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Girding the Mind
The moment about, or, think of ‘Girding’, then our minds, as Christians should go straight to Ephesians 6:10-20, and this putting on the armour of God . . .Proverbs 31:17 “She girds herself with strength”Ephesians 6:14 “Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth” . . . but the scripture I want to talk on is .. 1 Peter 1:13 “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.”
In recent times, we have seen an increase of ‘Mental-Health’ awareness, especially because of living in these times of the global pandemic, with Coved19, and because the mutations thereof. The modern emphasis on the mind, upon the importance of the thoughts in the realm of good living, It is thought to be a new ‘Psychological’ discovery. As a matter of fact it is no new thing at all, that is as far as the Bible is concerned. . .
Genesis 6:5 “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually”
Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things” . . . in Peter note the close connection there, that is in between the ‘Girding of the mind, and the Holy life. The last mediation was on the intense and reverent curiosity of the Prophets of old, and even the Angels too, in the wonderfully devised scheme of redemption. The word wherefore gathers up all the wealthy results of the previous study. What effect should the result of a ‘Girding mind’ leading to a Holy life.
I will be looking at the following … The Girded Mind … The Cool Mind … The Controlled Mind … The Obedient Mind … The Optimistic Mind .. i the Object of the Christian .. ii The quality of the Christian Hope
1) The Girded Mind … to Gird up ..
John 21:18 “Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish”
It seems likely, the figure of this passage is taken from the flowing garments of the Oriental dress. The flowing robes caught the wind and wrapping about the legs, become serious hindrances to easy and progressive movement. The wearer therefore, lays hold of the hindering garment, tucking them into the girdle, which discharges the ministry of a belt.
With our lives as they are today, a similar disorder may prevail in the realm of thought and affection. Our lives may be characterised by mental slovenliness. Our thoughts may trail into loose disorder, now loose thinking is dangerous, just so dangerous, just like a loose fitting clothing, it will trip you up. In today’s society to verbalise some thoughts will either have arrested or very badly beaten up. I was talking that I believe God made ‘only’ a Man & a Woman. Where as on an employment details, now you have to include the alpha bet, or it could be seen as hate crime or ‘racist’. . . Genesis 1:26 “Let Us make man in Our image” .. Matthew 19:4 “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female” . . . in today’s climate, I feel mat be more than any other time in history. So Gird up your minds or is you like ‘brace-up’ your minds. If you have a burning thought, and you have no-one to talk to openly with, take all your cares ~ thoughts ~ worries ~ fears, take them take them all to God.
Psalms 55:22 “Cast your burden on the Lord, And He shall sustain you”
2) The Cool Mind … be sober
Put your hands up if you have ever lost your ‘Cool’ when discussing or debating a subject you feel strongly about? This is more than an injunction against intemperance, it is a serious call to thought. For when I see ‘Be-Sober’, I’m not necessarily talking about being sober, and not drunk when you have no control of what your saying or doing ... 1 Thessalonians 5:16 “Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober” . . . be honest now, how many times, when you were out with friends, been told to have a drink to loosen up little, I have? Being able to keep a cool mind at all times, means total self control. I’m not saying you have to like a hermit, I’m telling you it takes time & training, to not loose control. Yet do confuse gravity with gloom, we have to grave not sullen, just stay cool and in control. Let sufferers keep their heads when others loose theirs, and make NOT railing accusations against others, let them keep cool minds.
Psalms 140:3 “They sharpen their tongues like a serpent; The poison of asps is under their lips”
Romans 3:13 “Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practised deceit”, “The poison of asps is under their lips” 14 “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.”
Don’t be a viper, love those who start to rant, or walk away saying ‘When we have cooled down then we can sit down and talk’.
3) The Controlled Mind ..‘Exercise the strictest of self Control’
Control .. Control .. Control .. All to often when debating a subject close to your heart the ‘red-mist’ descends, and all rational goes out the window. When your Child is acting up and frustrating the life out of you, and you end up shouting at them , you have just lost, because ‘red-mist’ comes upon you. We just can’t control ourselves, and what would be easy is now unseen.
Psalms 32:9 “Do not be like the horse or like the mule, Which have no understanding, Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle”
1 Thessalonians 4:4 “that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honour” [KJV]
1 Thessalonians 4:4 “that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honourable” [NIV]
This to be the one thing we can’t seem to control, that is going to be our temper. You’ll find those who have a ‘Short-fuse’, Where as you’ll find others whom seem to have a ‘long-fuse’, and thus slower to anger. Why such a stark difference? Do they know how to be slower too anger through experience or some other reason. All I can tell you is that next time before raging back, count to 10, mentally take a step back, gain your self-control, thus being able to take hold of your response.
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4) The Obedient Mind .. ‘As Obedient children’
1 Peter 1:13 “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. 14 as obedient children”
There it is again . . “alert and fully sober” . . we’re again being told to be free from all influences, NO drug, NO alcohol, I hope that this is sinking in, getting through. So why do we need to be as .. “as obedient children” .. because they are looking to us adults for direction, look for clarification, as from right & wrong. This is where our bias comes from, right back to being taught their adults bias, be it racial, how to behave. They don’t have as much going through their developing minds, so things are much simpler. Hence why your child will keep asking ‘WHY’, this is where they start developing what is expected of them and what is acceptable in their parents eyes.
Prayer ..
4) The Obedient Mind .. ‘As Obedient children’
1 Peter 1:13 “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. 14 as obedient children”
There it is again . . “alert and fully sober” . . we’re again being told to be free from all influences, NO drug, NO alcohol, I hope that this is sinking in, getting through. So why do we need to be as .. “as obedient children” .. because they are looking to us adults for direction, look for clarification, as from right & wrong. This is where our bias comes from, right back to being taught their adults bias, be it racial, how to behave. They don’t have as much going through their developing minds, so things are much simpler. Hence why your child will keep asking ‘WHY’, this is where they start developing what is expected of them and what is acceptable in their parents eyes.
Prayer ..
Lord Jesus as we walk through your word, and learn how it profits you for us to be slow in anger, and learn how to Gird our mind from all that life has throw at us in our lives, thank you for your help and Word.
Amen
