I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night.
I think of how much you have helped me; I sing for joy in the shadow of your protecting wings. (Psalm 63:6,7 NLT)
I wake up several times every night. I usually fall back to sleep fairly quickly, but occasionally I’m awake for an hour or more.
During that time, my nighttime thoughts flit here and there. They land first on a recent frustration and then on tomorrow’s to-do list. They bounce next to a worship song, and from there, they land on mental pictures of my kids and grandchildren. They continue moving from one thought to another unless I cage them and pray over them.
The psalmist experienced sleeplessness too, and he learned how to deal with his thoughts during those hours. He reined them in and meditated on God, specifically on how much He’d helped him. The result? Joy, and a deeper sense of God’s presence and protection. I think I could learn a thing or two by following his example.
How about you? Where do your nighttime thoughts take you when you can’t sleep? How might focusing on how God’s helped you in the past change things for you?
“Father, You know our weaknesses and that our minds don’t naturally gravitate toward You. When we can’t sleep at night, please help us focus our thoughts on You. You deserve our attention. Amen.”
#bgbg2 #devotions #NighttimeThoughts
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