GATHERING AND GIRDING

I made this note recently: ‘There are many kinds of gatherings, but I am supposed to ‘Gather Myself.’ I then heard gather your peace, thoughts, ideas, plans, prayers and dreams, etc. together. If we will not gather ourselves mentally we will become scattered and/or we will scatter others. The enemy of much gathering now is the cell phone. Be wise about its use and abuse. Our gathering is not to be gathered to our phones. We need to gather inside before we can effectively gather outside. Lastly, I wrote silence and prayer is your gathered experience.’

I later shared this note with my friend John. He mentioned a recent piece he heard on 1 Peter 1:13 about ‘gird up the loins of your mind.’ What a phrase.
I checked Matthew Henry’s (1662-1714) Commentary on this verse: “Gird up the loins of your mind. You have a journey to go, a race to run, a warfare to accomplish, and a great work to do; as the traveller, the racer, the warrior, and the laborer, gather in, and gird up, their long and loose garments, that they may be more ready, prompt, and expeditious in their business, so do you by your minds, your inner man, and affections seated there: gird them, gather them in, let them not hang loose and neglected about you; restrain their extravagances, and let the loins or strength and vigor of your minds be exerted in your duty; disengage yourselves from all that would hinder you, and go on resolutely in your obedience.”

I thought this to be direct instructions. Gathering and Girding of the mind is a distinct and obvious exercise. At least it is for me in this season.

“Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.” (Romans 8:5-6)

“Love the Lord… with your whole mind…” Jesus