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

Hikers making a trek to the river at the bottom of the Grand Canyon and back up and out of the Canyon need to condition their bodies for the grueling journey. If they are not regular hikers, they should prepare for the challenges of the steep paths and the winding switchbacks. Their equipment may include hiking poles, but certainly water and healthy snacks to replenish their bodies as they make the climb.

In today’s verse, Peter instructs you to get ready, to prepare your mind for action. At the time, he was speaking to Christians who were suffering great persecution. He encouraged them to trust the ultimate justice of God. It was a mindset that could only come from knowing Christ as Savior and committing wholly and fully to Him, as well as looking to the future that He has for the believer through the grace He has given in Jesus. Disengage your thoughts from things that hinder you in your faith, and press on to obedience. Being sober-minded means that you cultivate a Biblical worldview, live sensibly, and walk in the truth of God’s Word, preparing to avoid the spiritual dangers, when you can, that are in play around you (Proverbs 22:3).

When you suffer for doing good, as the early Church did, Peter points you to Christ, to “have faith and hope in God“ (1 Peter 1:21). Remember in all situations that Jesus is Lord. As you live for eternity others will ask why you are so different; be ready to share the hope you have in Jesus. Then, diligently intercede for the people of this nation who do not yet know the grace of God.