day no. 14,931: do not let your brain sit the bench

1 Peter 1:13
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. 

The command Peter gives here is literally to gird up the loins of your mind. The image he is calling to mind is that of a man getting to work, who first lifts up his tunic as to keep it from dragging or getting tangled up. You pull it up and wrap it around your privates in order to keep it from dragging on the ground or getting caught on your legs and to keep your privates in place as you run. 

In other words, get your mental nut cup on and prepare to do some mental exercise.

But Peter here applies this same language to what we ought to do regarding our minds. Pick up those loose ends, do not let them dangle. If you're going to get to work, you're going to need to be free from encumbrance. Which means we have to get to work and clean up loose ends in our thinking so that we can be tight and ready for action, not caught up or tangled up on the sidelines.

Do not let your brain sit the bench.

1 Peter 4:1
Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking

The words Peter employs here are that of equipping yourself for battle. Gather your weapons, sharpen your swords, lace your boots, strap on your armor, get your gear and let's go!!! You need to arm yourself to think the way a Christian ought to think. Most battles take place on the field of philosophy. How do you think about what you're doing and what's going on around you? Do not make the mistake of forgetting that there are mental landmines everywhere there is enemy territory. As long as we live and breath in this world, we must be on guard and ready to rock at a moment's notice.