Morning Moments

PASSING THE NIGHT

Psalms 63:6 (HCSB)
6 When I think of You ⌊as I lie⌋ on my bed, I meditate on You during the night watches

It is said that a problem with falling asleep is a sign of depression and that waking throughout sleep is a sign of anxiety. But it is important to put teaching that is secular in proper perspective. It may be true in a general sense, but may not be true in a restricted sense. Psychology is an abstract science. Our tendancy is far too often to give the medical and psychological field a bit more than their due. M.D. does not stand for Made Divine and Ph.D. does not stand for Perfect Head Doctors. They are all just practicing and that means that we must be "patient" with them.

The Psalmist learned an important lesson about insomnia. He learned that if you meditate on the right things, it will get the devil so upset he will sedate you:) Remember Paul's words to think of "these" things that are true, honest, just pure, lovely, and of good report. Those are the things that bring rest, not depression or anxiety.

Isiah wrote in 26:3, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee." I recently stood on the side of a mountain overlooking a breath taking view of a placid lake with higher mountains in the background and reflected on the power of God and the puniness of man; the incomprehensiveness of God and the insufficiency of man. Suddenly the peace of God became so real and far more significant than any personal problems or other problems.

Jesus came down from the Mountain of Glory to this small hill of gloom and grief to bring us what no thing and no one else can give us - peace that passes ALL understanding. Down here where we all live, we are surrounded by work and worry and words that hurt. We all have warts that others want to remind us of, and if it is not sufficient for others to remind us, we remind ourselves.

But up there on the mountain top, away from it all, where things are lofty and noble, and the air and water are so pure, up there, it is so picturesque, placid, and peaceful. Maybe that is what the Psalmist had in mind in our text. Lying on his bed, he allowed God to take Him in thought into the "higher" mountain range - out of the human and into the heavenly. He saw the stars and forgot for awhile anyway, the stress and strain of life. He was transformed from tension by truth.

Try it!

BLESSINGS!