In writing to believers who were distressed because of the tremendous trials they were experiencing, the Apostle Peter commanded in 1 Peter 1:13:
“Gird up the loins of your mind…”
In essence, he was telling them to prepare their minds for aggressive action, to strengthen their minds for the battles they were facing.
The first piece of armor the Roman soldier put on as he prepared for battle was his belt. The belt was a very significant part of the armor as it was tied around the soldier’s waist to gather in the short tunic which he wore, keep the breastplate in place, and hold his sword. The soldier’s belt strengthened his loins and enabled him to fasten his armor securely, making him prepared to fight. To tighten or gird up the belt indicated a soldier was ready for action. To loosen or slacken the belt was a sign that he was off duty.
It is time for you to prepare for the battle by “girding up” and strengthening the loins of your mind. If you fail to do this, you are not going to be able to walk in the victory God has planned for you.
The loins refers to the chief area of bodily strength. The entire body is connected to the loins. If the loins fail, the whole body fails. The "loins" you are to gird up for battle spiritually are your heart and mind, your innermost man, and the center of your existence from where all the issues of life flow forth.
If your heart and mind is strong and disciplined, if you know God’s Word and your thoughts are constantly being brought into obedience to Christ then you will be strong and courageous during times of great trial, temptation, or attack by the enemy.
If you have a passive mind, you are an easy target for Satan. When your mind is in a state of passivity, your spiritual senses are dulled. You are vulnerable to every attack-deception, fear, temptation, oppression, depression, and eventually you will lose control of your thought life.
It is time for you to rise up, to march forward in new strength with a victorious mind. You must not be intimidated by the power of the enemy. You must not be fearful or cowardly. You must face the enemy with renewed spiritual aggressiveness and a determination to defeat him in every area of your life.
As you go out into the world today, gird up the loins of your heart and mind. Do not let your spiritual senses become dull. Be ready to face the attacks of the enemy. Strengthen your loins before you enter the battlefield.
God has made it possible for you to have a victorious mind, but you must learn to discipline your mind until it is fully governed by the Holy Spirit within you.
You can either set your mind for victory or for defeat. If you are continually allowing thoughts of failure and defeat, then you will be defeated. If your mind is continually fixed on the victory Christ has made possible for you, you will be victorious.
Proverbs 23:7 “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…”
What you program into a computer is exactly what is going to come out of it. If the information you program is incorrect, that is what you are going to retrieve from it. If what you program into a computer is one-hundred percent correct, the output will be one-hundred percent accurate.
The same principle is true regarding your mind. The thoughts, desires, and imaginations which you allow to fill your mind are what will govern your heart, be expressed through your words, and be manifested in your life.
It is time to reprogram your mind for battle! Begin today to take aggressive action against the enemy. Refuse to allow Satan to plant even one thought in your mind. If your mind is in turmoil, filled with fear or worry concerning the circumstances you are facing, then you must take control of these negative thoughts. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, take authority over the tactics of the enemy and reject every thought he tries to plant in your mind.
Whenever Satan tries to attack your mind, tell him: “Satan, you are a liar! You no longer have control over me. You have no control over my mind, thoughts, will, or emotions. God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound, well-disciplined mind.”
Prepare your mind for battle and go forth to walk in complete victory today!
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