In the past several weeks, Robert and I have implemented a more formal Bible study in our homes before bedtime. Although our children are only 3, 6 and 10, our mentors challenged us to not only carry them along with us as we do ministry, but also to place in them an understanding for the things of God in their lives as well – or as Gary Thomas points out in his book, “Sacred Marriage”- to not only create our children biologically but to also partner with God in creating who they will be spiritually.
These 5 minutes have yielded truly amazing results in our children – but this article isn’t about our family Bible studies. It’s about the scripture that came to our attention as I frantically googled a last-minute verse to read before my kids were put to bed (2-hours late and increasingly grumpy). What started as my frantic scramble for a scripture turned into a revelation that I’m sure will impact my life on a daily basis.
1 Peter 4:7 according to the World English Bible translation reads, “But the end of all things is near. Therefore be of sound mind, self-controlled, and sober in prayer.”
As I started to explain this scripture to my children, it dawned on me that this is precisely where the enemy has been attacking the church – handicapping our ability to bear fruit and lead other people to freedom. This isn’t a problem that’s isolated to just “the world”, but these are issues that Christians are facing in massive droves – and instead of going to the Word of God for answers, they are flocking to secular “experts” to help them navigate these issues.
So many in the church are facing crisis with their mental health – many ultimately being led to destructive decisions based exclusively on their own feelings. And although we shamelessly celebrate the notions to prioritize “self-care” and “self-love” we have abandoned any sentiments that call us to exercise self-control. And by and large – if our prayers still exist on a daily basis – for many, their prayers amount to nothing more than a religious checkbox or a rant of desperate struggle without the patience to listen and actually obey what God has already instructed us as the blueprint to find freedom.
1 Peter 4:7 lays it out so plainly. Our time on this Earth is short. We have all of eternity to experience the blessings of God. But we only have a hundred years at the most to make an impact on this Earth. We do not have time to waste it circling around the same mountain of our fleeting emotions and deceptive thoughts and all the consequences that come from surrendering to those things without restraint.
The urgency of our limited years is why we have to be even more diligent in making sure we have a sound mind, self-control and are sober in prayer. Having a sound mind means that we are not swayed by our own emotions or passions but that our perspective on everything we encounter is through the lens of God’s Truth and wisdom.
Having self-control means that we are not consumed by this culture of focusing on ourselves first and doing whatever feels right or going wherever our heart leads us – but that we make choices according to God’s Word and then release our inner struggles to Him so He can heal and transform them from the inside out.
And most importantly, being sober in prayer means that we aren’t reading our Bible and engaging in prayer as a means of religious rule-following but that we are being clear-minded and pure-hearted in our pursuit of God and what God desires for us.
It’s in those three areas: mental stability, self-denial and intentional relationship with God that we are able to make the most of our lives here on Earth and truly live an abundant life. God is faithful to be the source for everything we think and feel we need, but we must trust that His ways work despite what we may reason in our own understanding.
