There are some nights when I lay in bed and my mind won’t let my body sleep. Do you ever have this problem? The other night, negative thoughts regarding a recent event were swirling through my mind and I was getting worked up. I had been wronged, and I wanted to make it right! It was 0100, I was wide awake and filled with anxiety and anger.
I knew that I was either going to stay in bed awake most of the night, or I would have to do something different.
The immense blessing of being a child of God through receiving the GIFT OF SALVATION, is that we have been given a powerful set of tools to deal with negative thinking that causes anxiety.
But, our mind is so powerful that, oftentimes, recovering our peace requires supernatural intervention. God’s Word gives us instructions about how to reclaim our peace! The Prince of our Peace gives us His perspective! God’s Word is a very powerful mind-refocusing tool. God is a Spirit, and His Word has a supernatural power to transform our mind. (Hebrews 4:12)
When I can’t find the words to pray, God’s Word inspires my mind and—His Word forms my most powerful and effective prayers!
So, when negative thinking makes me sleepless, I sometimes can just lay in bed and pray verses that I have memorized in order to regain a calm mind. But typically, I get out of bed and read God’s Word. Unless I’m dealing with a specific issue, one of my favorite “go-to” verses for my nocturnal wrestlings is:
“Be anxious for NOTHING, but in EVERYTHING by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will GUARD your hearts and minds through CHRIST Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are TRUE, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.”
Philippians 4:6-9
Just the other night, as I began to spiral into anxiety, God reminded me to pray these verses. As I began to meditate on just the first item on this list; that is, TRUTH; God brought the following truths about Himself into my MIND:
*Who He is—the author and finisher of my faith. He is the foundation of my life. He is my breath and life. God is my hiding place. He is the warrior within me. He will never change. God does NOT worry and is NOT afraid.
*The event that was robbing me of peace is something that will pass. I asked God to sit on the throne of my heart and mind during this storm. I gave the problem to Him and I asked Him to handle it. And then I let it go.
*The person who had wronged me was just like me—someone Jesus died to save. The storm created by this person was not the most important issue; rather, it was whether this person knows Jesus. God humbled me. Instead of plotting a plan of attack, I began praying for this person’s soul. I was free to rest.
Do you see how God used His powerful Word to shift my focus to HIS perspective?
The result was…His sweet peace came rushing back through my entire being. I went back to bed and fell asleep thanking God for everything He does and who He is. Sleep was sweet, just as God’s Word promises!
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet.”
Proverbs 3:5-6, 24
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