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Where would you and I be without mothers? They teach an untold number of practical things. They teach us how to make the bed, brush our teeth and fasten our shoes. And that’s usually after we learn to walk, use the bathroom and dress ourselves. Another thing mothers teach is using care when setting down a glass of water. I’m sure you’ve seen a child plop a cup or glass down on the edge of the table, with part of it hanging off. The mother rescues the teetering glass and prompts the child to place it fully onto the table.

Peter does something similar in 1 Peter 1:13, “Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (NIV 1984)

Instead of using care in setting down a glass, Peter instructs us about where to place our hope. It must be fully on the grace we will receive when Jesus returns. Yes, we have a hope of eternal life that can never perish, spoil or fade, but only if it rests on grace. But why this reminder? Because we face a life filled with trials. If our hope teeters on the edge, then the bumps and bruises of life may send it crashing to the ground. Remember, we’ve been given grace now and we’ll have his grace at his coming.

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Visit Elmer Fuller’s author website at: https://www.elmerfuller.com/

Bumper music “Landing Place” performed by Mark July, used under license from Shutterstock.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:00 — 3.7MB)

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American-style football requires athletes to exercise self-control on many levels. One level is the discipline to appear at practice and workouts to learn the plays and develop the skills, strength and stamina needed to compete. Every athlete in the NFL has this level of self-discipline. Another level is to wait for the hike to execute the play. With just a few exceptions, every NFL athlete does this consistently. What is harder is keeping your cool in the midst of an emotional, hard-fought game. Players penalize their teams for lack of self-control. They get flagged for taunting or unnecessary roughness. Sometimes, it leads to the team’s defeat as it did for the Bengals in the AFC Championship Game. A personal foul in the closing seconds moved the Chiefs into field goal range. They scored and won.

Listen to 1 Peter 1:13, “Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (NIV 1984)  Did you hear the encouragement to be self-controlled? When we look at our lives, we may see a level of self-control. We may see habits of prayer, bible reading and involvement in church or a small group. But our self-control must go to the next level. We pour ourselves into life. We may become exhausted or frustrated or experience other intense emotions, good or bad. It is especially during these moments we must keep ourselves in bounds.

How to leave a review: https://www.sparkingfaith.com/rate-and-review/

Visit Elmer Fuller’s author website at: https://www.elmerfuller.com/

Bumper music “Landing Place” performed by Mark July, used under license from Shutterstock.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:00 — 3.7MB)

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I am thrilled with the Kansas City Chiefs for defeating the Cincinnati Bengals for the NFL AFC Championship game. As a fan, I love it when my team wins. I’m sure you also love it when your team wins.

I am even happier that the Chiefs defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in the Superbowl. In both games, my team came prepared physically and mentally. Both are important. But mental preparation may be more important. Coaches often remind players to think, to get their heads in the game. Stupid penalties and the lack of concentration are costly when the stakes are high.

The same is true in life. We have to prepare our attitudes for the spiritual battle much like athletes must prepare for the big game. The apostle Peter reminds us about this. After opening his first letter extolling God for our new birth into the living hope of a future inheritance promised and guarded by God, he urges us to do seven things. This week, we’ll examine each of them. 1 Peter 1:13 says, “Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (NIV 1984)

Peter is our spiritual coach telling us “prepare your minds for action.” We must exert ourselves as followers of Jesus. Get your head in the game. React quickly and stay on course following Jesus.

How to leave a review: https://www.sparkingfaith.com/rate-and-review/

Visit Elmer Fuller’s author website at: https://www.elmerfuller.com/

Bumper music “Landing Place” performed by Mark July, used under license from Shutterstock.