Improve Your Spiritual Alertness and Sleep Better
by Candyce Carden @CandyceDeal
Searching for Better Sleep
What are the last thoughts floating through your head when you lie down to sleep at night? I used to think about the next day. I’d mentally run down the list of things I intended to do or places I needed to go.
I was sure this preplanning would help me sleep better because I’d be prepared and in control. But instead of letting go and drifting to sleep, my mind ping-ponged from one “what if” to another.
“What if the dental procedure took an extra-long time?” “What if it wasn’t successful?” “What if no one showed for lunch?” “What if I didn’t finish the manuscript by the due date?”
I searched for information about sleeping better. An article titled “Tips for Good Sleep,” written by a psychologist, includes this suggestion: rather than looking ahead to tomorrow when trying to sleep, look back on the moments of the current day.
And of course Jesus, the greatest psychologist of all, counsels us not to worry about tomorrow in Matthew 6:34:
“So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Spiritual Alertness
Because I’d also been looking for ways to grow in spiritual alertness, I decided to roll the article’s advice into a spiritual exercise I learned about in Aging Faithfully by Alice Fryling.
The Daily Examen calls us to regularly set aside time to reflect on our life. As we think back on our day (or week), we recall the moments we felt closest to God and when we felt distant from Him. After going to bed, I reflect on the day’s events, interactions, and accomplishments. I use some or all of the following questions, suggested by Fryling, to examine my day:
- 1-A For what moment today was I most grateful?
- 1-B For what moment today was I least grateful?
- 2-A When did I give and receive the most love today?
- 2-B When did I give and receive the most least today?
- 3-A Where was I aware of living out the fruit of the Spirit?
- 3-B Where was there an absence of living out the fruit of the Spirit? (Fryling, 89)
This exercise is fine-tuning my spiritual alertness, which in turn, increases my awareness of God’s spiritual blessings. Try it if you have trouble falling to sleep. Or even if you don’t. My intent is to do it every night, but I’m not that disciplined. A few times a week seems sufficient to keep it fresh.
Since I started this practice, rest comes more easily and I fall asleep with a positive mindset. And more importantly, it’s drawing me closer to God. Because I know I have questions to answer when I go to bed, I’m more alert to God’s presence throughout the day.
Does sleep ever elude you? Do you have tips to share that help you sleep?
For more suggestions for better sleep, read the following article written by Barbara Latta. She includes excellent Bible verses to recite or pray on nights when sleep eludes us: 7 Scriptures to Cure a Sleepless Night,
Thanks for reading and commenting. Hope your summer is going swimmingly and that you are resting well. Until next time…
Immersed in His Love,
Candyce
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Candyce, thank you for these beautiful scriptural suggestions. I’ll strive to put these principles in to practice.
My prayers are with you, Lisa.
Thank you, Candyce, for these suggestions and for Barbara Latta’s post. I usually pray before going off to sleep but sometimes I lay awake for too long. I hope to put your suggestions into practice and focus more on scriptures.
Thanks, LuAnn. Prayer and reciting Scripture and great ideas. They both stop the worrying.
I don’t usually have trouble going to sleep at night. Most nights I’m exhausted from a busy and active day and I fall asleep quickly. I try to thank God for the blessings of the day and pray for His guidance. If I’m still awake after my prayers, I recite scripture in my head (so I won’t disturb my husband). But on the rare occasions where I experience sleeplessness, your suggestions are very helpful. Self-reflection is important for us maintain our close and faithful relationship with our Lord and I need to do more of that. Thank you, Candyce.
Thanks for your thoughts, Katherine. I sometimes wake up after falling to sleep and have problems going back to sleep. A friend says God wakes her up because she needs to pray about something. So she prays. I think seeking God during these times is the answer.
When thoughts are running through my head and I find it hard to sleep, I turn to prayer. As I pray, I release those things that weigh on my mind and sleep comes. I like the questions above. Next time, I’ll give them a try.
Prayer is often the solution to life’s worries. Not because it takes our problems away but because it reminds of Who is in charge.
Thanks for sharing.
The information you shared from Alice Fryling is helpful to keep our minds in the right place. I am a champion at the “what-if’s” and these exercises will be a discipline I can practice to keep those harmful thoughts away. Thanks for sharing the link to my article, Candyce. You are a blessing!
My pleasure, Barbara. It is an excellent article. Sweet dreams!