The Phil Files

Hear me, LORD, my plea is just;
    listen to my cry.
  Hear my prayer—
    it does not rise from deceitful lips.
  Let my vindication come from you;
    may your eyes see what is right.
  Though you probe my heart,
    though you examine me at night and test me,
  you will find that I have planned no evil;
    my mouth has not transgressed.
  Though people tried to bribe me,
    I have kept myself from the ways of the violent
    through what your lips have commanded.
  My steps have held to your paths;
    my feet have not stumbled.

  I call on you, my God, for you will answer me;
    turn your ear to me and hear my prayer.
  Show me the wonders of your great love,
    you who save by your right hand
    those who take refuge in you from their foes.
  Keep me as the apple of your eye;
    hide me in the shadow of your wings
  from the wicked who are out to destroy me,
    from my mortal enemies who surround me.

  They close up their callous hearts,
    and their mouths speak with arrogance.
  They have tracked me down, they now surround me,
    with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground.
  They are like a lion hungry for prey,
    like a fierce lion crouching in cover.

  Rise up, LORD, confront them, bring them down;
    with your sword rescue me from the wicked.
  By your hand save me from such people, LORD,
    from those of this world whose reward is in this life.
  May what you have stored up for the wicked fill their bellies;
    may their children gorge themselves on it,
    may there be leftovers for their little ones.

  As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face;
    when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.

\o/ — Comments Psalm 17: When I awake!! — \o/

I am not a good sleeper — never have been and don’t know if I ever will be! However, one of the blessings of reading through the psalms has been the obvious concern for God’s work in our lives while we sleep.

I lie down and sleep;
I wake again because the LORD sustains me! (Psalm 3)

In peace I will lie down and sleep,
for you alone, LORD,
make me dwell in safety. (Psalm 4)

I will praise the LORD, who counsels me;
even at night my heart instructs me. (Psalm 16)

Though you probe my heart,
though you examine me at night and test me,
you will find …
… when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness. (Psalm 17)

… weeping may remain for a night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning. (Psalm 30)

Several months ago I felt called to pray for the Lord to minister to me and to my family while we slept. Things were in a tough place for me and I wasn’t sleeping. Sometimes, when I finally go to sleep, I would have nightmares that would awaken me. I knew I needed the Lord’s help.

I had already noticed that when it came to preaching and teaching, I would often awaken with a clear message to share with God’s people after going to sleep wrestling with Scripture, but not knowing quite how to present it. If the Father graced me with this blessing, then I wondered what else He might do to bless me and shape me while I slept?

As I read through the Bible with this in mind, I suddenly began to see the “night shift work” that the Lord did in the lives of His people. Why not pray for Him to be active in my heart and soul while I sleep? Why not ask for His comfort, healing, wisdom, discernment, clarification, leading, and conviction to come from His work in me while my body slept?

I discovered that the collection of the Psalms goes over this theme of the Lord’s presence, protection, and blessing during our sleep several times. Far more than the words of children’s lullabies or rote bedtime prayers, the LORD’s protection while we sleep is just part of His watchful care and consistent molding of our character as we pray ourselves to sleep and into His presence each night.