1 Peter 1:13 says – ”Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded/self-controlled, set your hope FULLY on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
How do we prepare or ”set our minds” on something? Colossians 3:2 says, ”Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” To prepare or set our minds on something is to choose to think about it, which will influence our goals and guide our actions. It is important to prepare our minds and thoughts, because God commands us to do so, and we desire to be obedient to Him. As Christians, we’re continually preparing ourselves to serve Father God. If we do not prepare, we’ll be ill-equipped to stand against sin, growing further from God rather than closer to Him. If we don’t prepare our minds for action, we won’t have the spiritual strength to control our bodies. We cannot control our bodies if we cannot control our thoughts.
”The mouth speaks from the heart” is a phrase referring to the principle that our words reflect our inner character, motivations, and emotions. In Matt. 15:18 Jesus said – ”But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and this defiles a person.”
As Christians, we can control our bodies with our thoughts, because we walk according to the Spirit. Paul wrote in Gal. 5:16-17 – ”But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please”
When we live according to the Spirit, we demonstrate the fruits of the Spirit in our actions. ”But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Gal. 5:22-24).
So, how do you and I prepare our minds? Rom. 12:2 tells us – ”Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” and ”put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. (Eph. 6:10)
The mind is of great importance in the Christian life because it is with the mind that we discern truth from error. It is essential that we intentionally engage our minds to stay grounded in the truth of Scripture. We need to constantly be vigilant and ready, prepared to engage activity in our faith. When the Israelites were aware of their approaching deliverance and liberation from Egypt; they did not relax. God commanded them to eat the Passover meal with their loins girded, their shoes on their feet, and their staffs in their hands. That way, there will be no time wasted for them as they prepared to leave for the Promised Land. Just so we must also prepare ourselves and have our thoughts, hope and lives focused on our spiritual deliveries from slavery and firmly set our minds on things above and not on things on this earth.
The AMP Bible says in Phil. 4:8 – ”Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honourable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [centre your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].”
Precious Jesus, help me to focus on You, and on my heavenly Home which You are preparing for me. Help me to always prepare my mind for action, and to consciously and deliberately study Your Word and to choose the faithful way, by setting Your rules and ordinances before me as laid out in Psalm 119:13. I love and adore You, trusting that You will assist me to be strong and steadfast in keeping my mind pure and unswervingly dedicated to serving You faithfully.
Myrtle Turunen