Psalm 4:8
I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for you, Lord, only make me dwell in safety.
My dear brothers and sisters, let us reflect on the power of praising God and casting down devils, even in our sleep. The Bible invites us to meditate on God's word day and night (Joshua 1:8), suggesting that our praises and spiritual warfare do not end when our eyes close to sleep. God watches over us in our slumber, and our spirits remain engaged in an unseen battle against darkness.
Psalm 42:8 proclaims, "By day the Lord directs his
love, at night his song is with me — a prayer to the God of my life."
Here we see an image of a believer whose heart is so filled with love for God
that their spirit continues to sing praises even in the quiet hours of the
night.
When we wrap up our day, it is essential to end in worship,
thanking God for His blessings and seeking refuge in His love. Praising God as
we drift off to sleep sets the tone for our subconscious thoughts. Instead of
being troubled by the worries of the world, we can enter a deeper relationship
with our Heavenly Father as our spirit continues in the rhythm of praise.
Ephesians 6:12 reminds us, "For our struggle is not
against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,
against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil
in the heavenly realms." Yes, even as we lay down to sleep, we are not
exempt from spiritual warfare.
However, the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but
mighty through God for the pulling down of strongholds, as said in 2
Corinthians 10:4. When we consciously surrender our dreams and subconscious
thoughts to God, we create a barrier against the enemy, who seeks to plant
seeds of fear, doubt, and discord.
This might be new to many, but I want you to know that our
God never slumbers or sleeps (Psalm 121:4). He is our vigilant guardian,
watching over us as we rest. In Psalm 91:5, it's said that we "will not
fear the terror of night". And why should we? For God has not given us a
spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7).
Let us remember to cast down every imagination and every
high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing into
captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). This
includes our thoughts as we drift off to sleep, and possibly even our dreams.
In conclusion, I invite you all to explore this nighttime
devotion. As you lay down each night, start with a hymn of praise for our
Almighty God. Surrender your thoughts and dreams into His loving care. Pray for
God's protection as you sleep and ask the Holy Spirit to guard your mind
against any attacks of the enemy. Trust in the power of our Lord Jesus Christ
to lord over your sleep and dreams, for He is our rock and fortress, our
ever-present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1).
May the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all, both
when you are awake and while you sleep. God bless you all.