I love to read and almost always have some kind of book in the works: a new devotional, study book, self-help, or just a good novel. Right now, I’m in the middle of a mystery thriller written by Terri Blackstock, one of my favorite Christian authors. Sometimes I allow myself the luxury of reading during the day, but usually I enjoy reading in bed just before I turn off the light. It is my habit to read a daily “Night” devotion by Charles Spurgeon first and then finish with a few chapters in my novel.
Recently, however, I read a devotion entitled “HWLW”. (I intended to document this author, but forgive me; I cannot find the article again.) The acronym, though, stands for “His Word the Last Word” and I love that thought! Since most of us go to bed thinking about the last thing we read or saw on TV – how much better it would be to go to sleep thinking about the last passage of Scripture we read. In my case, wouldn’t it induce better sleep to ponder a passage from God’s word, instead of thinking why and who could have poisoned Fire Chief Stan Shepherd in Newpointe, LA? This is also the same reason that I try not to watch Forensic Files just before bedtime!
Psalm 119:11 exhorts us – “I have hidden Your Word (God’s) in my heart, that I might not sin against You” (God). In the margin of my Bible, I have written “Absorbed into thought; Translated into action”. Or, from Psalm 4:8, “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for You alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety”. Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest”. “On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night”. (Psalm 63:6)
What a comfort to think that while I am alone in the night, tossing and turning in the wee hours, trying to quiet my mind and/or set aside the concerns of the day, the Lord God is awake and watching over me! “He will not let your foot slip – He who watches over you will not slumber; Indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep” (Psalm 121:3, 4).
I’m reminded of when we lived in Japan, as missionaries, many years ago. It is the custom of the Japanese people who worship Buddha or Shinto to come before the idol, bow and clap their hands, as a gesture of awakening him to hear their prayers. Scripture is so clear – “But their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but they cannot see; they have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but they cannot smell; they have hands but they cannot feel, feet, but they cannot walk nor can they utter a sound with their throats…O house of Israel, trust in the Lord, He is their help and shield”. (Psalm 115: 4-9)
Our Heavenly Father delights when our thoughts focus on Him. When you can’t fall asleep, practice reading the Psalms and praying Scripture back to God:
Dear Almighty God, thank You that You never slumber or sleep. Right now, when the world is quiet in the night, help me think about my many blessings and the way You have been faithful to me in the past. Please calm my heart as I praise You and comfort me with refreshing rest from my day’s work. Amen.
Maybe HWLW is a good suggestion for you, too!