Psalm 4:8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for You alone, O Lord, make me to dwell in safety.
SECURE
Do you ever have trouble sleeping at night? I do. I have restless leg which keeps me from falling asleep, even though I take medication for it. It is really quite aggravating. I don’t sleep much anyway, so to lose an hour at the beginning of the night doesn’t help my rest time.
So, you can see why I picked this verse today. Our ultimate peace comes from the Father. He is the One who protects and defends us. That allows us to lie down and sleep in peace. Knowing that the Lord is watching over us should relieve us and allow us to get a restful night of sleep.
TEACHING MOMENT
When is the last time your little Gertrude called for you in the middle of the night because she had a bad dream? How about your little Johnny? Does he fight sleep because of the fear of a nightmare? Read them this verse. Reassure them that not only are you there, but the Lord is always guarding them.
Now, some kids might freak out knowing someone is watching them as they sleep. Reassure them that the Lord is not some kind of creeper. He is looking to and fro for the enemy. He is not as concerned about watching them sleep as He is watching out for any intruders. He will keep them safe.
Do you allow your “rest” to come over you? Do you wrestle with thoughts and worries that prevent you from peace? Lay it all down. Let the Lord “tuck you in” tonight. Let Him stand watch. Sleep, my child, sleep.