Hello Preppers!
I’m so thankful to be back! Last week I contracted the flu, which drained my mental processing. The two weeks before that, I was in Texas visiting my family. I forgot about the heat difference but absolutely loved experiencing the 100 degree weather again! Coming back to Ohio, the 80’s actually felt cool in comparison.
Yes, I understand that makes me sound crazy but as a summer child, I love the heat! Needless to say, Ohio winters have me questioning my sanity.
Those two weeks were exactly what I needed. Sometimes, you just need a break from everything, which is why vacations are important! Can I get an amen??
My original plan for this week’s (really, last week’s) post was to share about my personal travel hacks but this past Sunday, I listened to a sermon that went perfectly with my Mental Preparedness series. So, of course, I have to share!
Gird your loins, people!
Unfortunately, I haven’t had a chance to find a solid church home here in Zanesville. I’ve been able to attend a couple but it seems I keep looking for my home church here, which is why I’ve been listening to them online. I enjoy deep teachings and dissecting the Word. Like in Hebrews 5, I crave the meat and potatoes of the Bible.
On a side note, if you attend a great church in Zanesville that teaches the Bible, I’d love to check it out!
So the teaching I listened to this past Sunday was part of their 1 Peter series titled Hope & Holiness.
13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
If you google what it means to “gird your loins,” you will find the official definition, which is to “prepare oneself for something difficult or challenging,” along with illustrations depicting how to do this. As pastor Justin described it: “Prepare yourself for action.”
This imagery reminds me of Violet from A Series of Unfortunate Events. When she pulled her hair back, you knew she was ready to go. Things were about to go down. Honestly, that’s how I always feel when I pull my own hair back into a ponytail.
In this passage, Peter instructs believers to gird the loins of their minds.
My mind has loins?
Of course not literally but I hope you’re getting the idea.
Your mind needs to be ready before you can effectively take action. Just as you should be mentally prepared for everyday emergencies or natural disasters that may come your way, you need to be mentally prepared spiritually.
1 Peter 1:13 “…be sober…”
Sober. Clear headed. Focused.
If you’re a believer, you’ve most likely noticed one of the tactics of the enemy is confusion. As an over thinker with ADHD, my mind is constantly at war with itself. Confusion is an easy state for me to slip into more often than I like to admit.
But what I’ve come to learn is that God is never confused and He will never try to confuse us.
At times when the confusion becomes too much, I find myself repeating 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
Sometimes I replace the word fear with confusion. “God has not given me a spirit of confusion, but of a sound mind.”
Be Ready
Just as you’re able to prepare for whatever the world throws your way, your mind can be ready for whatever the enemy has in store for you.
Panic doesn’t need to be your state of mind when things go haywire. If you think about it, you don’t have to panic ever, really. Not when you’re mentally prepared for this broken world.
The mind affects the motions. You can’t take the proper actions, whether in offense or defense, if your mind is not ready for what’s to come.
So take a few minutes and ponder these verses.
Do you tend to allow confusion to take over your mind? Are you mentally ready to stand up for what’s right and follow God’s leading?
These are hard questions but if you’ve noticed anything about my blog so far, I hope you see that I’m not afraid to ask them. Asking the questions that make us uncomfortable is always the first step to growth.
Until next time, Happy Prepping!
