When you can't sleep...talk to the Shepherd

My alarm was set for 4:15 a.m. but because I felt so tired when my head rested on the pillow, I set a backup alarm for 4:45 a.m. providing an extra half-hour to sleep. Exhausted with no need to count sheep, I snuggled under the covers for a good night’s sleep. NOT! I tossed and turned until 2 a.m., waking every half hour to sit on my window seat and enjoy the moonlit backyard. A few prayers and back to bed.  Finally at 1:45 a.m. I decide to get up rather than just toss and turn. Why can’t I sleep?

I’ve woke up in the middle of the night before with someone’s name on my mind, I say a prayer for them and go back to sleep. This wasn’t the case. I prayed for myself, my family and whatever came to mind. For nearly two hours, in the middle of the night with only the company of the full moon I poured my heart out to God. Items of praise, prayer, and reflection – some serious while others were silly and seemed unimportant in the grand scheme of life. Yet they flowed from my mouth to God’s ears. I closed with a reading of some Psalms and then…

I snuggled in to bed and slept like a rock for a half-hour until the alarm went off. NO! LOL Instead I felt energized and renewed. I made banana bread, organized the calendar, did a load of laundry, the dishes are done (even the ones from making the banana bread), picked up the house a bit, and put together my “to do lists” for the week. With God’s strength I’ll have this same energy at 8:30 p.m. when I leave class.

One of the verses that blessed me this morning:
Psalm 24 NIV
The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, 
   the world, and all who live in it;
for he founded it on the seas 
   and established it on the waters.
Who may ascend the mountain of the LORD? 
   Who may stand in his holy place?
The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, 
   who does not trust in an idol 
   or swear by a false god.[a]
They will receive blessing from the LORD 
   and vindication from God their Savior.
Such is the generation of those who seek him, 
   who seek your face, God of Jacob.[b][c]
Lift up your heads, you gates; 
   be lifted up, you ancient doors, 
   that the King of glory may come in.
Who is this King of glory? 
   The LORD strong and mighty, 
   the LORD mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, you gates; 
   lift them up, you ancient doors, 
   that the King of glory may come in.
Who is he, this King of glory? 
   The LORD Almighty— 
   he is the King of glory.