lockdown

Can’t sleep

Unable to sleep, waking up frequently during the night and not getting a proper 7 to 8 hours sleep is detrimental to our physical well-being, our moods, our Spiritual well-being, our mental well-being and just overall our ability to function at our best. At the time of writing, it’s 03h30, and the 5th time I’ve woken up. I feel like shouting out as loud as possible like they do in comic books! AArrrrggghhh!

Trials and Tribulations keeping you from sleep

The stresses that surround me and my family in these desperate and unprecedented times are many. Which I won’t get into now, keep me up at night. The few hours I do sleep I have these strange, wonderful, terrifying, muddled up, neon-lit dreams. Dreams I can make no sense when I wake immediately after the dream. Which I have forgotten by the time my day has to start. They say you should write down your dreams the moment you wake up. That way you have a record of it. I’ve tried that once or twice, but I’m so tired, I forget to write it down or just don’t feel like it. I need sleep! Proper sleep.

What Jesus Says about rest

Jesus says “²⁸ Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11: 28-30

Prayer for sleep

Heavenly Father, I pray, I bring all my burdens to you. I ask for your gentle heart over me and my family, and for you to provide rest for our souls. Lighten the burden on us, oh Lord, strengthen us, and give us rest. In Jesus name, Amen.

South Africa Burns, not sleeping

The other stress that keeps me up at night, is watching how the leadership of South Africa is bringing the country to its knees. Yes, this is the best position to pray from, but in the context intended here, we’re on our knees begging our leaders to hear our cries of pain, but we’re being ignored. Corruption, self-indulgent desires, filling up their own pockets with money, and controlling this once beautiful country with a whip is hurting us more than any pandemic ever could. South Africa is burning under the greedy, prideful, arrogant and gluttony of it’s leadership.

Prayer for South Africa

Father God, good leaders, come from you. Lord this nation needs leaders with discerning hearts, wise minds and good counsel. I am asking you to give us wise leaders that will lead this nation in the right direction. Remove the wrong people that are corrupt and living against your word from influential positions. Let our leaders be people who honour your Holy name for it is only from you that they will get true wisdom. It is in the mighty name of Jesus that I believe and pray, Amen.

God’s Design for sleep

In God’s perfect design for you, He designed you to sleep. He can help you get a good night’s rest. This physiological fact is embedded in the biology of every person on earth. Yet roughly one third of us struggle with insomnia. About 10% of us are chronic insomniacs who struggle every night with debilitating sleeplessness.

God’s Intent for rest

Yet God intends calm, relaxing sleep to be a gift He offers you. A gift of restoration and replenishment from God who loves you more than you can imagine and has promised to protect and provide for you. Didn’t Jesus offer rest for your weary soul when he said: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”? You can know God wants you to experience serene, relaxing sleep as His gift to you, His child.

Uncertainty keeping you from sleep

When we are filled with doubt and anxiety, it’s difficult to get a good night’s sleep. We wake up in the middle of the night filled with fear and worry. Our minds “spinning” from one worry to another. But what is the root cause of this anxiety? Isn’t it uncertainty about whether God is there for you, whether He really will protect and provide for you?

Confidence in God for good rest

But if you had an unshakable confidence that God would always be there for you and that nothing could ever separate you from Him and from His love, wouldn’t that help you relax and drift off to sleep at night?

Child of God

Do you realise that as a child of God, you are secure in Christ? Jesus Himself said that nothing and no one can separate you from Him and His love. 

As His child, you are secure in Christ. Let your mind meditate on this thought: “I am secure in Christ”. You are secure beyond anything you can imagine because it is the God who created all things who secures you. And it is this security that your spiritual enemy tries to steal for you. Giving you worry and concerns that in Christ, you need not bear. But you’re not going to let this happen. Instead, right now picture yourself trusting your loving Saviour with every care and concern you have. 

Complete Security in good rest

Feel the security – the complete security of your Heavenly Father – surrounding you, enveloping you, holding you. Relax. He is your security and there is none greater….He is Lord of all and that includes the details of your life. Jesus said that even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. The details of your life matter to Him. So relax in His unlimited power to protect you, provide for you, and give you the rest you need tonight.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, grant me a good night’s sleep tonight. Every night, I want awake refreshed and ready to begin another day loving you. Thank you again for blessings so undeserved and too numerous to count. I love being your child. And I long for the word “faithful” to describe my service to you, each day of every year. When I awake in the morning, may it be with a joyful smile, not a grumpy spirit. May your protection and your presence bathe this place with peace and safety against the enemy. Good night, Lord. In Jesus’s name, Amen.