gird your loins and focus on grace

I love the promises of the Word. Incredible. This just in from 1 Peter 1:13:


"Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (ESV)


The Greek for the "preparing your minds for action" phrase literally translates to "gird the loins of your mind". Literally we need to get suited up in the full armour of God before we go into battle. Ephesians 6:10-18 spells it out: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and crucially, the sword of the Spirit. From other Scripture we know that this sword is none other than the Word of God - so implicit in girding our loins is getting studied up in the Word, meditating over it, praying over it, absorbing it into our vocabulary, memorising it. This will prepare our minds for action.


And then, fully armoured up, do we step out into the world trusting in our new equipment? No! Peter tells us to set our hope fully on grace. God is not a God who just did grace at the cross that one time - he is the God of Grace. He loves to bless his people, promising to even invite them into his very house at the Day of the Lord. What an incredible promise, and what an incredible source of hope for those who believe in Him!


Gird your loins, trust in the Lord, set your hope fully on his grace, and you will see Him in his Kingdom.