A few months back, I shared a strategy for filling nighttime wakefulness with peace rather than the usual half-wakeful thoughts of the evils afoot in the world today. This is an update: it not only works, it works REALLY well.
The strategy originated in a casual comment from the leader of the Bethel movement, Bill Johnson. In the midst of a sermon on something else, he remarked that when he is awake at night, he will go over in his mind scriptures that he has memorized.
I thought to myself, “I can do that,” and I was motivated because at that time, I was plagued by wakefulness on and off during the night hours. Often I would lay half-awake for a half hour or more. Anyone else identify with that?
Anyway, I dove into it. I started off with the 23rd Psalm: “The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not be in want….” That helps my peace. I branched off into Colossians 3:1-3 and Romans 12:1-2 to remind myself to guard my eyes and ears and to renew my mind. I will add more going forward.
Today, more than 6 months later, I can tell you that this practice has brought about a revolution in my sleeping patterns. I ALMOST NEVER lose sleep these days. I typically fall asleep again after only a few seconds…...and I know that because when I awake, I sometimes remember where I left off in my meditation on this or that scripture. If I have trouble, I just switch scriptures. Boom. Back to sleep.
AND, while I typically sleep within a minute or two of my head hitting the pillow, if I have trouble, I just start reciting my memorized scriptures, or think on the scriptures I read just before I put my head down.
Here’s another thing: I learned that my brain has figured out a way to do this. It’s almost as if the 23rd Psalm has a structure. I can almost touch it. I believe with practice, I could learn much longer sections.
One last thing: this is renewing my mind. I am no longer wasting mind share on things that spin me up that I cannot change. I am thinking more on things above. I don’t ignore what is happening in the world; I spend a little time each day looking at current events locally, nationally and internationally. But that’s not where I keep my mind. It’s just not profitable for me or my family or my calling.
Do I recommend it? Sure! Not everyone wants to memorize scripture, of course. I would think that favorite lines of peaceful poetry would also serve well.
How do you manage your thoughts in times of mid-night wakefulness?
