Have you ever been outside on a clear night and looked up at the stars? We live in a rural area near the woods, and I don’t get outside in the evening nearly enough. But when I do I am always struck by the vastness and richness. Also, it seems like the stars go on and on. I look up and see Orion’s belt, the North Star, the Big Dipper and sometimes the Pleiades cluster. It’s a beautiful sight and awe-inspiring.
Psalm 19:1-2(CSB)
The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the expanse proclaims the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour out speech;
night after night they communicate knowledge.
At Night when Sleep Eludes
Often, when bedtime comes I am tired and can hardly hold my eyes open. Then, when I crawl into bed, my mind begins to race thinking of so many things. Does that happen to you? I try to come up with solutions to problems or maybe I get an idea for a poem.
The night can be beautiful, and it gives a respite from the bright, hot sun of the day. But sometimes the darkness holds fears, and we might wish for the dawn to come sooner. During those times we can call out to God and pour out our hearts to Him.
Psalm 119:147-148 (ESV)
I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in your words.
My eyes are awake before the watches of the night,
that I may meditate on your promise.
Night Prayers of Intercession
Once in awhile during the night I wake up for seemingly no reason and sleep eludes me. I lie there with eyes wide open, wondering why I can’t sleep. Then, God brings someone to mind, and I begin to pray for them. Sometimes I’m reminded of multiple people and I pray for each one. Afterwards I usually have no trouble getting back to sleep.
I remember one such time, years ago when a dear friend was in the hospital having complications from giving birth. Most of that night I was awake off and on, literally wrestling in prayer for her. Finally, I got to sleep, and the next morning found out the danger had passed and she would be fine.
Psalm 92:1-3 (CSB)
It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praise to your name, Most High, to declare your faithful love in the morning and your faithfulness at night, with a ten-stringed harp and the music of a lyre.
This song by Rich Mullins inspired some of what I wrote tonight. He reminds us that God does lead us step by step. He is always with us, even in the darkest of times. We may falter, but as Rich shares in the song, we are never beyond the reach of God.
[bctt tweet=”What about you? Do you have any thoughts about the nighttime? Or maybe a song that encourages or helps you through the dark times?” username=”GaylWright”]
This is Day 8 of #write28days where the prompt word is night.
I’m linking up with: #Grace&Truth
You can find other posts in my #write28days series by clicking HERE.
Dear Gayl,
Oh this is so beautiful! I love Rich Mullins, and his music is so comforting. Many times I listen to worship music when I have a hard time sleeping. And God often has me pray in the middle of the night also. I usually pray for those ones that He brings to my mind. Even in my worries in those dark times, He is still so very near. These Scriptures you shared are so good, especially this “to declare…your faithfulness at night.” What a beautiful way to focus my thoughts. Thank you dear friend for such encouragement here! Love and Hugs to you! xoxo
Dear Bettie,
Thank you so much! I have grown to love much of Rich Mullins’s music. We have a couple of videos of concerts along with some cds and we even have the movie that was made about him. I love how God meets us in the dark times. He’s always there, even when we don’t feel Him. We trust and know that He knows best. So glad you found encouragement here, dear Bettie. Blessings, love and hugs to you! xoxo
Yes, all of the above!! I don’t get outside much at night unless I am driving home from some place. And sometimes I see such a beautiful moon, I just want to sit in awe of the beauty of it all! Most nights I lie in bed thinking of many things, except sleep!
Thank you for sharing your words, and the scriptures. Love the psalms!
Dear Barbara,
Somehow I missed replying to your comment. Thank you so much for visiting and for your encouragement! I’m glad you visited and shared your thoughts. Yes, I love the psalms, too. Blessings to you! xo
I love when winter turns to spring and the daylight shines longer. I do enjoy quiet. Sometimes, I just sit and listen to the sounds of God’s creations. The breeze, the birds singing and the frogs croaking. Beautiful sounds from Him. Night time brings special sounds. Crickets chirping and the settling sounds of life quieting. Tree branches cracking when an animal steps too close is one of those nature sounds. Have a blessed day and night! 🙂
Melissa, I think you and I would get along just fine! I love how you have described the outdoor sounds of the day and night. I love to sit quietly listening to them when I can. I hope you also have a lovely and blessed day and night! xo
Oh boy! My night time voice can be loud and bothersome! I wrote about it too! I’m trying to learn to mute her though and focus on God’s voice instead! I love the thought of praying for those who come to mind in the night! Thanks for sharing!
I think our minds must wait for the quiet of nighttime in order to go wild. LOL Praying does seem to help get my focus in the right place. Thanks for visiting, Cindy. Blessings to you!