14th. July.2022.Daily Devotions.
Proverbs 3:24
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
We all have our own unique patterns, habits, and problems when it comes to sleep. Some of us feel that we don’t get enough sleep, whilst others say they sleep too much and some struggle more with the quality of their sleep rather than the quantity. When sleep problems occur very frequently or begin to affect your day-today life, this may be a sign that you’re suffering from insomnia, which can have a negative effect on both your physical and mental health. 36% of UK adults struggle to get to sleep at least on a weekly basis Almost 1 in 5 have trouble falling asleep every single night. Nearly half of the UK have trouble falling asleep at least once a month.
~ Insomnia Statistics 2021
This probably isn’t really news to you especially if you are plagued by fear or anxiety. Proverbs tells us that fear is really a wisdom problem, which ultimately is a trust and worship problem. Today’s passage urges us to keep a tight focus on wisdom and understanding There is a reward for holding onto wisdom, “When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet”
A mentor once told me that one of the most significant ways to worship God is to sleep, because sleep is a physical way of saying, “I’m not God.” Resting in God means we give up our controls and acknowledge that God alone is in charge. “Have no fear of sudden disaster.” Why? “The Lord will be at your side” (vv. 25-26).
Solomon tells us the same, that sweet sleep is a consequence of trusting in the Lord, of seeking His wisdom. That is easier said than done, of course, but Proverbs provides us a way forward: trust the Lord, seek His wisdom, and rest in His watchful care. In sum, restful, peaceful sleep is the result of living in right relationship with the God who created us.
If you are struggling with sleep, use that time to pray and ask God for wisdom. Give Him each worry that is on your mind, acknowledging that He alone is in control. Seek wisdom and trust the Lord to care for you.
~ R L Meek.
Heavenly Father, take our worries and anxieties and let us sleep deeply and soundly tonight. Nourish our bodies with good sleep. Let us awake refreshed and restored in body, mind, and spirit. Amen
Come to Our Aid
In the morning Abraham called upon you on the mountain top and you answered him, O lover of men; and in the morning I call upon you, come to my aid and the aid of all your servants, O God, full of mercy, hallelujah, and have mercy upon us. Amen.
May we never feel forsaken, O Lord, whether in the quietness of our resting, in the storms of the day, in the cares of the world or in the journey of life. Amen.
~ Søren Kierkegaard (1813-1855)
For the refugee, ‘displaced’, afraid, and homeless; for the ‘unplaced’ child in care, longing for a new foster home; for the elderly dementia sufferer, with ‘misplaced’ words and straying thoughts; for the ‘placeless’ young person alone on the streets, all family ties broken; for the ‘out of place’ folks who don’t seem to fit in with society or even themselves; and for those now ‘replaced’, no longer needed for whatever reason. Lord, we thank you that we are all your children and that, whoever we are, and whatever our circumstances, there is a place in your kingdom of love for us all. Amen.
