#JustFiveMinutes

Continuing on in 1 Peter to the next paragraph in The Message Version... We must live my life with a deep consciousness of GOD... of who HE is, of what HE has done for us,  of HIS many blessings, of HIS love, of HIS mercy and of HIS grace.

Today I want to encourage you: if you are living a sloppy life, an "I don't care" kind of life... let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness! 

This third part gels with everything else we've been talking about: BE TOTALLY READY! We already talked about two ways to be ready: #1) SO ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES and #2) PUT YOUR MIND IN GEAR... Here's the third way: Don't lazily slip back into your old grooves of evil. We have got to be vigilant and keep our relationship with HIM vibrant. One way I try to keep things fresh is by reading scripture in different translations. Another? By listening to Praise and Worship songs in Spanish. Like "Do It Again" by #ElevationWorship song in Spanish titled "Lo Haras Otra Vez" 

I read another exert from the devotional found at https://www.keepbelieving.com/sermon/get-your-mind-in-gear/ by Ray Pritchard.

1 peter 1.13:16 MSG

So roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, be totally ready to receive the gift that’s coming when Jesus arrives. Don’t lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn’t know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, “I am holy; you be holy.”

Continuing to break down this powerful section of 1 Peter 1 and focusing on THE MIND. Such a spiritually logistically important area. The Message version tells us to PUT OUR MIND IN GEAR. How? By controlling what we dwell on.  If it's not TRUE or HONORABLE or EXCELLENT or COMMENDABLE or PRAISE WORTHY... then WE DON'T THINK ABOUT IT.

Read an exert from a great devotion found at https://www.keepbelieving.com/sermon/get-your-mind-in-gear/ by Ray Pritchard.

Awesome anthem titled "Surrounded" in which the infectious bridge rings out: "It may look like I'm surrounded, but I'm surrounded by YOU!"

1 Peter 1.13:16 MSG

So roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, be totally ready to receive the gift that’s coming when Jesus arrives. Don’t lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn’t know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, “I am holy; you be holy.”

Lets hit the ground running... I've been reading and listening to 1 Peter on repeat for a week going on two weeks. (Did you know that on the @Youversion Bible App you can hit the PLAY button and listen to Bible. Great for when you're working out, driving, cleaning, whatever.) So let's break these verses down starting with the first five words: SO ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES!

1 Peter 1.13-16 MSG: So roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, be totally ready to receive the gift that’s coming when Jesus arrives. Don’t lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn’t know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, “I am holy; you be holy.”

Also shout out to #ElevationWorship and #TaurenWells for an awesome, uplifting, fist pumping worship song: Never Lost... That chorus: "You've never lost a battle... You never will" On repeat currently.

Fifth and Final Part of #HopeWeek. You ready to be encouraged? Did you know that when we place our HOPE in GOD we reap the benefits? Unfailing LOVE, full REDEMPTION and renewed STRENGTH. Those three alone are worth it!

Today I want to talk about ANCHORS... Our HOPE is an ANCHOR and first off we have to make sure we have then RIGHT ANCHOR and then that we are anchored to the RIGHT PLACE.

In Part 2 on #HopeWeek... Let's talk about how GOD IS OUR HOPE. We can make our hope people, places and things but people are imperfect, places and situations change and things just fade and disappear. So why not make GOD YOUR HOPE? Psalms 71:5 syas, "Lord GOD, you are my HOPE. I have trusted you since I was a young boy."