7The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. 1 Peter 4:7

There are things that get in the way of prayer.

It’s hard to pray when you are drunk or sloppy in spiritual life. Chasing sin, chasing riches, chasing flesh is counter to pursuing God. The mind drunk with the flesh is not in a place for any kind of spiritual work.

Prayer is integral to all of life and we should always be appropriate to approach God. Eccl 5:2 said, “Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God.” Slurred speech and addled minds are not serious enough to be bringing up a matter with God.

Peter said earlier to “be holy in all of your behavior” 1:15. He doesn’t mean in ALL of your behavior EXCEPT when your not, except when you’ve decided to indulge your flesh for an hour. The hour has a way of becoming a season. It would be a shame for Jesus to return during that hour or season.

The 5 virgins were irresponsible in their duties. They had one job to do, just be ready for the coming of the bridegroom, and they blew it. They were foolish, a Greek word I think we get our word MORON from. Not being sober and alert is, uh, MORONIC.

Being present is only possible when we are alert and sober minded.

The Bible often reminds the reader to be alert. Troubles and challenges happen at inopportune times. Troubles in life, emergencies, responsibilities etc can pop up when least expected. BE ALERT AND SOBER IN MIND.

I used to know a man who was flush faced every night with the smell of alcohol oozing from his pores. He was mostly good natured and kind, except when he wasn’t, and one of his poor daughters got all of his affection while the other got snarls. I wasn’t even a father at the time but knew the beer was no friend..

We should be alert and sober when you pray.

I used to counsel a man who would call me when drunk. The crying, smelly liquor, snot and slobbering crying on my shirt was nauseating. He would talk about God. I just thought how much more it would mean if he talked to God before he started drinking..

Are we holding on to some “encumbrances” that hinder sober and alert living?

The goal of life is too serious for

“….let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Heb 12:1-2

Beginning of that verse is that we have many witnesses, and so we should run well. The only living that is appropriate knowing God and a multitude of witnesses are watching, SOBER AND ALERT.

To be anything else, say on the Sunday NFL game or in an Olympic event, would be comical.. But I don’t think comical living is what we should aim for.

We have to know that Jesus is coming soon. And should we die before it, meeting God face to face could be an uncomfortable situation.

Treating our wives in an unkind way will hinder prayers according to 1 Peter 3:7.

We should be alert and sober when driving or operating heavy machinery.

We should be alert and sober when marrying and raising a family.

We should be alert and sober when choosing friends.

We should be alert and sober before God because God will not listen to every prayer.

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