A terrible thing to waste

There is an odd connection, in 1 Pe 4.7, between self-control, sober-mindedness, my prayers.

The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.

Exactly one chapter prior (3.7) we saw that I need to live well with Veronica. I am to honor her, or my prayers will get me nowhere.

This verse now tells me that it is my temperament and my right thinking that I have to stay on top of, for the very same reason, so that my prayers reap response.

For a guy who fell asleep three times when he was supposed to be praying, Peter certainly knows a lot of the do’s and don’ts on the subject.