Now I lay me...

down to sleep
I pray the Lord my soul to keep

If I should die before I awake
I pray the Lord my soul to take.

God bless:
Amen

It was an every night, on the knees, prayer the preceded being tucked into bed
and sung to by my father. I am sure that the words meant nothing to me even
though I am quite sure that my parents tried to explain things. As I look back
and look at now, I have become aware of the significance of this prayer for
God's provision.

We are never more vulnerable than we are when asleep! We are at the mercy
of a God who has provided for our bodies to somehow be able to arise in the
morning with eyes that would open and joints that would function. We are
also at the mercy of the evil one who probably could care less about our safety
and who would stop at nothing to influence us whether conscious or not.
Even as children we just assume that we will awaken to a new day or a late-
night trip to the fridge. 

It is faith that allows us to drift off; and it is fact that we may, in actuality,
not awaken to a new day; we may awaken from a soul's journey to either be
with the Lord or to Sheol. Regardless, we are not in control of our awakening
outcome. Just as we assume that the sun will rise on a new day, we assume
that we will arise in safety.

I have come to, once again, pray to my Father in heaven each night. I am
asking Him the same basic things that the childhood prayer was asking; for
His provision. I am His creature and He is in charge. My days are as
pages in a book and there will come a final page. I just want Him to know
that I wish for His will to be done. I cherish His sovereignty and loving-
kindness and am fully aware that I am His.

Praise our God!

"DOH!"

 Romans 8:28 
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.


I remember an old joke about a set of parents who send their son
on an errand and move away before he comes back. Well, in
a slightly different arena of events, I moved to join my daughter and
son in law and due to God's circumstances, they moved away. I
became stuck 900 miles from the loved ones I had so fervently
wanted to be near.
 
So here was an excellent opportunity to put into action that
which I have come to say, write about and hope to put
into practice, God's sovereign goal of fashioning me into the
image of Christ should have allowed me to put my faith in His
good will, His plan, His provision. How did I do?
Horribly!!!
 
I have fretted, worried, questioned, felt sorry for myself; you
name the signs of weakness and I have lived them. It's not
as if this was serious like the struggles many are living through
each day. This was an inconvenience, a little roadblock, a
small bump in the road.
 
So what's to learn, here? I know that God will forgive my
terrible lack of understanding and patience, I know this is
a process, I know I have shown that there is plenty of room
for the continuing transformation by the Holy Spirit in my
life and I feel this will give me, with God's  grace, the realization
that I have every reason to trust Jesus and every reason to
express my gratitude.
 
Maybe next time it won't be, 'Whoops, I did it again!'
Maybe next time I will abide more steadfastly in Lord Jesus,
my shepherd and King.

How could I not? Praise God!