"..prepare your hearts and minds for action.." 1 Peter 1:13 (TPT)

Have you ever taken a ride on a roller coaster? When the car makes the first ascent to the top of the hill to reach its highest point, you wait with anticipation when you reach the crest and then begin the unbridled descent down over bumps turns and hills with excitement and exhilaration. 

That is what Peter is talking about here when he says, “prepare your hearts and minds for action.” Another way to put the phrase would be “Roll up your sleeves,” or, “Fasten your seat belt!.” What Peter is saying here that being in Christ can be compared to a thrill ride when you are doing it right; it is exciting and never dull. 

We can be led into encounters and relationships which are designed to help us trust Him more and more, while at the same time bringing healing and restoration to others. 

Obeying the Lord’s leading can be an exciting place for every believer, His love comes to us to let us know that He is with us at every moment in our lives, even when we cannot feel His presence around us or near us.

“Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never leave you; I will never abandon you.” Hebrews 13: (GNT)

He often takes us into uncomfortable places that challenge us and causes us to face our fears and overcome them. Why does He do this? Is it not because He wants to torture us and make us feel bad about ourselves, it is quite the opposite! He does this so that there is nothing that stands in the way of our relationship between Him and us. 

Fear is like a virus that grows and grows, and if left unattended, it can creep into our lives and stunt our spiritual and emotional growth. The same can be said for pride when we let it speak to us and convince us that we are more mature than we are, or that we are exclusive and can hear Him better than other believers. 

Every one of us is on a journey of discovery with Jesus, and He is leading the journey, not us; we are only along for the ride. The best comparison I can come up with for this journey is a jungle cruise; Jesus is at the helm taking us up the river on a boat of destiny and discovery. There are many encounters and adventures along the way, and many perils too, but we have the protection of the Holy Spirit to guide us and to speak to us, He leads us through the dangers or around them with confidence that the Lord will always be with us no matter what. 

We also have each other as believers to bring encouragement and affirmation that the Lord is our guide, and that He is our eventual destination. The whole purpose of our journey with Jesus is to know Him and for Him to know us. 

Don’t get me wrong here, Jesus already does know us intimately, but do we know that? Really? This journey is the revelation of our hearts before Him, no so much that He would know us, but that we would become more deeply aware that He knows us for our benefit, that our relationship with Him would intensify and grow with that knowledge. 

It is becoming aware that He knows us personally and intimately, much like a bridegroom knows His bride. There is an inner knowing that goes way beyond words down to the heartfelt emotions tied to trust and devotion to the one who loves us and will never leave or forsake us.

“Stay alert and fix your hope firmly on the marvelous grace that is coming to you.” Peter is saying that our hope is “active,”  placed in the grace that is coming to us, this isn’t just an imaginary hope, but is based in reality. 

I have heard so many people who have testified that they haven’t actualized their faith, and Jesus doesn’t seem to be a reality for them; it is because they haven’t come to a place of surrender and abandon to Jesus and let Him take the lead in their lives. Jesus comes to those who want to know Him; He never takes second place or position in one’s life. He always takes the first position, for He is Lord of all.

“For when Jesus Christ is unveiled, a greater measure of grace will be released to you.” Peter uses a dramatic word to describe the “unveiled Jesus,” he uses the Greek word apokàlypsis, (which means a manifestation or appearance, laying bare, making naked, a disclosure of truth, instruction concerning things before unknown.) The Aramaic can be translated, “Stay alert and share the news about the joy that came to you with the revelation of Jesus the Messiah.”  

There is an element of excitement that is in this passage, which can only be expressed as a bride who eagerly awaits her bridegroom in the bridal chamber. Peter is using language, which is both visually expressive and emotionally expressive, which touches the heart of the believer. 

There is an anticipation of what more is to come as we willingly surrender to the bridegroom. The journey with the bridegroom is a beautiful passage to sites heretofore unknown and unexplored, which reveal His heart for us as we pursue Him on this journey of discovery. 

May we have the courage to become explorers and find the width, length, and depths of the love of God for us in Christ Jesus.

“Then you will be empowered to discover what every holy one experiences—the great magnitude of the astonishing love of Christ in all its dimensions. How deeply intimate and far-reaching is his love! How enduring and inclusive it is! Endless love beyond measurement that transcends our understanding—this extravagant love pours into you until you are filled to overflowing with the fullness of God!” 

Ephesians 3:18-19 (TPT)

Be Blessed;

Stephen Barnett