A Cure for Sleepless Nights

Based on: Psalm 119: 57 - 64
There are many reasons for sleepless nights: babies, illness, medications, work rotations, and stress are just a few. During 2020, it could well be the worry of the Coronavirus. What do you do when tucked in bed, but sleep evades you?  One of my mentors suggested using the time to pray, and that often works.  Bringing the needs of others to the feet of Jesus helps to divert my attention from my problems and concerns.  Psalm 119: 62 suggests another idea for those who are awake through the night.
 
    At midnight I rise to praise you,
      because of your righteous rules. Psalm 119: 62 ESV
 
The writer rose out of bed and began to praise the Lord.  Did the writer sing, or play a harp?  We know that David was known to become so excited and thankful to the Lord that he began to dance. If it was David who wrote these verses, I wonder if he did any of these things?
 
During my next sleepless night, I probably won’t get out of bed to praise the Lord, but I will focus more on who God is and less on my requests. Prepared with verses like these below on my night table, the next time I have a sleepless night I’ll be able to read them and pray them back to God.  They will help me to focus on God’s Glory, Majesty, and Character.
 
Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created. Revelation 4:11 ESV
 
Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! ... Psalm 150:1-6 ESV
 
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1 ESV
 
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him! Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness; 1 Chronicles 16:29 ESV
 
There are many more scripture verses that point us to the wonder, glory, and majesty of our God.  May you know God’s peace and presence the next time you find yourself having a sleepless night.
 
A prayer for today:
Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created. Thank you for being who you are, and help me to learn more of you each day.