“For He grants sleep to those He loves.” Psalm 127:4b
Heart heavy, I laid down in bed. Snuggling the cozy comforter to my chin, I began a simple prayer. Only this prayer isn’t a simple release. It’s now a tug-of-war between my desire to give it to God and my mind refusing to relinquish it into His capable hands.
I mull over the request in my mind, which is determined to find the proper wording, proper option. As if, when I could only know what to pray, then, God would know what to do.
When was the last time a heavy heart kept you awake? Try as you might, you can’t seem to banish those heart-wrenching concerns. Tossing and turning produces new stress: Exhaustion will be a constant companion tomorrow, further hindering any efforts to remedy concerns. Oh, what to do?
Let’s back up to the beginning of Psalm 127.
Unless the Lord builds the house,
the builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the guards stand watch in vain.
2 In vain you rise early
and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat—
for he grants sleep to those he loves, Psalm 127:1-2
Unless God has authored our plans, the success will be limited.
All the worrying, tossing and turning, and heartache won’t change that fact. We must “Be still and know I am God.” Psalm 46:10, (See “Be Still, Who Me?” posted 2/10.)
We know it in theory. But, oh, the agony of putting it into practice!
As we draw our plans, whether they be plans for the day, a career, a new business, a marriage relationship, or how we raise our children; we can’t court success while eclipsing God from the equation.
As hard as we work, if God’s not in it, we won’t taste true success.
When He authors plans for us, even when He overwhelms us with God-sized plans, if we follow Him, and fix our eyes and focus on Him, He will give us success. And with success He’ll grant us peace. And with peace comes that often elusive sweet slumber we were missing.
Reflections:
Monday: How do I define success?
Tuesday: How do I think God would define success? Read Ecclesiastes 3:10-14
I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.
Wednesday: What is something I have been pursuing or want to pursue, but am unsure of God’s place or plan in it? Read and memorize the promise of Jeremiah 29:11:’ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’
How does this apply to me here?
Thursday: What keeps me awake at night? How can I stop playing “tug-of-war” with God, and truly give Him my cares?
Read Psalm 23, and 1Peter 5:7. What comforts you most about these passages?
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. I Peter 5:7
Friday: Prayer: Thank you Lord for caring for me. Thank you for the plans You have, and that I can hope for tomorrow and trust in Your great plan. Please help me to trust and follow You, and not rely on my own plans, but remember that You have only the best in store for me. Thank you, Amen.
Thank you for reading, please return by Monday, February 24, for the next post.
Hi what bible version do you use for studying ? I find new king james is hard for me to read sometimes.
Hi K,
Great question. The short answer: usually the NIV. However, over the years of studying and writing, I would often search other versions for alternate wording/phrasing. I often check the Message for a more general meaning. I also reference the NLT, the ESV, and sometimes the NKJV. A few months back I found “The Essential Evangelical Parallel Bible” for a steal at the Christian bookstore. I love this reference, especially when trying to determine the heart of a verse. For my personal reading, I usually read the NIV. Another note: We homeschool our young children and they get to hear the Bible Storybook. Someone once told me, even if you’re reading the Bible storybook, it’s still Scripture. I must say, after doing this for years, I pretty much agree. It amazes (and humbles!) me how much I still get from reading that to our young daughter.
I just want to encourage you to find a version you are comfortable reading and find easy to understand. If you would like to see several examples of text from different versions, might I suggest you visit Biblegateway.com? I often use it for reference, and there are more translations there than one could ever hope to read!
I pray you find one you can easily understand! Stefanie