20 thoughts on “How to find a restful night’s sleep”
How true! Last night I was driving into Birmingham, UK, to take the Weds meeting. I live 15 miles out of the city, and only ever go there for church. As I reached the city centre there were long queues of traffic held up by road works. I was diverted from my usual route into streets with which I was not familiar, and soon was quite lost. I felt a bit panicky as I should have been there by that time. However, my readings for the service were all about spiritual stillness and calm trust and so I just sat still and prayed and before long a man came walking by. I got out and asked if he could help, and he took out his phone and brought up a map. It looked quite complicated to me, but just then a taxi stopped just behind me, and my helpful friend said – this is what you want! So I asked the driver could he direct me, and the dear man said – Follow me!
And he turned around from the direction he had been going and led me all the way to the church! So I had two good angels and was very grateful!
Like you, I often find myself in Cleveland, Ohio traffic, merely inching along. And that is my signal to slow-down, and know that the Christ is in charge. Other times, and quite regularly of late, the opposite happens: every light is green!
Not only does our consciousness of God allow us peaceful rest all through the night, that same consciousness keeps us safe, at peace, all day.
That one liner, Evan, is rich with blessings for us!
Thank you!
I thought it could be shortened even further…
A consciousness of God creates peace. This is what the world craves. And the outcome will be peace. 🙂
Thank you for the post. For me the gift was the picture you included. I will spend today remembering that I am snuggled into and hugged by God just like that beautiful baby.
Thank you so much Evan for sharing that wonderful ‘one liner’. After what seemed to be another stressful night, caring for a parent with what error would have me believe is a disturbed mind, sleep would appear to be a luxury. Tonight I will hold to that thought and wrap myself in that wonderful comfort blanket of Love.
Love it!! My mouth dropped open when I saw todays blog because we just had out of town relatives whom we love dearly but are not believers of GOD and for the three days that they were here they both complained about how terrible they slept on our guest bedroom mattress!!They made us feel so bad we immediately went out and bought a new mattress to accommodate their desires. Evan your daily thoughts are ALWAYAS timely!!
I laughed when I saw the title. My family worries that I do not get enough sleep. I have had issues with sleep for as long as I can remember. It’s a story.
But one thing I love to do and wish I could remember to do it much more, is to lie in the dark with my eyes closed and pray. It is an amazing time to pray. I clear my thought and wonderful ideas come into my consciousness, I remember bits of scripture. It is the best time for me to pray and meditate. I have been re reading a wonderful poem by Wendell Berry entitled The Peace of Wild Things and I will use it for my nighttime prayer.
What a lovely poem, Nadine! Thank you for sharing it. And thank you Beatrice for providing a link. I appreciate your blog, Evan and all who responded today.
thank you Evan for that awfully sweet picture of that little sweety in the arms of his father.
So we can feel embraced in the Love of God`s sheltering arms, how lovely and comforting!
Very needed that sentence of today`s SpiritView!
I am very grateful for all the helpful comments today, thank you very much.
Nadine, would you have the time to give us this poem by Wendell Berry,
and was he a Christian Scientist? If not, it would be very ok, too.
Thank you Beatrice. What a wonderful poem! So true. I just love sleeping with my window open and having the fresh air come in the window, the sounds of frogs or crickets depending on the time of year. A gentle breeze.
I find that, when I can’t sleep, that’s a good time for gratitude. Like the song says, “When I’m weary and I can’t sleep, I count my blessings instead of sheep, and I fall asleep counting my blessings….”
Thank you Evan for today’s reminder of the peace of God that fills consciousness when thought is quiet. When going to sleep I love counting the days blessings and “to be still, and know that I am God”. In the gratitude and stillness I am blessed with a quiet, peaceful sleep.
Beatrice, thank you for the link to The Peace of Wild Things and add to my ponderings at night as I settle in “the grace of” Love and find my freedom.
How true! Last night I was driving into Birmingham, UK, to take the Weds meeting. I live 15 miles out of the city, and only ever go there for church. As I reached the city centre there were long queues of traffic held up by road works. I was diverted from my usual route into streets with which I was not familiar, and soon was quite lost. I felt a bit panicky as I should have been there by that time. However, my readings for the service were all about spiritual stillness and calm trust and so I just sat still and prayed and before long a man came walking by. I got out and asked if he could help, and he took out his phone and brought up a map. It looked quite complicated to me, but just then a taxi stopped just behind me, and my helpful friend said – this is what you want! So I asked the driver could he direct me, and the dear man said – Follow me!
