alert and sober

1 Peter is an important letter for us who, like the author, are beginning to experience the turning of culture not only away from faith in Christ but in some cases, on the faith.  Three times Peter advises his readers, and by Holy Spirit extension, us, to "be alert and sober".

He urges us, "with minds that are alert and fully sober, [to] set our hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at His Coming" (1:13).  We keep our eyes on The Prize, so that "the eyes of our heart may be enlightened in order that [we] may know the hope to which He has called us" (Ephesians 1:18).   Not the false hope offered by this world, but the true hope that "does not disappoint us, because God pours His Love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit" (Romans 5:5)

Peter also warns us to "be alert and of sober mind [since our] enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.  Resist Him, standing firm in the faith" (5:8-9).  We stand on Jesus, The Hope and The Rock of our salvation.

Peter encourages us to "be alert and of sober mind so that [we] may pray" (4:7).  

We need to prune the hundreds of distracting words and images that we now consume daily so that we have energy and focus to pray about what is ours to pray about.  As Psalm 131 says, "I don't occupy myself with things that are too much for me, but I have calmed and quieted myself...put[ting my] hope in The Lord both now and evermore".