Lying Awake at Night

I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night. I think how much you have helped me, I sing for joy in the shadow of your protecting wings. Psalm 63: 6-7 NLT

I know of at least a handful of people who wake up in the middle of every night. Some of them go back to sleep after a time and others simply get on up. I know one person who spends that time in prayer. Another completes tasks begun during the day. In each case, they are always wondering why they cannot sleep a full night's sleep.

I wake up on occasion and can't go back to sleep. If I realize that I really can't just fall back to sleep, I try to pray. I ask God to reveal to me whomever God wants me to be in prayer for. Sometimes I pray for those who wake up every night! At other times, God places people on my heart. Usually, I am able to go back to sleep after that. The psalmist lies awake at night, too. But the psalmist spends the time in praise. The psalmist remembers all the ways God has helped him and how God continues to protect him. The loss of sleep does not matter because the psalmist remains in the shadow of God's protective wings. This midnight prayer seems to be part of being God's follower rather than an exception to the rule.

Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night? Have you tried doing as the psalmist did?

God, I sing for joy for all the ways you have helped me – whether in the middle of the day or in the watches of the night. Thank you for continuing to be with me 24/7. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Copyright 2011 Amelia G. Sims