Are You Ready?

This is a phrase we all hear multiple times per day. Are you ready to leave the restaurant, ready for the meeting, ready for the test, ready for the doctors appointment, ready for the event…?

Yesterday my husband and I went to a bagel shop for breakfast. I just put the last bite of food in my mouth when my husband asked, “Are you ready?” He had finished eating and was ready to tackle the day. I on the other hand not only enjoy drinking hot tea and coffee but enjoy savoring my first cup of the day. I quickly answered, “No, I want to drink more of my coffee before we leave.” I started thinking about “being ready.” “Being ready” means something different to everyone. Even when preparing for the same things we all have different internal lists that need to be completed before we consider ourselves “ready.”

We all get ready to leave the house in the morning yet everyone has his or her own routine. What works for one person may not for another. In theory the end result is the same but the means are unique to each individual. Likewise the way you may prepare for a high-stakes test, a doctors appointment, or a special event would be very different than the way I would prepare.

In the book of Peter verse 13 states, “Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.”

One of the pastors at seminary said whenever a verse starts with the word “therefore” it is an important verse you must read to see what the verse is there for. The word “therefore” indicates there will be a final statement, a big close.

The big close here starts with ”prepare your minds for action.” This means get your mind ready for the day but the way I get my mind ready might not be the way you get your mind ready. Throughout the Bible we are called to prepare for our day by putting on the armor of God, standing firm, having a prepared heart and now preparing our minds for action. Our mind is the part of our being that allows us to handle every situation, decision, experience and thought. By preparing our mind we are able to hear God’s voice throughout our day and will be able to walk with him as he leads us.

Next, the verse calls us to be self-controlled. We all know what that is, but Webster defines self-controlled as a “restraint exercised over one's own impulses, emotions, or desires.” If we are restrained from our own impulses, emotions, and desires then we will relinquish our own control and if our mind is prepared we will experience life through Christ.

The last section of this big close verse tells us to “set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.” This too is something your mind must do. Hope is not a tangible item. Your mind must be prepared to hope. But what are you hoping for? …God’s grace. I love that the verse actually says “hope fully” as opposed to just saying “hope for.” Completely, with everything you have, desire the grace of God to be given when Jesus returns. His daily blessing are just a small taste of the grace of salvation.

This Bible verse clearly instructs we must have our minds prepared, not rely on our own emotions and desires, and 100% expect God’s grace. This sound doctrine all starts with being ready. Are you ready for today?

Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 1 Peter 1:13 NIV