Man! I had one of those sleepless nights/early mornings. Ever had those? An hour or so before the alarm goes off there you are wide awake with thoughts racing. Sometimes I am worried about the days events, sometimes a bad dream and sometime snaps! My brain is running a marathon with my groggy body in tow.
UUUG, I think, what is this web of thoughts that is over powering me?
It is like superman and kryptonite; my brain is pulled into the vortex while my soul screams no,no, no don;t go there.
The world is dark, my mind is dark, my thoughts are lost and screaming seems impossible! My mind pushes to keep running the dream, the worry, the fear, over in my head and my soul urges reach for the light –reach!
Wayne Dyer, noted author and speaker once said, if you are having bad dreams in the dark, turn on a light. How simple reach out to the night stand and 
turn on the light.
But I want to sleep,
it will wake my husband, I can over power these thoughts, I am too tired, I am helpless.
Truth: Every time I have turned on the light; I am instantly able to shake the cob webs from my head and start redirecting my thoughts.
Paul admonishes us in 2 Cor. 10:5 to take every thought captive. To be aware that our thought life can pull us from the love of God. God gave us free will to think and to do so that we could choose to participate in His Will. Freewill, not to saddle us with bad dreams, but to create in us a a desire to seek the light. The light of his word and nature. In Phil. 4:8 we are to think on what is good, noble and true–to bless others with a kind and gentle tongue.
Let me tell you it is really hard to bless your children with “kind and gentle words” when you lack sleep and the monsters in your mind are hounding you with your failures and short comings. Here are a few strategies for taking thoughts captive at night.
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Turn on the light. (This may mean walking into the bathroom)
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Keep a positive scripture handy–on the wall, in a drawer, in the bathroom, in the kitchen. Stand and read it out loud.
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Memorize a pray. I learned to say the rosary. A symbol I can hold in my hand and by the the third decade I begin to breath again.
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Put on praise music – use earphone, if you have a spouse. Listen for the words.
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Whisper the name of Jesus over and over and over. There is power in the name.
Finally, I sing the children’s hymn “Jesus Loves Me” and insert my name instead of me.
Jesus Loves Tanya
PS. Psalm 121:4 does say, indeed, he who watches over Israel, will neither slumber nor sleep! Rest easy, God has got you.
From the Message Bible To You My Tired Friend
He won’t let you stumble,
your Guardian God won’t fall asleep.
Not on your life! Israel’s
Guardian will never doze or sleep.
Click to print these calming Scriptures to keep by your bed side.
Print these calming Scriptures to keep by your bed side.
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