Watches Of The Night

I have been thinking about the night and how it is a time that many of us are unwinding and hopefully reflecting on the blessings of the day while preparing for a good night's rest. Perhaps you are one who likes to pray and do some quiet Bible reading or devotional before bed to help in that process. For me, it is a time that I am more spiritually awakened and my sleep is often disrupted. It's pretty obvious who the culprit of that is. Which is why I've found that spending time with God before bed on a regular basis is extremely important. If you are a long time believer, I am sure you are quite aware of times this is most likely to happen. If you are a fairly new believer, you are going to discover yours eventually if you haven't already. However, I am going to focus this on the night in particular. I know the Bible has a lot to say about the night and I can only share impart of what has been revealed to me through God's Word. It is my hope and prayer that what I share here gives you some insight as well. And as always - may our Father who is in heaven and who never sleeps but is always watching over us...be glorified! This post is long, but please bear with me, as it is full of scripture!

No matter what you are going through, know that you are not alone. 1 Peter 5:9-8 says, "Be self-controlled and alert.Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings". What a sweet reminder! I just wanted to add this in here to let you know that if you're a person who struggles at night, I'm one of them and surely there are plenty others. Don't feel that you are possibly the only one.

Why do I focus on the nighttime? For me, that is when it is quiet and I am more spiritually receptive. Consider 1 Kings 19 when Elijah is at Horeb starting in verse 9 Then he came there to a cave and lodged there; and behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and He said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" v.10 He said, "I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. v11 So He said, "Go forth and stand on the mountain before the LORD." And behold, the LORD was passing by! And a great and strong wind was rending the mountains and breaking in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake. v12 After the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire, the sound of a gentle whisper. What an interesting passage! You may be thinking "that doesn't refer to night". However, notice at the beginning where it says "he came to a cave and lodged there". What I gather is that Elijah found a place in which to stay for the night. Like it was here for him, there is always so much noise happening around us that we find it hard if not impossible to hear that still small voice of God wanting to speak to us, until all is quiet.

I can't tell you how difficult I find it to pray and read the Bible during the day without multiple distractions that often take place to keep me from hearing God speak. We can't always stop our time with God from being interrupted. It can be something important like to care for our children or other things that come up that we need to tend to. However, you may find it more frequent that these things just seem to happen when you're trying to commune and hear from God. We can acknowledge God even by just thinking of Him like it says in Psalm 63:6 On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night.

Here are more Bible verses that regard the night. Some of them refer to praying and seeking God as well as finding comfort and rest. We can see that God is always at work in our lives. Even when we awake in the morning, we see it is evident.

Psalm 16 v.7 I will bless the Lord who counsels me; He gives me wisdom in the night. He tells me what to do. v.8 I am always thinking of the Lord; and because He is so near, I never need to stumble or to fall.

Isaiah 26:9 All night long I search for You; earnestly I seek for God; for only when You come in judgment on the earth to punish it will people turn away from wickedness and do what is right.

Psalm 119:62 At midnight I rise to give You thanks for Your righteous laws.

Psalm 119:55-6 I obey them even at night and my thoughts, O Lord, are on You. What a blessing this has been to me - to constantly obey.

Lamentations 2:19 Arise, cry out in the night, as the watches of the night begin; pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord. Lift up your hands to Him for the lives of your children, who faint from hunger at the head of every street.

Job 3:14-15 For God speaks again and again, in dreams, in visions of the night when deep sleep falls on men as they lie on their beds.

Psalm 4:8 I will lie down in peace and sleep, for though I am alone, O Lord, You will keep me safe.

Psalm 3:5 I lay down and slept in peace and woke up safely, for the Lord was watching over me.

Psalm 139:11-12 If I try to hide in the darkness, the night becomes light around me. For even darkness cannot hide from God; to You the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are both alike to You.

Psalm 139:17-18 How precious it is, Lord to realize that You are thinking about me constantly! I can't even count how many times a day Your thoughts turn towards me. And when I waken in the morning, You are still thinking of me!

These are just a few of the many Bible verses that have to do with the night. I like to consider Luke 5:16: But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. Lonely, doesn't mean that Jesus withdrew to pray when He felt lonely. I believe it means that Jesus went to places that were quiet, where He could be alone and not be bothered. He loved His disciples, however, He desired that time to where He could pray to His Father. Even if it meant early in the morning at the break of day, while it was still dark. That's what I find that I need to do personally to have that time to pray and hear from God. We can follow Jesus' wonderful example.There are just as many Bible verses about seeking God in the morning, just for you early birds. I wish I could list them also but I think you would have fun researching them on your own. I just love how there are Bible verses that have something to do with everything and anything that we go through. You'd be amazed at how many verses are already in your heart that come to mind. I found another cool verse in Deuteronomy 6:4-9 "Oh Israel, listen: Jehovah is our God, and Jehovah alone. You must love Him with all your heart, soul, and might. And you must think constantly about these commandments I am giving you today. You must teach them to your children and talk about them when you are at home or out for a walk; at bedtime and the first thing in the morning. Tie them on your finger, wear them on your forehead, and write them on the doorposts of your house!
I just love that!

As you close in tonight, please listen to Psalm 121 by Sons of Korah. To those who need to be reminded that your Papa in heaven is watching closely over you and working on your behalf, even as you sleep.

Rising Above

Before I start my usual blah, I just wanted to take a moment to acknowledge those who gave and lost their lives ten years ago today. The United States was attacked by terrorists and our nation was awakened by some cruel acts of pure evil. Interesting, I came up with the title I did for this post without really thinking about it. We're still standing and the enemy's plots against us have not prevailed. I honestly don't know what to expect any time I start writing but what I came up with is fitting to say the least. My heart and prayers go out as we remember what happened this day in 2001 and I know God is using it for more good than we could ever comprehend. So, stay strong AMERICA! Also, take time to remember Jesus who willingly gave his life for us. However, He didn't lose His life. He was raised on the third day and is alive right now in heaven. Those who accept Him into their lives and have a relationship with Him.. will be with Him again someday, too!

As of late, I can say that I am learning to fix my eyes on the Lord and not so much on myself or on anyone else for that matter. This year totally didn't go as expected but does it ever? Things were rough at the beginning but then it started to settle down. Anytime I get to this certain place where things are going alright and I'm happy, the inevitable happens. But I won't get into that again. It's done and over with. What is cool is that nothing catches God off guard. He sees the end of these matters even before we see the beginning of them. He is faithful and I am praying hard that He brings the best out of it.

I can't believe the days are getting shorter already. My son spent the weekend with his dad and should be home shortly. I also want to mention that I have a new job as a barista and know I am exactly where God wants me. Sure, I wanted to go to school and I wanted to do this and do that, but I am happy to say that it isn't about me and what I want. This is His story, not mine. I prayed for God's direction and followed. There is a reason things didn't go my way.

I would like to end this blog with a prayer:

O Lord, thank You so much for your provisions in my life and in the lives of all your children. It amazes me how You delight in us even when we think we have failed and You are always there to pick us back up. I thank You that even while we sleep, You are still at work in our lives. I lift up the hearts of those who are hurting due to relationships and the circumstances they are currently facing in life and I just pray that by your Holy Spirit, You would light up the dark areas of their lives and give them strength. Help all your children to find refuge under the shadow of your wings. In Jesus' name, amen.

Only the Lord is a keeper of His word: Psalm 147:3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Remember that! God bless.