Thought Armor

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

--1 Peter 1:13

Since therefore Christ suffered in the the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.

1 Peter 4:1-2

A lot is at stake in the way we think.

Yet our thought life can be so uncontrollable.  Even if you believe that it has drastic effects on the rest of life, it can be hard to see a way to get it into some semblance of order.  Inevitably, our minds travel down  roads we never gave them permission to.  Often, these uncontrolled thoughts result in words and actions we never dreamed we'd engage in.

A lot is at stake in the way you think.  For this reason, a battle is going on for your mind every day.

How do we overcome the forces of evil that prevail on our minds?  God's word tells us that there is armor we can use.  Just like you can put on a helmet to protect your physical skull and brain, you can use a "way of thinking" as armor to protect your mind.

The way of thinking we need to follow is the "same" way of thinking that Jesus had when he was suffering on the cross.  Jesus "endured the cross, despising the shame"--"for the joy set before Him." 

Just as the end result of Jesus' suffering on the cross was a seat at the right hand of God, we too will receive a reward when we endure the suffering of standing up to the temptations that confront our minds daily.  "Whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin."

When sinful thought patterns threaten to invade your mind, arm yourself as Jesus did when He was on the cross.

But while Jesus looked to His coming exaltation above every name on earth, we look to a different promise.

"Set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ."

Look to Jesus.  Fill your mind with the coming of the One who was not defeated by temptation.  Jesus was a warrior on the cross.   He stood fast so that we can stand fast.  Set your hope fully on His grace.