Girding up your loins

Question from Tim:

Brother Bob, what does it mean in the Bible when it says to "gird up your loins"?

Answer from Pastor Bob:

This is an expression similar to our English saying, "roll up your sleeves." It comes from the ancients who wore robes, but needed to pull them above their knees and tuck them in their belt (girdle) to have freedom of movement. Thus "gird up your loins" mean to pull up your robe and tuck it into your belt for action.
That is why 1 Peter 1:13 says in the King James Version, "Gird up the loins of your mind..." and in New International Version the same verse says, "Therefore, prepare your minds for action..."