Read
(Written by David when he was running from his son Absalom.)
An Early Morning Prayer
1 I have a lot of enemies, Lord.
Many fight against 2me and say,
“God won't rescue you!”
3But you are my shield,
and you give me victory
and great honor.
4I pray to you, and you answer
from your sacred hill.
5I sleep and wake up refreshed
because you, Lord,
protect me.
6Ten thousand enemies attack
from every side,
but I am not afraid.
7Come and save me, Lord God!
Break my enemies' jaws
and shatter their teeth,
8because you protect
and bless your people.
Reflect
Have you ever lost sleep because of stress or being anxious about something? According to the National Sleep Foundation, people who suffer from chronic stress sleep less and have poorer sleep quality. When you do not sleep enough, your body produces more stress hormones, making you feel even more stressed out than you were before.
In Psalm 3, David is facing an overwhelmingly stressful circumstance. His son, Absalom had attempted a coup that would see David removed as king so that he could take his place. You can imagine how deeply the betrayal of his son would have created stress for David.
Yet, it is in the middle of this overwhelming pain that David declares “I lie down and sleep; I wake up again because the Lord sustains me” (v 5).
When everything else is shaken, David’s foundation of trust in God gives him a good night’s sleep. God is a shield on every side – he protects David from every angle. He is David’s confidence – the one who helps David to lift his head high. He is the God who is strong and will always answer the prayer of David. David has no fear because his confidence is in the only One who is greater than his circumstances.
The same confidence that David had is available to you and to me. We can sleep well at night – no matter how strong the storm is that is raging all around us. Place your confidence in this God who is a shield on every side of you, and get a great night of sleep!
Respond
Dear Father God, Thank you for the gift of sleep. Thank you that you are greater than my stressful circumstances. I will not be afraid of the storm around me. You sustain me. You know I need rest, and so I place my life and my sleep in your hands and ask you to give me rest. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Kirk Giles
Kirk Giles is Co-Lead Pastor of Forward Church – a multisite church in the Waterloo Region area of Ontario. He previously served as President of Promise Keepers Canada | Impactus – a global ministry equipping men for a life of purpose and godly impact. Kirk is married to Shannon and together, they have four adult children and two daughters-in-law.