Think About This: “Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee.”― Augustine of Hippo
The Daily Bible Reading: 1 Cor. 9-11. You can download our 2023 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here.
Posted on November 30, 2023 by Elizabeth Welte in Victory Call
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1
Is faith relegated to just some aspects of our life or does…can, faith matter in every area of our lives?
“The righteous shall live by faith.” Romans 1:17
In the past 6 months or so, I have not slept as soundly as I am accustomed to. On a regular basis I started to have trouble falling back asleep if I woke up at night. It was becoming more and more annoying. Probably 3-4 nights a week I’d be awake for an hour or two. What was keeping me awake? Who knows? It wasn’t worry that was waking me and keeping me awake, it was typically silly, unrelated things but once my brain kicked into gear I could be awake for an hour or more.
I was recently thinking about emptying my heart and mind of clutter and it dawned on me that to do so would certainly be helpful for a good night’s sleep. So each evening, by faith, I intentionally empty my heart and mind giving it over to Jesus. I think through what crowds my thoughts and I envision myself giving them to Jesus for safe keeping (since He never slumbers nor sleeps and will be up all night anyway[i]). I ask Jesus to keep those things, not until morning, but until He wants me to do something with them. I pray, “By faith Lord I give _________ to you and trust you to keep it” and I do the same for every area I can think of.
If I do awake during the night and something starts to invade the edges of my thinking, I pray “Lord, by faith, I have given that to you for safe keeping, I need not think about it now.”
Since I have started this practice, I am sleeping better –I am on a faith journey and am not dissuaded by a night of stirring. The 3-4 nights a week has dropped to 1 night in 3 weeks. I am learning and growing in practicing my faith even regarding my sleep. I am not boasting because believe me this isn’t something I can do. I am proclaiming that God IS able. “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,” Ephesians 3:20
I am willing to be a test case so that God’s faithfulness to safe-guard our thoughts, cares and concerns in the night watches may help many to sleep soundly by faith. … “casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7
I write this not because you need to know about my sleep habits but because so many people I talk to have trouble sleeping, perhaps you are one of them. I have met few people that have told me they sleep great – without medication. I share this so that if perchance it may help you sleep by faith.
Blessings,
Diane
[i] Psalm 121:3-4 “He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.”
Written by Diane Hunt: Diane Hunt serves on the board of America’s Keswick and is the Executive Director & CEO of Changed Choices, a Christian non-profit in North Carolina. She is also a biblical counselor and women’s event speaker. For more information about having Diane speak at your next event please contact her at dhunt@americaskeswick.org.
Think About This: “Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee.”― Augustine of Hippo
The Daily Bible Reading: 1 Cor. 9-11. You can download our 2023 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here.
This Week’s Verse to Memorize: “Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach.” Hebrews 13:12-13