Wednesday. Word.

1Peter4 continued...

7... Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.

Be clear minded. So easily I read this and really don't think about what this means to be clear minded and self-controlled. It's easy to become distracted by worrying, relationships, friendships, how we look, and material things. When we do this we lose sight of what really matters.

Personally when I get distracted by these things my prayers become more of what I want right in that moment, and less of what Christ wants for me. My thoughts are filled with doubt, confusion, wanting more, not being satisfied, etc. I am definitely not clear minded to think about situations the way I should.

Psalm 10:4 In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.

Be self-controlled. We know what is right and wrong. We know. We come up with excuses for our sins to try and justify why we do things that we know are not good for us or others. I'm definitely guilty of this. .

6So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and SELF-CONTROLLED. 7For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8But since we belong to the day, let us be SELF-CONTROLLED, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1Thessalonians 5:6-9

Relating this to dating...

Example: I was talking to a friend one day about how I date. I was trying to justify getting to know someone quickly so that I'll know right away whether I should spend anymore time with a guy. See I don't want to waste anymore time. I found myself getting really defensive in this conversation about dating, and remember thinking my friend just doesn't get it. Finally, after I was done trying to justify and convince him to understand my perspective he said something that I consider profound :

So you've done it your way and how has that worked for you? Where has that gotten you?

Wow. I've never thought about it that way. When I've done it my way I have not been clear minded or self-controlled and this caused me to not protect my heart (Proverbs 4:23). When I've done it my way...well I'm still single so I guess that hasn't worked. There has been much heartache, pain, regrets, feelings of being unlovable, not good enough... the list could go on and on.

Why trust myself when I have a perfect and loving God who has a perfect will for my life?

Proverbs 3:5 "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean NOT on your own understanding"

2 Samuel 22:31 "As for God, his way is PERFECT; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.

I've definitely been that person that pretty much says:

"Hey God, I got this. If you wanna come along for the ride thats fine, but I got this."

Where has that gotten me? Nowhere good.

Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.

Looking back I remember times where I literally didn't pray because I didn't want to have to admit where I had been wrong. I didn't want to have to face the fact that I was really hurt and needed someone to help me...I needed Christ. So when this verse says "so that you can pray", that's what I think of. When I wasn't clear minded and had guilt of not being self controlled by making decisions that hurt me and others...I literally didn't pray. I didn't know what to pray or how to pray.

I'm starting to watch my thoughts because I know that my thought lead to actions. When I spend time in the word and prayer, focusing less on me and more on Christ my thoughts become pure and I start to find more discernment. I make less regrettable comments/decisions and become much more clear minded and self-controlled.

1Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus

Hebrew 3:1