Gird it Up

To Gird Up

“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;”

1 Peter 1:13 KJV

In ancient times men would wear long robes.  This could be a problem if you needed to move fast, through difficult terrain or were going into combat.  So, the first thing they had to do was gird up there loin.  Literally tie up the loose ends.  

Over and over in the Bible we see analogies of the Christian life being a race.  We are told to wear armor as we are in a battle.  So if here in 1 Peter we are told to tie up the loose ends of our mind what is he talking about?  

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Romans 12:2 KJV

Our minds must be brought under control of the Spirit.  We must disentangle ourselves from the ways of this would.  Just as a thicket of thorn bushes would tangle up the loose ends of a robe we must free ourselves from the world’s sinful hindrances.

We are to pull in the thoughts of our mind and tie them up.  Think about that for a moment.  It’s a powerful statement.  I would dare say that the must unconfessed sin our lives is the sins of our thought life.  Yet we our told to transform our minds and to tie up those thoughts.  We must be prepared for the battle and cannot let the cares of this world tangle us up.  We cannot be tired down by thoughts not under submission to our Lord. So Gird up your mind.  Bring your thought life under control.  It is in the mind where the greatest battle is fought.

It is such a great battle because it’s so easy to hide, or so we think.  How we feel safe in the hidden parts of our mind.  Comfortable that no one knows what we are thinking.  

“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; But his heart is not with thee.”

Proverbs 23:7 KJV

You see what you allow your mind to think will be the direction you take.  You cannot harbor evil thoughts without them coming out in some way. So, one last time, take control of your thoughts.  Bind up those loose ends so you can run the race unencumbered. And run the race with great joy knowing the glory that awaits at the finish.