Prepare your Minds for Action

1 Peter 1:13 “Therefore prepare your minds for action: be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.”

I was reading 1 Peter 1 in my daily reading and was really struck by this verse especially the first part that said ‘Therefore prepare your minds for action’.

I was thinking about the start of last year and a post I had written about Change being inevitable but growth through whatever we experience in the year being intentional. Last year brought to the forefront the need and importance of being intentional and selective on what we should focus on, so that we would not be affected by the chaos that seemed to be all around. As I held close to that thought and to cling to the Lord through all circumstances, and as a priority to ground myself in Him as I go ahead this year; I was led to ponder that we know not with certainty what lies ahead in the coming year, but we do know that one thing remains constant besides the certainty of the Lord with us.

And that is Satan’s attempts to hinder our walk with Jesus. His unceasing efforts to veer us off our path of discipline in bible reading and prayer. He will try his best to distract us, keep us busy so that we begin to struggle to be diligent in our quiet time with God. He does not tire in his attempts at trying to steal our peace, to fill us with anxiety, uncertainty, doubt and for fear to take residence in our hearts and minds. Because when we are not tethered to our Lord we are ineffective as His light in this world and do not walk in the plans and purposes He has prepared for us.

For we know that “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world and against spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:12).”

The biggest battle that we often face is in our minds. Our actions and what we do is usually an outflow of what is going on in our minds. And so, these words “Prepare your minds for action” written by Apostle Peter emphasising an aspect of what is required to stay strong in our daily Christian walk brings to the forefront the importance of equipping our minds to stand strong in our faith, resist the devil and be obedient to God and diligent in our daily walk.

Apostle Peter does not write that we must be prepared ‘if’ the need arises, he says be prepared because there is a surety in the presence of this battle. As followers of Christ, we know that Satan is prowling around like a lion looking and waiting for an opportunity.

1 Peter 5:8 “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour”.

We want to stand strong against the enemy’s attempts but often negate the importance of what it takes for us to be prepared to stay focused on Jesus and resist the devil.

If we are alert, aware and always ensuring that we guard our hearts and minds by spending time with God, we do not crumble easily to His attempts but lean on that with which we have been armouring ourselves with. 1 Peter 5:9 says “Resist Him, standing firm in your faith.”

So, we must keep on preparing, Peter talks about being self-controlled, of setting our hope on Jesus and to not conform to the world.  It is a call to action and we must take time to prepare.

Can we do all of those things in our own strength? We surely cannot, but we know that through Him and in Him we can.

In the first 12 verses of chapter 1, apostle Peter talks about our living Hope – Jesus. The hope that we have through the resurrection of Jesus. He is the one who shields and sustains our faith. The trials we go through in this life are valuable in refining our faith. And those that are united with Christ will enter into His glory.

These twelve verses fill us with confidence in where our hope lies, the heavenly hope founded on Christ. The security we have in God’s power and the promise in His word of sharing in His glory.

As we begin this year, may we spend time preparing our minds to be embedded in scripture, grounded in faith, strong against temptation and steady with His peace and joy.

Time with the Lord is elementary for our spiritual growth and I pray that each one of us would be intentional in sitting at His feet, spending time in His word and in prayer so that we are prepared to stand strong when the enemy tries to wreak havoc. We have the assurance to stand firm with surety because we know that the Lord is the one in control. We can stand strong when the winds and the waves try to uproot us because our roots are deeply tethered to our heavenly Father that no storm can uproot us.

So, dear friends, every day with diligence may we prepare our minds for action, to stay focused on Jesus, to keep Him first and honour Him with our time every single day. And when Satan comes prowling around like a lion to devour, he would not find us alone to fight our battles but find the strength and power of God equipped within us for the Lord has promised that He is near to all those who call on Him (Psalm 145:18) and He is with us always (Joshua 1:9).

God Bless.