Sleeping like a single person...

Sleeping is not the problem for me. Oh, I can sleep like no one I know! I sleep like a single person (I don't know what nitwit came up with the whole "sleeping like a baby" thing. Babies wake up every two hours...screaming!) but some days I wake up like the weight of the world is on my shoulders.

Last night I was determined to not wake up with a million thoughts going this morning. You know the roll call of things to do and things to worry about: dentists appointments, bills, my mommy/taxi service, bills, retirement, bills, allergies, bills, homework completed, bills, lunches to make, bills, before/after/during school activities, and of course bills.

But just as I have for the last few months, I woke up with the roll playing in my head before I even stumbled to my first cup of coffee. Sigh...

Psalm 23:1-3

"1)The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2)He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3)He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. "


I don't think the Lord wants us to wake up stressing about the day/month/year ahead of us. He did not say:

"He pushes me down on a gravel path beside roaring rapids."

Nope, that is not what He said.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. But wait, the next sentence says He leadeth me besides still waters. How can it be both?

I think the answer is in the next verse: He restoreth my soul before He leads.

You see I don't think it is about being told to nap...although I have taken that interpretation and napped with it!

If the Lord is our Shepherd (our leader, the one we trust) and we are created (made to do so) to lie down (rest) in green pastures (the abundant provision) and be lead by still waters (peaceful and life giving water) then we know He wants desperately to restore our souls and lead us on the path of righteousness. The thing is, He won't give us B unless we do A. That Shepherd of ours has always been a gentleman. He may not make us rest, but He will remind us it is how He made us.

I don't think we were created to lay in that pasture of provision while we worry about the potential for dried out grass up ahead or rapids that lead to a waterfall a mile down river.

Neither can we go to bed with a list on our brains.

For tomorrow, I've already got my alarm set to wake to a hymn. I've got my scripture ready by my bed. You see, I can re-train myself to rest in the Lord because we are created to so. I think He knows that. That is why He reminds us that we were made (created) to rest in green pastures. I can, however, do my part in this relationship I have with the Good Shepherd.


I will let you know how it goes...in the meantime, as long as I am up, I will go make lunches for the clan and send them out the door before I tackle the laundry...LOL! Just kidden' ya'! I still don't do that!