1 Peter 1:13-16
Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.  14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance,  15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;  16 because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.”

The counsel in this passage is pretty simple.  Right at the beginning of this rich passage, we are told to prepare your minds.  Again, it is a call of us to be proactive in the world of our thoughts and intentional.  Prepare your mind.

To me, it simply begins by meditating on the truth- what we believe!

This is why it is so important to identify what you believe about what you are worried about…  Too often, our minds are fixed on anything but grace.  Our minds are driven towards the things of this world- consumed with whatever seems to cause the most pressure.  We need a new perspective and we must prepare our minds to see this.

We are challenged to prepare our minds and keep sober in spirit.  This is a call for perspective.  Prepare your mind in light of what is to come…  keep your eyes set on the life we have in Christ.  And don’t resort to the old way of life!  But you now have a new identity and a new way of life.  Your life has been hidden in Christ and is declared set apart for the purposes of our heavenly Father.

And this should change our behavior… because our mind is set on the things above…  But we will not drift in this direction.  We must prepare…

So mediate on the grace you’ve been given.  Set your mind on the One who has called you.  Reflect on the identity that you’ve been given in Christ.  And this will begin to help you define what you believe about what you worry about– and allow God’s peace to reign as you walk in Truth!

Lord, I bow again and receive Your grace anew.  I am thankful that You have brought me out of the darkness and into the Light.  You have called me and set me apart for Your purposes.  Help me not walk in the ignorance of my former self, but walk in the life of Holiness I am designed for!  I will prepare my mind to walk in this truth and never allow myself to believe lesser things about the things my mind tends to think.  I will keep my sights on You today!  Amen.