Prepared minds

So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. (I Peter 1:13 NLT)

Does anyone have any clue as to how we 'prepare our minds for action', much less 'exercise self-control' in our lives? Those are probably two of the toughest instructions in the Bible. Our minds get so much input in the course of our lifetime and controlling what comes in, what goes out, what gets remembered, and what gets forgotten is a big deal. Preparing our minds for action is actually having an 'engaged mind' - one that isn't just passively attentive but is actively attentive. There is a difference that can be observed when your mind is 'engaged' in the process of action. The entirety of your being is actually engaged when your mind is attentive and 'engaging' with the subject at hand.

We are being told to prepare our minds for action. In other words, anticipate action. This Christian walk is not passive by any means. It is active, alive, and alert - all at the same time! We have to take control of 'where' our thoughts are allowed to travel, 'what' they are allowed to engage in, and 'who' we will allow our thoughts to dwell upon. As so often is the case, our thoughts don't always 'go' where we want them to go, do they? Sometimes we get all caught up in the 'weeds of life' and forget there is anything else but the 'weeds'. We don't see the flowers, trees, beautiful meadows, or the lofty places that surround those 'weeds'. Engage with weeds long enough and you will soon find your emotions take you into places you really don't want to dwell.

What we think upon will eventually result in some form of action. If our hope is in Christ Jesus, even the worst of circumstances cannot rob us of our peace and joy. For that to really be the case, we have to keep our focus on him and not the 'weeds' of life. What we think upon is almost always determined by who it is we are thinking about the most. If all our focus in on us, we find our thoughts turning to what pleases us, brings us joy, or helps us get some semblance of satisfaction. If all our focus is on Jesus, we find our thoughts turning to what others need, what adds joy or meaning to their lives, or what helps them be better individuals themselves.

Truly 'engaged' minds are ready for action because Christ is the center of our thoughts. Our hope isn't in whatever this world offers, but it is fully and firmly fixed on what he brings into our lives as we dwell upon his goodness and grace. Just sayin!