October 15, 2016 Preparing For A Peacful Night's Sleep
“Continued to take a personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it” – these are wise words from the founders of AA that are meant to lead us daily to a place of peace. This practice of reflecting on our day and sorting out what needs taking care of before we sleep is rooted in God’s invitation echoed over and over again in the Bible.
So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. (Romans 8:6 NLT)
We know we aren’t perfect – we remind ourselves of that often with the slogan, “progress not perfection.” However, we also know that as long as we let a record of wrongs build up in our hearts and in our minds, we have no peace. The longer we have no peace the greater the risk of relapse. Practicing a daily inventory helps us become conscious of God’s presence – or absence – in our day to day affairs. Practicing a daily inventory reminds us that God is ready to forgive and give us a new start. Practicing a daily inventory shows us all the ways we are growing and becoming more skilled at dealing with the obstacles to life and peace that show up each day.
In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe. (Psalm 4:8 NLT)
Many of us struggle with restlessness at various times. One friend in recovery dealt with his restlessness this way. Throughout the day he intentionally tried to notice every blessing, large or small, that came along. Each night in bed he named them one by one and thanked God for all of them. Not only did this practice change his attitude from negative to positive, but he often fell into a peaceful sleep before finishing his list.
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT)
Want a peaceful night’s sleep? When we bring our day before God with gratitude and surrender, we’ll certainly find it.
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