These days, telling someone to “gird up their loins” may produce a confused look or worse, but in a biblical sense, the phrase carries significant meaning. In the ancient world, it described a man preparing for action by gathering up and tucking his outer garment into his belt. It’s a word-picture of “deliberate readiness”. Peter invoked the concept to explain how we should prepare our minds to live in a world that’s not our eternal home. He wrote this:

“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…” – I Peter 1:13 NKJV

So, with that word-picture in mind, let’s:

• Be ready – “Girding-up” or ‘tightening-up” thoughts to be alert for the enemy’s schemes and deceptions
• Be sober – developing a mindset that’s serious and purposed, not silly and foolish
• Be at rest – building hope on grace that vigorously runs the race with a spirit “at rest’

“Therefore, gird up…”