"When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches, for You have been my help, and in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy. My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me." Psalm 63:6-8
Are you among the 50% of adult Americans who consider themselves a problem sleeper – who cannot fall asleep or stay asleep through the night? I have learned to use those hours to press into the Lord. Rather than allowing my mind to be bombarded with the events of the day or anxieties concerning the upcoming day, I use this time in the darkness to do as David did; I meditate on the Lord. It is as simple as that. Rather than listening to a teaching on a podcast, as I have so often done, I just keep the lights and the social media devices off, and I relish the darkness, having my eyes closed to all the distractions of life, I block out everything and everyone, and remember Him upon my bed as David did. As I do so, I recall His faithfulness throughout the day. When I take that time to recall events of my day I look for Him, and I recognize how His help was there. It is a time of gratitude expressed for His faithfulness in the mundane things of life that we can so easily take for granted. The result is a feeling of snuggling up under the wings of Our Almighty God safe and secure immersed in an awareness of His love.
Night time is a golden opportunity to be still and silence the noises of life. We have lost the value of quiet time alone, and yet it is absolutely necessary for a healthy life spiritually and physically. However, we have become a society afraid of being alone and afraid of silence. Yet, this should be a priority in our lives to discipline ourselves to be alone in God’s presence on a daily basis. We need to hear His voice more than anyone else’s. Only He can speak the Words of Life to you personally. Meditate on that alone. Whose wisdom can compare with His? No one is as intimately acquainted with you as the One who created you. He is all knowing. He knows your worries and cares without you speaking a word. He already knows, and He is always available anytime we need Him. We cannot flee from His presence. He is omnipresent!
David tells us how his soul clings to His God and he acknowledges His righteous right hand upholding him. We can do the same — especially during the night when we are alone and cannot sleep. It helps if we end our day with comforting Psalms such as this one. Read your Bible before you go to bed. Most of us are exhausted mentally, which makes the Psalms a great choice. They are easy to understand and words we can relate to. Sometimes I offer up an old hymn to my Father. You don’t have to sing out loud; I just sing it in my spirit to Him. He hears. Enter deeply into the spiritual realm with the Holy Spirit. Not only will all of life’s issues be resolved from the day, but you will be armed and fully refreshed going into the day you are approaching. I end with the wise words of Psalm 1:1-2:
"How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night."
In His love.
Teresa Roberts
Masterpiece Fitness
276-237-6680
Yesterday the Lord enabled Marilyn Hanks, Julie Kinney, and I to have a blast conquering obstacles in the Marine Corp Mud Run in Pinnacle, NC! He truly is the Lifegiver!
