Girding Up The Mind
by Ray Prinzing

"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)

In harmony with yesterday's meditation on "Elevated Attitudes," we find some specific areas for the "girding up" of our minds to the higher realm, the first being our attitude towards ourselves. "Recon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord."  (Romans 6:11).  Take to yourself this attitude,  that I am crucified with Christ, becoming dead unto sin, becoming alive unto God.  This is not something which we broadcast to others, we do not tell them how dead we are, for "dead men don't talk." If we are truly dead to sin, we'll also be dead to the pride of the ego which would glory in our humility, thus proving that actually it is not dead.  Becoming ALIVE IN THE NEW, our state of being in His life is its own witness as to how much we are dead to the old realms.

"My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness."  (2 Corinthians 12:9).  Paul's first attitude was to pray for his trial to be removed, but God had elected it to stay, to us it for his growth and development.  So he quit praying for the thing to depart, and began glorying and rejoicing in his weakness.  He chose to take pleasure in the things from which the mortal part of him would fain be free.  This girding up of his mind from resistance to submission, brought the supply of needed grace for each day by day victory in Christ.

"Take therefore no anxious thought for the morrow."   (Matthew 6:34).  This is not a foolish "sticking your head in the sand," but a recognizing and knowing that there are things which must come to pass, and having a right attitude towards them, be prepared to endure, and to stand fast in the Lord.  The more our minds are girded up to the truth, to the knowledge that God is in control of all that touches our lives, the more we are free from the anxious thoughts that cause worry and fear, and we joy in the knowledge of His daily care.