And he turned around from the direction he had been going and led me all the way to the church! So I had two good angels and was very grateful!
Annepat,
What a nice demonstration! Thank you for sharing it. 🙂
Like you, I often find myself in Cleveland, Ohio traffic, merely inching along. And that is my signal to slow-down, and know that the Christ is in charge. Other times, and quite regularly of late, the opposite happens: every light is green!
Not only does our consciousness of God allow us peaceful rest all through the night, that same consciousness keeps us safe, at peace, all day.
Thank you Evan and Wonderful testimony. Grateful you shared Annepat.
That one liner, Evan, is rich with blessings for us!
Thank you!
I thought it could be shortened even further…
A consciousness of God creates peace. This is what the world craves. And the outcome will be peace. 🙂
Thank you for the post. For me the gift was the picture you included. I will spend today remembering that I am snuggled into and hugged by God just like that beautiful baby.
Thank you so much Evan for sharing that wonderful ‘one liner’. After what seemed to be another stressful night, caring for a parent with what error would have me believe is a disturbed mind, sleep would appear to be a luxury. Tonight I will hold to that thought and wrap myself in that wonderful comfort blanket of Love.
Thanks for this message and adorable picture! And, thanks Annepat for that lovely demonstration. I will keep this thought in mind tonight.
Love it!! My mouth dropped open when I saw todays blog because we just had out of town relatives whom we love dearly but are not believers of GOD and for the three days that they were here they both complained about how terrible they slept on our guest bedroom mattress!!They made us feel so bad we immediately went out and bought a new mattress to accommodate their desires. Evan your daily thoughts are ALWAYAS timely!!
I laughed when I saw the title. My family worries that I do not get enough sleep. I have had issues with sleep for as long as I can remember. It’s a story.
But one thing I love to do and wish I could remember to do it much more, is to lie in the dark with my eyes closed and pray. It is an amazing time to pray. I clear my thought and wonderful ideas come into my consciousness, I remember bits of scripture. It is the best time for me to pray and meditate. I have been re reading a wonderful poem by Wendell Berry entitled The Peace of Wild Things and I will use it for my nighttime prayer.
What a lovely poem, Nadine! Thank you for sharing it. And thank you Beatrice for providing a link. I appreciate your blog, Evan and all who responded today.
thank you Evan for that awfully sweet picture of that little sweety in the arms of his father.
So we can feel embraced in the Love of God`s sheltering arms, how lovely and comforting!
Very needed that sentence of today`s SpiritView!
I am very grateful for all the helpful comments today, thank you very much.
Nadine, would you have the time to give us this poem by Wendell Berry,
and was he a Christian Scientist? If not, it would be very ok, too.
Dear Uta, Here is a link from the internet, where you can find this very beautiful poem:
http://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poetry/poems/peace-wild-things
Thank you, Evan, for this important post.
Thank you, Bèatrice for that, I perhaps would say, somehow romantic, nice poem – yes it is calming 😉
Thank you Beatrice. What a wonderful poem! So true. I just love sleeping with my window open and having the fresh air come in the window, the sounds of frogs or crickets depending on the time of year. A gentle breeze.
I find that, when I can’t sleep, that’s a good time for gratitude. Like the song says, “When I’m weary and I can’t sleep, I count my blessings instead of sheep, and I fall asleep counting my blessings….”
Thank you DB, lovely!
Wonderful one-liner. Thank you for poem link. DB I do the same every night. Have never had a problem falling asleep right away. So grateful.
Oops, that should read “When I’m worried….” Sorry!
Thank you Evan for today’s reminder of the peace of God that fills consciousness when thought is quiet. When going to sleep I love counting the days blessings and “to be still, and know that I am God”. In the gratitude and stillness I am blessed with a quiet, peaceful sleep.
Beatrice, thank you for the link to The Peace of Wild Things and add to my ponderings at night as I settle in “the grace of” Love and find my freedom.