Not sleeping?

Usually I fall asleep quickly and for the night, but last night didn’t. I prayed about the things nagging me, but didn’t “let go and let God” to well after midnight. While most of my friends envy my normal sleeping pattern, they complain of not being able to sleep or stay asleep most of the time. After not sleeping well, I’m not surprised that Piper’s devotions for today speak of our God who never sleeps!

My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. (Psalm 121:2–3)
The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore. (Psalm 121:5–8)

Before reading about this, I sang praise songs. The one that came first in my collection starts out, “Oh to be like Thee…” and the rest of it describes many of those ways that often seem impossible. Being like Jesus is far different from all human thinking and action. I thought of how difficult it seems and how much I need the Holy Spirit to do anything or even think like Jesus. But I also need Him to sleep well.

After singing, Piper’s devotional reminded me that I am not responsible to transform my life. He says: “We are prone to think of ourselves as workers in God’s life. But the Bible wants us first to be amazed that God is a worker in our lives.” He quoted these promises:

From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him. (Isaiah 64:4)

He changes me by letting me see Him, by speaking to me and showing me Himself and it is by the vision of Him and His Word…

By which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. (2 Peter 1:4)

Awake or asleep, I cannot be like Jesus by my own efforts. As these verses say, He is my keeper. He promises the change and because He does, I can do what He asks…

Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. (2 Corinthians 7:1)

 God’s commitment to complete the good work He has begun in me, even in the entire creation, can be painful at times, but it is for His glory and for more Christlikeness in me. Just being reminded of this settles my heart. I cannot do anything — a reality heightened by having that helpless feeling that comes from lack of sleep. But He never sleeps and even as I toss and turn, He is working out the perfections of His plan in the persistence of His heart.

I know that the promises God makes are primarily about changing me. I don’t change Him when I pray, even though prayer is part of that change, of making me more like Jesus. Yet it is by His promises, not by my prayers — awake or asleep. It is because He has granted me His nature, I am able to escape the corruption of sin, asleep or awake.

For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. (2 Corinthians 1:20)

PRAY: Jesus, I am so amazed how the gospel makes a difference in how I think about what You say. Last night I remembered the promise You make in giving Your beloved sleep, but as my readings remind me, I don’t claim Your promises — they claim me. You are not awake to jump into actions at my requests; I am awake to trust Your will for my life. I cannot “name and claim” anything, only to have a greater passion for your glory, only to be more like Jesus instead of being more like my old self. I want to “stand on your promises” whether You give me sleep or sleeplessness. I want to be like You and trust You to keep working in my life. You are the Potter and I am clay in Your hands — always, for You never leave me to go take a nap.               

God’s power, not mine

Thinking of the challenges of life as a golfer thinks about his game has been a good illustration for me. Most golfers return to the links, not because they are always making perfect shots, but because they do so now and then. That is, they know they can do better, so they persist.

A Christian persists too, but for different reasons. We are given the power of God. As He told Paul: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

As Chambers notes, we must never measure our spiritual capacity by education or by intellect or any other natural resources. As suggested in the parable of the talents (Matthew 25), God gives those resources to us. Our capacity is measured by the promises of God. The servants who receive talents also must rely on God for their use. To do otherwise is a blatant declaration against the power of God.

The one servant who proved unfaithful said things like: “You expect more than You give me the power to do” and “You demand too much of me” and “You are too demanding and I cannot obey You.” These are expressions of doubt, even blasphemy. When God gives us the Holy Spirit, He expects that power to be used, not our own power which compared to His is mere and measly weakness. The only reason for not living in His power is an independent spirit, which is the definition of sin.

God said I am to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, then He will add all these things. The context of that promise refers to material needs, but the rest of Scripture is clear: God will not leave me helpless when He asks of me a challenging or even a small task. Paul said, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13) Paul multiplied his talents because he believed in the power and promises of God and lived accordingly.

For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. (2 Corinthians 1:20)

Chambers says that lazy people express an independent attitude every time they fail to get up and move. He also says that our capacity in spiritual matters is measured by the promises of God. I conclude that if I am not living to my capacity, it is because I doubt the promises of God. My score card may disappoint me at times, but because of the One who sent me out, and because of His grace that I’ve made a few well-placed shots, I know that I can do whatever He wants me to do.