Welcome March!

 Heavenly Father, thank You for this part of our twenty-four hours You called night. From the beginning of time You intended we have a period where we could do nothing but rest. Night is the perfect time to hit the reset button. We can sleep anytime. But there is no sleep or rest more restorative than the sleep we have at night. 

From our childhood, adults around us seem to have known that everything is better after a good night’s sleep. Some loving adult, perhaps our mother or father would wisely say to us, “You’ll feel better after a good night’s sleep.” And how right they were. Perhaps we’d have fewer suicides, a sharp decrease in liquor sales, fewer trips to the emergency room where rows and rows of people wait to be examined by someone who will prescribe something as simple as rest to make them feel better and bring healing to their body. 

Sleep doesn’t come easily to everyone, Lord. We humans have a hard time letting our brains quiet down so sleep can come. We think too much, worry too much, cram every waking moment with plans about the future, so, when night comes it’s hard to turn our brains off and let sleep take over. 

Grant that I will not suffer from insomnia, Lord. Grant that I can lay down and sleep peacefully; that I can leave the day’s activities, worries, and plans where they belong and welcome sleep. Thank you, God, that when You created day, You did not forget to create night and You named both “good.” They are each very good and very much needed for our good. In Jesus’ name. Amen

A Promise to Remember at the Close of Day

And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day—Genesis 1:5

God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night—Genesis 1:16 

 Heavenly Father, Eternal God,

The Scriptures say I will sing of Your love forever. They say Your love will last forever and Your presence and power are with us forever; eternally. When I spend time in Your word, I learn heaven is forever holding every healing that is needed, but there is nothing written that my problems and trials will last forever. Earthly trials, storms and troubles are fleeting; they can only last so long and will not go on forever. Thank You for this important reminder, especially as I take stock at the end of my day. My trials no matter how trying; my storm no matter how fierce; my challenges no matter how challenging; my valley no matter how low, this ocean of trouble no matter how deep, will not go on forever. There are solutions and answers and provisions and healing that I can’t see right now; surely they are coming because You have promised! Help me take a step back and see clearly. Help me hold out until my change comes. Help me keep my eyes on You while I ride the waves of adversity. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen

A Promise to Remember at the Close of Day

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever—Hebrews 13:8

The grass withers and the lowers fall but the word of our God endures forever—Isaiah 40:8

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever—I Chronicles 16:34 

 Heavenly Father,

Thank You for always giving us something to look forward to. Even at the end of a long, sometimes a taxing, wearying, and exhausting day, You remind us of Your sweet promise that on tomorrow things will be better. Tomorrow we’ll be able to think (more) clearly. Tomorrow we’ll see some solutions to our problems that felt hidden today. Tomorrow our soul will feel a little less burdened, our sorrow a little easier to bear. (Surely) tomorrow a door will be opened that was closed today; “no’s” will be turned into “yeses” and if nothing else, a hopeful “maybe.” Miracle of miracles our frowns will be changed to smiles and sighs of relief! We’ll realize victory is coming and there is light at the end of our long-dark-tunnel.

Thank You, God, that our tomorrow’s always hold some hope we couldn’t feel or connect with today. Thank You for the promise of new mercies awaiting us tomorrow. Life always seems better, more hopeful when the sun comes up and the strength we couldn’t feel the night before is there waiting on us. Thank You, Father, for always sitting with us at the close of day and meeting us with hope at the beginning of a new day. We are strengthened and filled with new hope because You stay with us day and night. In Jesus; name. Amen     

A Promise to Remember at the Close of Day

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness—Lamentations 3:22-23

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own—Matthew 6:34