DAY #5: Alert. Ready for Grace | June 21-Day Firm Foundation Devotional: “Renewing Your Mind”

Special Edition of Firm Foundation Inspiration Minute: Talk #121

 

Day #5 Firm Foundation Devotional Lesson:

 

1 Peter 1:13 (NKJV), 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.

 

(New International Version)  Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.

 

We find our minds in various states: We can be serious or silly. We can be insightful or shallow. We can feel overwhelmed or empowered.

 

Life is a mixture of experiences. What people sometimes underestimate is their capacity to summon mental focus when needed. The ability to do that is necessary is often called “personal power.” There are times when we need to lean into focus and bring skills forward.

 

The term “gird up loins” means two things: 1) It is procreative power. Humans have the ability to bring children into the world. 2) It is suggestive of the alertness necessary for sobriety and for setting one's hope. (Vines Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words)

 

The word “sober" means serious minded.

 

For tasks that involve fulfilling some purpose of God, we need to place our faith in the hope of God's promises. We come to a place of alertness and readiness through prayer. This is my experience in preparing posts for this devotional. 

 

During the writing of this post, I made a mistake and lost about half of what was written during a time of God's inspiration. After letting my mind go to a place of disgust with myself for making such a “amateur” mistake, I summoned the focus to rewrite. God's inspiration did not leave when the mistake was made!

 

So, I had to “gird up the loins” of my mind, and get back to work!

 

Use your personal power (the ability to do what is necessary) with the help of the Holy Spirit. Tap the wells of “living water” (the power of the Holy Spirit) within. Summon your creative energy through God's grace. 

 

Jesus made all of this available to us when He brought “Grace and Truth.” (John 1:17)

 

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

 

1. What does it mean to “gird the loins of your mind?"

 

2. What does it look like when you summon your focus and tap the wells of Living Water?

 

3. Using these insights, in what areas do you need to use personal power to get something done?

 

 

ACTION ITEMS (What I will do with what I have learned):

 

 

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