yourselves for the sake of your prayers, indicates that a regular pattern of praying is envisioned, not a single act. The church is seen as a praying community (cf. Acts 2:42; 4:23–31). To maintain such a life of prayer, two special qualities are enjoined: Be serious, and Discipline yourselves. The first word means literally “to think clearly” or “to keep one’s head,” an appropriate admonition when facing the consummation of history. For Peter, prayer includes and does not exclude an appropriate