Not The Pillow Its The Restful Mind For Colossal Sleep
“God rested-and He wasn’t tired” Anonymous
I laid my head on the pillow, and a song began forming in my slumbering mind.
“Jesus, Jesus Lord to me, master, savior, prince of peace…”
My head sank deeper into the pillow. I am enraptured in the soothing, melodious words of this song as it played in my mind.
Soon I was sound asleep only to awake 2 or 3 times through the night. Then I would again hear this song playing in the background. This happens most nights, fortunately with different songs.
Questions?
Does this happen to you?
Am I the only one?
I don’t believe I am.
Read what the ancients wrote
One of the ancients, Job, said this about God as recorded in Job 35:10.
“…who gives songs in the night.”
King David wrote;
“…in the night His song shall be with me-“ (Ps.42:8)Then there was Paul and Silas. Awake at midnight praying and singing hymns to God while prisoners listened. (Acts 16:25)
Seems like I’m in pretty good company!
Why would God give “songs in the night”?
Some reasons are very evident.
- God loves us and desires that we have a deep, restful sleep.
It is vain for you to rise up early, To sit up late, To eat the bread of sorrows; For so He gives His beloved sleep. Ps. 127:2
Music soothes the troubled soul.
Songs of worship draw us closer to Him and in Him is the peace that passes understanding.
It is in the quiet of the night time hour when the physical busyness of our day is past.
God wants to take us aside and revel in His presence.
Life’s distractions have faded with the setting sun. Our verbal communication with others is over, so now He draws us into His embrace.
Did I hear someone say; “No distractions!
“I have all the pressures of the world bearing down on me,” you say.
Remember, Its Not The Pillow, Its The Restful Mind For Colossal Sleep
The prerequisite for having the midnight song resonating in your spirit is a vital relationship with God.
The men, Job, King David, Paul, and Silas mentioned in the scripture above knew God. Each had an intimate relationship with Him.
Without that, chaos rules the night.
Some items to scrap off the plate during the day.
1. The phone calls left on the voicemail, were they returned throughout the day?
2. The e-mail, was a reply sent?
3. Were the necessary visits made?
4. Items left unsettled that you should have taken care of earlier?
5. Have you made peace with your past?
Are you awake at night rehashing repented sins? Sins which you are not sure God has forgiven? Click on this: Good News About Sin; Seven Statements
It was Anonymous who said;
“The past is always going to be what it was, stop trying to change it.”
Some things are not so easy to take care of.
Make the choice to plan for change.
Here are a few ideas to consider.
1. Live each day in the orchard of the fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:25 instructs us to “walk” in this orchard.
Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
2. Have you ever noticed that in Ephesians 4:26 we read this command;
“not let the sun go down on our wrath.”
Where I live, sunset precedes my going to bed from one to four hours depending on the season of the year.
So I have time to think. To settle remaining issues and relax before my head hits the pillow.
You might ask, why songs in the night?
Midnight songs keep us adjusted to the truth that God loves and cares for us. At times I almost think I hear songs from God’s side of heaven. Then there are times when He speaks, and I have to pour out words of repentance. At other times His assurance wraps around my soul, and all is well.
Then this song bubbles up within me:
“My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought.
My sin not in part, but the whole nailed to the cross, and I hear it no more,
Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, O my soul!
It is well with my soul, It is well with my soul.
(verse 3 of It is Well With My Soul Horatio G. Spafford and Philip B. Bliss)
So, may you sleep well and hear heaven’s choir join with you in worship.
Songs in the night to our God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Sleep well, my friend.
Good night,
Richard