“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary, the devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”
1 Peter 5:8
I always thought of being sober-minded as not being drunk or under the influence of some drug. Although that is true, the NASB translates “soberly minded” as “sober in spirit.” The 1 century Jews believed the spirit was directly connected to one’s mind and emotions. To be of sober mind or spirit means to be self-controlled, temperate, calm, and collected in your mind and emotions.
God’s word has a lot to say about the importance of having a sober mind. 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, walks like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” A lion, like many felines, stalks its prey. It crouches down low to the ground, hidden. It watches and monitors its prey and waits for the perfect moment to pounce. Lions are clever in the hunt but also lazy, so they have strategic methods to minimize their efforts.
I doubt our enemy is any different. They are strategic and calculated. Perhaps they attack alone or in packs. Either way, our enemy knows us. They know our weaknesses, as well as who and when to attack. When we allow our minds to be clouded and we lack sobriety, we make ourselves susceptible to attack.
Vigilance
Peter also advises the believer to be watchful or vigilant. Contextually, to be vigilant is to give strict attention to, be cautious, and active — lest one fall into sin. Sober-mindedness and vigilance go hand in hand. If your mind is clouded, you are less vigilant, and your judgment will also be clouded. If our judgment is related to our decisions, our decisions today have long-term effects. The author C.S. Lewis put it this way, “Good and evil both increase at compound interest. That is why the little decisions you and I make every day are of such infinite importance.” Lewis is saying that we reap what we sow. If we make good decisions, we will reap good rewards in the future.
“Good and evil both increase at compound interest. That is why the little decisions you and I make every day are of such infinite importance.”
– C.S. Lewis
Regarding making bad decisions, Lewis says, “An apparently trivial indulgence in lust or anger today is the loss of a ridge or railway line or bridgehead from which the enemy may launch an attack otherwise impossible.” Anger and lust are intoxicating aspects of our humanity that affect our ability to be sober-minded and vigilant. In 2 Corinthians 2:11, Paul tells us not to be ignorant of Satan’s evil schemes. He instructs us to be watchful (vigilant) and not to fall into them. When sober-minded, we are more aware and alert to what is happening in the natural and supernatural worlds. In our vigilance, we can watch out for areas we that make us vulnerable to attacks.
Armor of God
Now, we know that having a sober mind is not our only line of defense against Spiritual attack. A sober mind helps us be aware of the potential of an attack. We need the whole armor of God as outlined in Ephesians 6:10. But, in 1 Thessalonians 4:8, Paul directly connects being sober to the armor of God. He says, “Since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.” Paul contrasts people of the children of God with children of the world who will be caught off guard at the return of Christ. He is calling believers to be sober SO THAT we can remain in the armor of God. In particular, our assurance in faith, love, and hope. A sober-minded person has already put on their armor.
Keeping a Clear Mind = Self Control
Additionally, we can control our mind, emotions, and body in sobriety. Paul instructs Timothy (2 Timothy 4:5) to be sober-minded. The NLT uses the words “keep a clear mind.” Many things aside from alcohol and drugs can cloud our minds and affect our emotions and bodies. As previously mentioned, Anger and lust are intoxicating to the mind. Let’s keep the list going: envy, fear, anxiety, sugar, caffeine, gluttony, vanity, materialism, lack of sleep or rest, and many sins of the flesh prevent a clear mind. It is not to say you can’t have coffee or sweet treats. Like alcohol, we need to be cognitive of the intoxicating aspects of overindulging and demonstrate self-control with anything that can prevent us from having a clear mind and making choices that honor God. Peter says in 1 Peter 4:7b “be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.” The NLT says to be “disciplined in prayer,” implying that one not clear-headed will not be disciplined. If we aren’t disciplined in prayer, what else are we uninhabited in?
Application
If you are anything like me, you don’t do this perfectly. Where do we start? Here are some practical starting points:
- Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to convict you of what keeps you from being sober-minded. Let go of the things you know you need to let go of. (John 16:8)
- Be free from the works of the flesh and walk in the Spirit. (Galatians 5:19-26)
- Spend time in the word and implement what it is being instructed. (Hebrews 4:11 James 1:22)
Remember, friend, that being sober-minded is part of sanctification, a process that takes time and effort. It is not going to be comfortable. Jesus said to pick up our cross daily and follow Him (Luke 9:23). It’s a daily decision to live a life that honors God and requires dying to yourself. If you desire to be sober-minded, you have already taken the first step. Click here to take the next step and dive into renewing your mind. Let us come alongside each other and encourage one another in this process. Leave a comment and share your thoughts.
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