Today's Meditation
Read Psalm 16
1Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
2I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.”
3As for the holy ones in the land, they are the noble, in whom is all my delight.
4Those who choose another god multiply their sorrows; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names upon my lips.
5The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.
6The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; I have a goodly heritage.
7I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.
8I keep the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
9Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also rests secure.
10For you do not give me up to Sheol, or let your faithful one see the Pit.
11You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Verse 7 and 8 says, "I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I keep the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved." I've had a pattern of living and working through my concerns and problems most of my life. I sleep on them. I don't remember who told me to do this when I was young, but it has been something that I've done all my life. And it has served me well (except for the nights that my concerns or difficulties have overwhelmed my sleeping and I'm awake from 2 or 3am onward until sunrise)!
Generally, I make no major decisions until I've had at least a night to sleep on it. Even less difficult decisions or problems, I use my night's rest to allow my mind (and my heart) to work it through. This is not something that just happens, though. Before sleeping I pray about it, think through all the intricacies, and the implications that I am consciously aware of in regard to that issue. And then, I ask God to help me with this through the night. In the morning, I have often found - to my delight - that I know exactly what I should do and how I should do it. I know where my heart is leading and I know the direction and the steps I should take regarding the concern, problem, or decision. It works for me and, evidently, worked well for King David, the psalmist, too.
What burdens your heart today? What have you been fretting over? Perhaps this pattern of problem solving will help you, too.
Today's music offering is a short lullaby I've known most of my life.
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