Our Daily Bread Feb 6 Sweet Sleep / By: Cindy Hess Kasper When you lie down, you will not be afraid [and] your sleep will be sweet. Proverbs 3:24
Today's Scripture & Insight: Proverbs 3:19–24 19 By wisdom the LORD laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place; 20 by his knowledge the watery depths were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew. 21 My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion; 22 they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. 23 Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble. 24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
When my friend Floss lies awake at night, she thinks about the lyrics of the hymn “My Jesus I Love Thee.” She calls it her “middle-of-the-night” song because it helps her to remember God’s promises and the many reasons she loves Him. Sleep is a necessary—but sometimes elusive—part of life. At times we may sense the voice of the Holy Spirit bringing unconfessed sin to our mind. Or we begin worrying about our job, our relationships, our finances, our health, or our children. Soon a full-scale dystopian future starts running on a loop in our brain. We assume we nodded off for a bit, but when we look at the clock, we realize it’s been only moments since we last checked. In Proverbs 3:19–24, King Solomon suggested that we can receive sleep benefits when we embrace God’s wisdom, understanding, and knowledge. In fact, he claimed, “They will be life for you . . . . When you lie down, you will not be afraid [and] your sleep will be sweet” (vv. 22, 24). Maybe we all need a “middle-of-the-night” song, prayer, or Bible verse to softly whisper to help us shift our jumbled-up thoughts to a mind fully focused on God and His character. A clear conscience and a heart full of gratitude for God’s faithfulness and love can bring us sleep that’s sweet.
Today’s Hymns My Jesus I Love Thee
Great is Thy Faithfulness
Scripture to Respond Psalm 127:2 In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to[a] those he loves. Proverbs 10:22 The blessing of the LORD brings wealth, without painful toil for it.
Reflection How might turning to God when you can’t sleep give you peace? What song, prayer, or Scripture can you meditate on to help you focus on God?
Prayer: Dear God, thank You for loving me. Help me to focus on Your faithfulness instead of the worries of this life.
Wong Wai Tung (Chief executive officer of The Great Wall Education Foundation) & Sam Chow (Administrative officer of The Great Wall Education Foundation)
