Sleep! A Thoughtful Gift From God

Sleep - restful and peaceful sleep - is a nourishing and comforting gift from God.

Researchers who have studied the sleep patterns of humans have discovered that if we are awake for more than twenty-four hours, we do not act normally. Our recall of things that happened in the past fails and response time to events that are going on around us slows down tremendously. People who are normally “gentle and slow to wrath” become irritable and abusive when they are denied their normal amount of sleep.

Some who have difficulty in going to sleep resort to pills. Often the cure is harmful, ending up in a habit that leads to an addiction. Another problem is alertness: the reaction time required to respond to a life or death decision may result in tragedy. We all need a certain amount of sleep to function normally and meet the requirements of life.

The best, most nourishing sleep comes from God. In Psalm 127:2 we read, “for He grants sleep to those whom He loves!”

In His Word, we discover that God loves everyone. But, there seems to be a special love for those who have accepted His Son as their Savior and enthroned Him as Lord. Their sins are forgiven, and their relationship with God is as He has designed it to be. They can rest peacefully in His love.

And, consider this: When we toss and turn and have a difficult time enjoying a “peaceful sleep,” it may be the Holy Spirit urging us to quote Bible verses and pray.

Prayer: Help us, Lord, to find our peace and rest in the goodness of Your grace and the depth of Your love. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 127:2 It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.

An Everlasting Foundation

Years ago it was the custom in England to carve the words found in Psalm 127:1 over the doorways of homes: “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.” Perhaps returning to this custom and following its implications would have great benefits for everyone.

There is only one Builder - the Lord. But He placed two laborers - the husband and wife (mother and father) - as the ones responsible for the “construction and maintenance” of “the home.” Husband is an Anglo-Saxon word which means “the band of the house.” He is the one who organizes it, controls it and holds it together. The wife becomes his “chief assistant” - and the meaning of the word “wife” is “weaver.” She is to “weave” godliness into the activities of the home. She is to use her gifts to demonstrate God’s expressions of thoughtfulness, kindness, grace, and compassion in the everyday activities that are required to make the atmosphere “God-honoring, Christ-centered, and Spirit-filled” through her examples of service.

There is only one Person who can “watch” over the home - the Lord. For the Psalm continues, “Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.” This statement describes the parenting role of mothers and fathers in a strange but significant way: They are the ones who turn the “building into a home.” They are to be examples of Christ at all times. They are ultimately responsible to God for whatever is allowed to enter into the activities and entertainment of the home. What a priceless opportunity God has given to parents.

Prayer: Father, give those of us who are parents grace and courage to raise our children to love and honor You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 127:1 Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.

Time to Get Going

We’ve all heard phrases like, “Wow, that company is going places,” or “That person is going to the top of the ladder,” or “I wonder where they are going.” Everyone seems to be going someplace to do something. But, what matters most is where they are going and what they are going to do when they get there.

Christians have responded to Christ’s “come” and when we have, we are commanded to “go!” with the specific responsibility to “make disciples.”

The Psalmist was very direct when he addressed this “come” and then “go.” He described it in these terms: “Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.”

When we “go” we are to “sow.” God gave us the “seed” which is His Word for a purpose: We are not to store it in sacks in a warehouse, but to plant it in the hearts of those who are still seeking Him. Our hearts may become heavy, and tears may fill our eyes. But, there is the assurance that our tears will be changed into songs of joy because His Word is true and will not return to Him void or without results. We are to sow the seed He gives us and allow Him the honor of the harvest - whatever that may be. Because it is His seed, we may never understand or know what the harvest will be. Though the work may be difficult and the results uncertain, the Lord is with us, and wherever He leads us, will bless what we do for Him.

The assurance of God’s blessing is a word of encouragement He offers us to be “sowers of His seed.” We are not to sit idly by and wait for the results. We are to go and sow and pray and leave the harvest to Him. And, there will be a harvest if we are faithful “sowers.” He promises that we will return from the field singing songs of joy bringing His sheaves with us.

Prayer: Help us, Father, to follow Your command - Your orders - to be faithful “sowers” of the “seed” and trust You for the results. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 126:6 Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.

Living And Laughing

“The way things are in this world, I’m certain that your God never laughs,” said a skeptic.

“Well, I’m not sure if He laughs or not. But I am sure of one thing: He certainly created me so that I can laugh,” said his friend with a smile.

Some people think that tears and trials, grunts and groans are the centerpieces of the Christian life. The real fact is that tears and trials, grunts and groans are more associated with sin than they are with salvation. And, to emphasize that fact, God’s Word promises us that one day, “He will wipe away all tears” from the eyes of the believer - not the unsaved.

A physician once said that “he who laughs, lasts. People who laugh live longer than those who don’t laugh. Few people realize that their health varies according to the amount of laughter in their lives. Would it not be wonderful if each time we felt discouraged we could go to the pharmacy and find an “over-the-counter” bottle that contained a tablet to make us laugh?

Not only are laughter and health-related, but laughter and holiness are related. When the Lord brought His exiles back to Jerusalem, a Psalmist wrote, “Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, ‘The Lord has done great things for them.’”

If there are people, who have a reason to laugh and sing songs of joy, it is Christians. Our sins are forgiven, and we are released from the fear and penalty of death. We have the promise of an eternal home with the Creator of the universe and His beloved Son, Jesus, who redeemed us. And, we have the power and presence of the Holy Spirit to guide, guard and give us peace that passes all understanding.

What great reasons to laugh and sing songs of joy!

Prayer: It’s difficult to understand, Lord, why there are so many days we fail to laugh and rejoice. Bring us all some humor today! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 126:2 Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.”

Unshaken!

Watching the occasional stories of the construction of the new World Trade Center in New York was a fascinating experience. Did you notice, however, that before they could go up, they had to go down - way down? It is an obvious law of gravity as well as one of construction: The only way to assure that a building will survive an earthquake or strong winds during a storm is to build it on a foundation that is firm. And, only a life that has a firm foundation will be able to withstand the storms and tests of time and life.

Many of us, unfortunately, give little thought to this critical fact of life. We put all of our time and treasures into the “visible” parts of our life and neglect and ignore our foundation.

But, storms and tests come to everyone. They are inevitable. They come in the form of troubles and tragedies, suffering and sickness, loss and grief. Regardless of the amount we invest in the “superstructure,” life will collapse without a firm foundation.

So we all face the same question: What is essential for the foundation of a life that will survive the storms and tests of life? A wise “builder” put it in one sentence: “Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever!”

Those who put their “trust in the Lord” are not only secure and safe but guarded and grounded in the One who created Mount Zion. In emphasizing this fact, the Psalmist continued his explanation of this by adding, “As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people both now and always.”

What an incredible picture: The God who pushed mountains from the floor of the earth to surround and protect His children in Jerusalem is waiting to surround and protect us from the disasters of life. If we want a solid foundation, we have it: “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid: Christ Jesus!”

Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for the assurance of Your protection, presence, and power that guarantee our safety throughout life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 125:1 Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever!