In the Night

Things happen in the night.  Good things.  Spiritual things.  I was reminded of this as I read the 7th verse of the 16th Psalm.  It says, "I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me."  As I read I figure the counsel comes in the daylight and, as is more obvious, the instruction at night.  In a way it points us back to the familiar words of the 1st Psalm which says, ",,,and on His law they meditate day and night."  The night was a time for the dreamers of the Bible to receive divine guidance and revelation.  God does not sleep when we climb into bed.

 

Actually, my experience tells me that sometimes when I sleep, He wakes me up.  Most of us have been waken suddenly in the night knowing that we needed to get up and pray.   Of course, rolling over is an option, but to do it too often is to run the risk of no longer being awaken to do some important business for God.  There have also been those times when I have prayed before going to sleep, "Lord, if there is something about which You want me to pray, wake me up."  If you have never prayed such a bedtime prayer, try it, but keep your bedroom slippers close.  Being with the Lord in prayer in the middle of the night can bless us with memorable blessings of presence.  The house is quiet and there are no distracting noises.  And being waken by the Spirit from our sleep often means that our minds are empty as well which creates a great environment for listening to what God is saying.

 

I always keep a stenographer pad inside my Bible for my encounters with the Word and the One who inspired it.  Call me old fashioned.  I want no gadget to tempt me to wander off somewhere else.  Armed with the inspired Word, an empty notebook page, and a pen and I am ready for an unexpected middle of the night encounter with God.  Never be hesitant to get up and follow what seems to be the leading of the Spirit.  God may be waiting in the next room.