Read
(A psalm by David for the music leader. Use stringed instruments.)
An Evening Prayer
1You are my God and protector.
Please answer my prayer.
I was in terrible distress,
but you set me free.
Now have pity and listen
as I pray.
2How long will you people
refuse to respect me?
You love foolish things,
and you run after
what is worthless.
3The Lord has chosen
everyone who is faithful
to be his very own,
and he answers my prayers.
4 But each of you
had better tremble
and turn from your sins.
Silently search your heart
as you lie in bed.
5Offer the proper sacrifices
and trust the Lord.
6There are some who ask,
“Who will be good to us?”
Let your kindness, Lord,
shine brightly on us.
7You brought me more happiness
than a rich harvest
of grain and grapes.
8I can lie down
and sleep soundly
because you, Lord,
will keep me safe.
Reflect
In Psalm 3, we reflected on why we can sleep well at night. Psalm 4 brings us to the place of understanding how we can sleep well at night.
Psalm 4 begins with David praying and crying out for vindication from God. Between verse 2 and verse 3 is the word Selah. Many Bible scholars believe this word means “Pause” – like a pause that is written in the music of a song.
Once he hits the pause button on his prayer for vindication, it is like David takes a deep breath and comes back to what he knows to be true. The Lord has set apart the faithful for himself; he will hear when I call. Reflect in your heart and be still.
After this “pause” in his prayer, look at how David’s prayer changes tune. He went from calling on God’s vindication to acknowledging the great and wondrous joy that God has placed in his heart. David is able to sleep in peace because of the Lord.
When you are faced with an anxious heart and you are begging God to fix all of your circumstances, take a lesson from David and pause your prayer. Take a deep breath and refocus on what you know to be true about God. Invite God to help you sleep in peace and in joy.
God invites us to find our rest in him, and when we do, he gives us the gift of rest at night.
Respond
Dear Father God, Pause my anxious heart and refocus my thinking on you instead of on my circumstances. You are the one who makes me dwell in safety, and I ask you to give me a good rest tonight. I trust you because I know you are good. May the light of your face shine on me tonight. 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.