Today’s reading: Proverbs 3; Psalm 23

Today’s focal verses: Proverbs 3:24-25

Today’s focus: Resting in Christ

Once again, thanks to Proverbs Bible Study member and our group’s prayer coordinator for today’s beautiful post. As I prepared today’s devotional, I thought of those special nights when my daughter was young, and I rocked her to sleep. As she nestled in my arms, completely relaxed, I’d sing softly, and my heart swelled with love. I loved to watch her eyelids droop, to listen to the steady sound of her breathing, to feel her tiny body close to mine. This is the image I have this morning, only this time, I am the child and God is the parent, holding me, soothing me, cherishing me. Cherishing you.

If you read my opening post for our Proverbs study, you’ll remember my primary motivation for memorizing Scripture this year. One night, while feeling particularly anxious, I began to recite God’s Word in my mind. As I did, my anxiety waned as peace filled my heart, crowding out my anxious thoughts with God’s truth. And yet, I had so little of God’s truth stored within, and in that moment, I wished I had taken the time to memorize more! And that was when I determined to be more diligent about my Scripture memorization.

Yesterday we began a new week of verse memorization. How are you doing? Persevere my friend! Because as Beth reminds us in the following verse, the benefits God grants are so worth it!

In the following devotional, Beth reminds us to center our minds on God and His truth, cherishing His Words before we go to sleep so that we can sleep in sweet peace.

 

Beth Ann Farley is a dear friend of mine and one of our Yahoo Bible Study group members. She is married with three grown children. She lives in Kansas City, MO where she serves as librarian. She loves to read, write, decorate and spend as much time as possible outside with her Peek-A-Poo. Beth is a lover of the Lord. “He is my-everything and I can’t start a day without visiting with Him.” Beth came to know the Lord when she was 30 years old and has served Him on committee’s such as Missions Outreach, Local Missions, Diaconate Committee, Youth Committee, and was a church secretary for several years. Beth loves Women’s Bible Studies, has hosted several in each one of her homes that she has lived in and has led a few as well. Beth is now taking time in life to move forward with her writing in whatever way God directs her.

Visit her online at: http://firsthalfday1.wordpress.com/

Proverbs 3:24-25 What Do You Think Before You Go To Bed?

Proverbs 3:24-25…When you lie down, you will not be afraid; you will lie down, and your sleep will be pleasant. Don’t fear sudden danger or the ruin of the wicked when it comes. HSB

If you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. I love this version. It’s the English Standard Version. Our sleep will be sweet!

I sat at my keyboard for a while and decided to look up the word sweet. Here’s what I came up with…Merriam Webster’s Dictionary

(1) Pleasing to the taste

(2) Being or inducing the one of the four basic taste sensations that is typically induced by disaccharides and is meditated especially by receptors in taste buds at the front of the tongue (Okay whatever!!!)

(3) Pleasing to the mind or feelings: agreeable, gratifying-often used as a generalized term of approval

(4) Not sour, rancid, decaying, or stale: wholesome

Now let me see if I can tie this all in to what I’m talking about in my mind; in other words, let me get my thoughts onto the paper here and not lose y’all in the process.

My sleep will be sweet, (agreeable, gratifying and will be wholesome like sweet milk) when I lie down at night and cast my fears upon him. I read the following: Wishes Fulfilled by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer:

“As you lie in bed preparing for your nightly slumber, remember that the last thought you have in your mind can last up to four hours in your subconscious mind. That’s four hours of programming from just one moment of contemplation prior to going into your unconscious state. Create a reminder like a prayer or mantra to place by your bed. Write these words and read them as you get comfortable: keep that sign there to remind you how to spend your pre-sleep moments nightly.”

I love that! What if we took our memory verse, read it just before we went to bed, and let it resonate there for four hours! Sweet!

Vs 25) don’t fear sudden danger or the ruin of the wicked when it comes…HSB

I think of a prayer that Elizabeth George wrote in her book on The Powerful Promises for Every Woman.

Take comfort! The Lord who is always present is there…in the stillness beside a quiet stream…and in the shaking of the mountains; at the heart at home…and in the hospital,; in accusation…and in acquittal; in trial…and in triumph; in pain…and in pleasure; in seasons of activity…and in again; in prison…and in paradise. He is there when you pass through the waters…and through the rivers…and through the fire!

Beth’s addition: He is there when you sleep; you need not be afraid nor fear sudden danger, for God is right there with you.

I feel blessed and honored to kick off week #2 of our Proverbs Study with a devotion. Please allow me to remind all of you, including myself to slow down, listen to what God is saying through His Word, and through our words with each other. Remember, you can share your prayer requests to

Bethfarley_3@yahoo.com, and I will post via email at the end of each day. If you have a very personal request and only want to share it with me, I will humbly pray with you and keep it private. Beth

We’d love to hear from you. We all struggle with anxiety at times, and yet, God promises to grant us peace, to make our sleep sweet.

What are some ways we can grab hold of that peace?

What are some things that threaten our peace?

Suggested application: When you begin to feel anxious or stressed, grab hold of those anxious or stressful thoughts and toss them out. Or, in other words, make a determined effort not to entertain those thoughts. Pause to pray, telling God how you feel, what you are concerned about, and asking Him to take those anxious or stressful thought and feelings from you. Next, replace those thoughts with God’s truth, determinedly focusing on and mentally (or verbally) reciting His Word. And when you lay down to sleep, go through the same steps, making thoughts of God or communication with God your last activity for the night.

We’d love to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments below or join our Yahoo Bible study group. We’d love to have you!