Before Jesus changed my life, I had only heard the word ‘sober’ in relation to alcohol. As in someone that wasn’t intoxicated or who didn’t partake of alcoholic beverages anymore, was sober, or had sobered up. It wasn’t until I became a student of the Bible that I learned about being sober-minded. That schooling began over thirteen years ago and continues to be the most valuable lesson God has taught me.
Maybe you’re like I was, and automatically think of sober as being free of substances that alter the mind, mood, and behavior. In this article, I’ll share what the Bible says about being sober-minded, why it’s crucial for you to know how to be sober, and take you through some steps I took to understand the biblical meaning of the word ‘sober’.
Being sober-minded in the Bible
Several verses tell us to be sober-minded in the Bible. I use the King James Version, so I may list more than what you can find in the search feature of your Bible app, and my verses may look different from yours.
Using the Blue Letter Bible App, I found that the word ‘sober’ appears 12 times in the KJV, all in the New Testament.
- 2 Corinthians 5:13 KJV – For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:6 KJV – Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:8 KJV – But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
- 1 Timothy 3:2 KJV -A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
- 1 Timothy 3:11 KJV – Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
- Titus 1:8 KJV – But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
- Titus 2:2 KJV – That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.
- Titus 2:4 KJV – That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
- Titus 2:6 KJV – Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.
- 1 Peter 1:13 KJV – Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
- 1 Peter 4:7 KJV – But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
- 1 Peter 5:8 KJV – Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
What Does it Mean to Be Sober-Minded in the Bible?
If we look at each use of the word ‘sober’ in the Bible, read the context, and compare each of the scriptures on being sober-minded together, we come up with a well-rounded understanding of what it means to be sober.
Establishing context and comparing scripture with scripture are the top two rules for accurate biblical interpretation and application!
In Titus 2:4, for example, the word ‘sober’ is the Greek word sophronizo, which means to make of a sound mind, discipline, or correct. This word comes from the Greek word sophron, which is self-controlled, discreet, and temperate.
Sober-minded in the Bible means to be in control of your thoughts.
Your emotions follow where your mind goes, and that drives your behavior. So if you learn how to be sober-minded, then you can be a steady steward of the gospel.
For more Bible study tips:
3 Study Tips to Sweeten Bitter Scriptures: Dealing with difficult bible verses
Bible Study for Busy Women~ 20 Minute Word Study
3 Questions to Ask When Studying the Bible
How to Study the Bible in 7 Simple Steps
How to Be Sober-Minded
Ephesians 4:23 and Romans 12:2 both instruct us to renew our minds. A sound mind is not something we naturally possess, we attain it through internalizing and applying the word of God. We need to be sober-minded to be emotionally stable and spiritually strong.
Besides Titus 2:4, sober-minded in the Bible also means being circumspect, aware, and alert to the enemy, as in 1Peter 5:8. In order to be sober, we have to guard our thoughts, cast down imaginations, and think on things that are true.
I wrote about how to practice being sober-minded here: 6 Steps to a Sober Mind.
Romans 12:2 KJV~ And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
10 Benefits of a Sober Mind
We’re told to be sober-minded in the Bible, but what are the benefits of having a sober mind? Here are just ten blessings of being sober-minded:
- Greater knowledge of God
- Stronger faith
- Being grounded in Truth
- Biblical discernment
- Staying steadfast in ministry
- Suffering well through trials and tribulations
- Protection from false doctrine
- Ability to resist temptation
- Guarded hearts
- Humility
When we’re not being sober-minded, we’re self-focused, unstable, emotional, doubtful, and unfaithful. That’s exactly the person I was before I learned how to be a sober woman.
Are You Sober-Minded?
What about you? Are you a sober-minded woman?
You can be faithful, and stable, trust God, and see spiritual warfare for what it is. You just have to practice renewing your mind.
