1 Peter 1:13-25

Be Still: Truly my soul waits in silence for you, O God; from you comes my salvation. Still the noise within me, silence every voice but Yours. Make space in my heart for your Word.

Read: 1 Peter 1:13-25

'So, you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then.' (v14)

Encounter: In this passage, Peter shifts from addressing physical trials to speaking about temptations. These are often battles within us that go unseen and unnoticed by others. Peter’s message is clear, don’t backslide. Don’t go back to the way you used to think and live. Peter understands that there are all sorts of things that want to drag us back to our old ways. From the moment we wake up, are bombarded with all sorts of voices in our culture trying to tell us how to live. The majority of which are attempts to pull us back to an empty way of life.

Peter reminds us that each of us has been ransomed. You have been bought with the precious blood of Christ and, subsequently, your old life is in the ongoing process of fading away.

We must be alert to the reality of those things inside us and outside of us that want to lure us back to old habits. Peter’s instruction to us is both practical and powerful, ‘Prepare your minds for action.’ In other words, be alert and be Read:y to take action when needed. We cannot sleepwalk our way through life and grow in holiness. The opposite temptation is to isolate ourselves from the world. But we are called to be in the world whilst not being of the world.

We stay alert through prayer, Read:ing scripture and inviting the Holy Spirit to strengthen us.

Apply: Take a moment to reflect and ask God if there are any areas of your life where you’re beginning to drift back to old habits. Invite Him to speak into that and to strengthen you in His love.

Devote: O Lord, teach my heart to follow you in all my ways. Strengthen my resolve and protect me from the pull of my old ways.