I’ve not slept very well lately. In fact, in the past three weeks, more nights than not I’ve gotten four hours of sleep or less.
I am a sleep girl. I can function very well with eight hours under my belt. I can functional acceptably with seven hours. I can function with six. Go any lower and forget about getting much functioning out of me. In fact, I was so tired one morning last week I called my girlfriends in tears not knowing how I’d tackle my commute and a speech I was slated to give.
I shared how that night I had done a lot of turning. I turned left. I turned right. I turned diagonal. I turned face down. During all these turn switches I begged God for some sleep. It’s almost as if the more you want it the more elusive it is. No matter where I turned, it did no good. That night I slept from about 2 am to 5 am.
As a part of our sisters stories, every Monday I’m highlighting an aspect of the God is Able scripture that is guiding the living, and the telling, of these stories. I’m using Priscilla Shirer’s God is Able book to help me more fully understand one of my life verses:
Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
Today, we focus on the turning. See, right after the “now” which we covered last week, comes two small words: To. Him.
Tossing and turning doesn’t get you very far. But turning TO HIM completely changes your perspective.
This is how Priscilla puts it:
Our enemy is the one who wants us focused on ourselves – on our humanity, frailty, and need. God, however, wants us focused on Him – on His deity, His ability, and His boundless power. He’s never overwhelmed or put off by our problems. He’s not bothered by us, by the concerns of our hearts or the needs in our lives, no matter how much or how often we turn to Him. In fact, if we don’t turn to Him and lay it all down, we only succeed at resisting His ability to reach in and change this. To reach in and change us.
So this week, it is my great privilege to introduce you to my friend, Cheryl. She has the mother of all turning stories. And if you’re in a place of running instead of turning, this is especially for you. Come and meet her and hear her sister story Wednesday.
This popped up in my head:
I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.
Psalm 4:8
Yes – love this!
I have found a method to help and since used it, I have not had insomnia (except if I had a fever/ flu). I read my Bible and pray. That’s it, that simple. If the enemy is keeping me awake, this is the last things he would want and I quickly fall asleep. If God is wanting me to talk with Him or pray for someone, then when I have accomplished it, I sleep and awaken refreshed even if only a couple of hours sleep(God can do cool stuff like that). I stopped praying for sleep and began asking God, what do you need from me? Sometimes, it is a simple relational thing and I haven’t spent private time with Him, other times someone needs me to be a prayer warrior- even if I don’t know why or who, God knows. The interconnection that believers have through the Holy Spirit is an amazing thing. Let God use you, even if in the wee hours of the morning. Let me know how it works for you.
Oh I know Linda. It’s amazing how sometimes it is that Samuel, speak Lord, moment. Thank you for sharing what a gift it has been for you.