Start by writing out the thoughts and feelings that dominate your life right now. Then see what the Bible says about that. It is our absolute authority on every issue in life!
Write out the verse that stands out the most and memorize it. The next time the temptation comes to have an emotional explosion or worry yourself sick, pray and recite the scripture.
The Holy Spirit will help you be sober-minded. You just have to let Him rule you, and not your flesh.
Take what you’ve learned about sober-minded in the Bible and apply it to your life. You will be amazed at the transformation in your mind, mouth, manners, and ministry. You will walk in the wisdom of God’s word, and draw others to Jesus.
Additional Articles About Being Sober-minded:
What Does it Mean to Be Sober in the Bible?
16 Scriptures for a Sober Mind
How to be Sober in Stressful Times
The Importance of a Sober Mind in Times of Transition
What Does it Mean to Be Sober?
18 Psalms for a Sober Mind in Suffering
The Importance of a Sober Mind for Spiritual Stability
Get a Jesus Journal to Cultivate a Sober Mind!
Jesus was sober-minded. The more we learn about Jesus, the more we will be like Him! I designed and published a tool to help Christian women do just that. My Jesus Journal focuses your time in the word on Jesus and helps you cultivate a closer relationship with Him.
My Jesus Journal has space to record the date, the scriptures you read, and lined spaces to write your observations about Jesus. There is a verse from the KJV Bible at the bottom of those pages. The next page is for writing your prayers related to what you discovered in your reading. And there are extra prayer pages in the back.
Beautiful, portable, and affordable!
If you are looking for a tool to help you grow in your knowledge of Jesus, build intimacy into your relationship with Him, and deepen your love for the Lord, then My Jesus Journal is just what you need!
My Jesus Journal is just the right size to fit into your purse, backpack, or diaper bag. Grow on the go when you use wait times in the Doctor’s office, the carpool line, etc. for Bible study.
Priced at just $8.99, you can purchase one for yourself and a friend. Or consider buying one for your entire ministry, to begin a season of seeking Jesus together. It makes an excellent gift for any Christian woman in your life!
ORDER YOUR MY JESUS JOURNAL HERE
Are you looking for a guest blogger?
Need someone to contribute articles to your website, or collaborate with you on a project? Then view my portfolio and my beliefs to see if I would be a good fit for your readers. Contact me at dailyhisdisciple@gmail.com.
FREE How to Study the Bible Guide
I used the steps I shared in my post on how to do a biblical word study to discover the importance of a sober mind for our spiritual growth. It’s a simple process that helps you dig deeper into the scriptures and gain more understanding of biblical principles.
I’ve also written a 17-page guide on how to study the Bible, which is available for free in my resource library. It has step-by-step instructions, study sheets, study guidelines, and more! Want to dig deeper into the Bible, but don’t know where to start? This free handbook is for you!
My devotional bundle titled 7 Days to More Peace of Mind is also available for free when you subscribe.
If you want a copy of that and access to more tools for spiritual growth, including my regular posts in your inbox, then hit the subscribe button and enter your email address to sign up. (If you are on your mobile device, the tab to subscribe is on the left side of your screen. It is at the bottom of the page if you are on your desktop.)
When you do that, you will get a confirmation email with the password to my Resource Library.
Already subscribed to Daily His Disciple? Email me and I will send you the link and password!
Pray With Confidence
Prayer helps us to be sober-minded. If you would like to grow in your prayer life, then check out Pray with Confidence. It’s a website for helping women overcome prayer obstacles, and I am one of the regular contributors. Here are some articles I wrote that will renew your mind and strengthen your prayer life:
3 Short Prayers for Spiritual Stability
When Your Prayer for Pain Relief Goes Unanswered
Check out the prayer resources, Bible verses, and tough questions tabs as well. There are many great options for your spiritual growth!
We have Him to thank for sober and sound minds, worry, fear, lots of things to renew our thoughts on.
Yes, praise the Lord for His word and His grace!