Together in Christ: 'Resting in the Lord' — Psalm 4:7-8

I was never a very good sleeper when I was younger. I quit taking naps at an early age. Once I was in my teenage years, I rarely slept for more than four or five hours a night. College wasn't any better. Getting married and spending my life in ministry, preaching, and pastoring people only made sleep harder. Granted, the Lord often used my few hours of sleep to prompt me with ideas for sermons, connections between people who were dealing with sin in their lives, things I had forgotten to finish, and bringing people to my heart that needed a touch of grace. Sleep, unfortunately, was short. I knew it wasn't healthy or good. I know there are several emotional and physical issues behind my not sleeping.

As I've gotten older, I enjoy a restful sleep. The Spirit blesses me with rest and ministers to me in my sleep. The Lord still prompts me while I sleep and occasionally directs me where I should go and what decision to make. I experience sleep as a time when the Lord is present with me through the night. He blesses and comforts me through the presence of the Holy Spirit.

This change didn't begin with old age but with a new blessing. My wife Donna began to pray for the Holy Spirit to minister to me during the night as I slept. The more she prayed this for me, the more I anticipated being with the Lord in my night's rest. The more I would not wake up in the night and then arise in the morning after a good night of rest with a Scripture or Christian song still playing as the background track in my heart. I rejoice that I can say with David, the psalmist, "In peace, I will lie down and sleep, for You alone, O Lord, will keep me safe." In addition to Donna praying this for me, I also pray that the Lord will meet me in my sleep and in my moments of rest. Praise God; He does!

So, dear friend in Christ, for whom do you need to pray to ask the Holy Spirit to bless them while they sleep? Who can you ask to do that for you? Don't discount it. There is "greater joy" that the Lord longs to give you. Don't wait!