, some of us don’t prepare. We merely let things happen. In a sense, our robes are flopping in the wind. We’re not ready for action. We’re not sober in spirit. Our hope isn’t fixed on Jesus, it’s fixed on circumstances, success, money, or whatever can catch our fleeting attention.

When we prepare our minds (or gird our loins), we focus. We tune in spiritually and emotionally. We make space for stillness. We go on the alert with our thoughts. Being prepared is like stretching your muscles before exercising and thinking, I know what I’m about to endure; I need to get ready.

Most of us are passive in our thoughts. We pay little attention to why we’re thinking what we’re thinking or where those thoughts are coming from. Like tubing down a meandering river, we let our minds just float along, taking us wherever they go. Peter’s words are meant to jolt us out of that laziness and into intentionality. This intentionality aligns with Jesus’ approach to life. He lived a daily, purposeful, mindful existence.

Peter’s challenge calls followers of Jesus to prepare our minds “for action.” Each day is meant to be filled with godly activity that advances Father God’s kingdom purposes. The Lord is at work. He is at work in you, in your family, in your relation- ships, in your career, in your finances, in your soul, in your health, and in your past, present, and future. Everywhere, He is at work. The enemies of your faith—sin, the world, and Satan— are also constantly at work, plotting to keep you from a life of spiritual vitality and ferocity.

So how do we prepare our minds for action? First and foremost, by praying through the Lord’s Prayer. Jesus didn’t live out His divine purpose with such intention solely because He was God in the flesh. He practiced life disciplines that positioned Him to operate in the grace of His Father each day. And His primary weapon was this prayer. Practicing His Prayer in wisdom will keep you alert, leaning into the Lord, prepared for the unique challenges of today.

Are you prepared for today’s challenges? I would encourage you to prepare yourself for each day by praying this simple yet most powerful prayer. You’ll find the Lord’s Prayer is the antidote to whatever challenges you face. It will serve to protect your mind and keep you deeply and intimately connected with the Father so together, and through His strength, you’ll face whatever comes your way.

Augustine, a church leader in the fifth century, wrote:

“It is a prayer for spiritual food, namely, the divine precepts which we are to think over and put into practice each day.”

  1. Thank you Jesus . I needed that. Sometimes I feel that I don’t have a ministry because of being unworthy and someone speaks negatively to me . I need your prayers. I don’t want to be lost , I have been in church all my life.

    1. Thank you for sharing, Franzel. I wonder if you’ve shared your struggle with a trusted pastor or spiritual mentor? The enemy is so good at isolating us to keep us away from our Father and make our service ineffective. I hope you have trusted brothers and sisters with whom you can share!

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