I may have shared this before. When Mike and I were first married, someone broke into our apartment when we were at work. This was the second break in I had experienced, the other in another city. The police think I walked in on the first break in. I was so scared that someone would knock on the door and if I did not answer they would break the door in. I remember the police told me that there was not an alarm system they recommended - I should get a dog. With both of us working that was not an option. At that time Mike worked in management at UPS. I was home alone during the early evening. I was not the person I am now but God was working on me. One day I realized that I could ask God to watch over us while we slept and that is when I began to have peace and I could go to sleep. I was learning to trust God.
In the south you probably heard, "Good night, I reckon." I wondered where that saying came from and I could not find an answer. According to Merriam-Webster reckon means "to believe that something is true or possible". When we "reckon" we guess or expect something. I learned to expect to have a good night. I learned to trust that God was watching over me while I slept. Now, it has taken years and years for me to turn off the negative thoughts when I wake up during the night. I learned to constantly say, "God these are not thoughts from you. Please take them from me." Often times I would have to say that over and over. Eventually, I learned to not snowball those thoughts and stopped them as soon as they started.
What I am working on now is how to wake up and then be able to go to back to sleep. As I said yesterday, Psalm 3 and Psalm 4 are like bookends for morning and evening. These are soothing words to reflect on and repeat as I fall asleep. David shared the key to a good night's sleep. He reminded us that what is most important is what God thinks of us when we stand before Him. It doesn't matter what your friend, your neighbor, your coworker or anyone else thinks. We have to answer to God. David was being accused of a lot of things and like me, I am sure those things kept him up at night. I am sure he was hearing those voices, not of God, saying, "You are a fake. You are a lousy king. Remember what you did with Bathsheba? Even your son hates you." This is what David said when the day was over. Psalm 4, "When our day is over. Answer me when I call to you, my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; have mercy on me and hear my prayer. How long will you people turn my glory into shame? How long will you love delusions and seek false gods? Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant for himself; the Lord hears when I call to him. Tremble and do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. Offer the sacrifices of the righteous and trust in the Lord. Many, Lord, are asking, “Who will bri
ng us prosperity?” Let the light of your face shine on us. Fill my heart with joy when their grain and new wine abound. 8 In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety."
My new favorite thing to say as I go to sleep and when I wake up during the night is now verse 8, "In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety."
God works the night shift, not you! Ouch!