JUNE 26

OUR PERSONAL PROMISES

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Amos 4:13

“For behold,

He who forms mountains,

And creates the wind,

Who declares to man what his thought is,

And makes the morning darkness,

Who treads the high places of the earth—

The Lord God of Hosts is His name.”

Psalm 127:2b

“…….For so He gives His beloved sleep.”

Psalm 4:8

“I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.”

Psalm 121:4

“Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep.”

Matthew 11:28-29

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

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We are reading a book by Corrie ten Boom, with daily recordings she made to broadcast over Trans World Radio.  Her Dutch family  sheltered Jews during the Nazi invasion of Holland.  As a result, she, her sister Betsy and their father were taken to concentration camps in Germany. The Lord did many miracles to allow both Corrie and Betsy to bring the Gospel to the other women in their camp.   Their father was murdered in an extermination camp and Betsy was sick, dying just two weeks before Corrie and the rest were freed.  After her freedom, Corrie traveled the world, telling everyone even in remote areas, about salvation through Christ, besides radio and writing many books.  This one is entitled, “Not I, but Christ.”

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BLESSED SLEEP

Did you sleep well last night?

The Bible says that God gives sleep to His beloved children.  I experienced this when I was a prisoner in Ravensbruck.  What a blessing it was to sleep!  That was the only time we could forget our misery; awakening was hard because then we had to accept the terrible reality of being prisoners again.

When I was in solitary confinement, morning was the worst time of the day.  I soon learned to sing, as soon as I woke up;

“Stand up, stand up for Jesus!”

This gave me new courage to face each day.  One morning, I heard someone in another cell answer in song, as if to say, “I know this Jesus, too!”  That was a wonderful blessing.

One person in the Bible who seemed to sleep at the strangest times was Peter.  The first time was on the Mount of Transfiguration.  Can you imagine going to sleep when such wonderful things were happening?  One might call this the sleep of immaturity.  When he awoke, his reaction was wrong also.  He at once wanted to build a tabernacle for Jesus, for Moses, and for Elijah, as if they were all on the same level.  But Peter’s plans came to nothing.

Later Peter slept in the Garden of Gethsemane when Jesus greatly needed him.  Even when the Lord reprimanded him, Peter slept on.  This was a sleep of disloyalty.

These examples show how Satan can use sleep to defeat us.  What were your last thoughts before you went to sleep last night?  I have learned that when I fall asleep while reading the Bible or praying, a wonderful fellowship with the Lord continues, even in my dreams.

Dreams can be a strategic point for the enemy since we cannot control them.  Before I go to sleep, I often pray, “Lord, will you fill my subconscious with Your peace and love, by Your Holy Spirit?”  the Lord always gives  His peaceful sleep, far more wonderful than that given by sleeping pills.

I also had to ask Him for help when I traveled a great deal, because I had difficulties with the differences in time, atmosphere, and climate after long airplane trips.  It usually took two days for my old body to adjust.

I once traveled to Uzhikistan, in the Soviet Union near Siberia, to speak at several meetings.  There was a five-hour time difference from Holland, and when I arrived I told my hosts that I would not be able to speak until the following day.

“But two meetings have already been arranged,” they replied.

“All right,” I agreed, “but I must rest between meetings.”

After the first meeting they took me to a home where they had a lovely bed with many pillows and a lace bedspread over them.  I slept wonderfully.

After the  second meeting they took me to another home to sleep.  In the bedroom were two beds.  In one of them was an old lady.  I discovered that she spoke German, and I had the joy that the Lord used me to cause her to accept Him.  That was a blessed sleep!

Lord, thank you for giving us rest so that we may serve You when we are awake.  We entrust our sleep time to you and ask that You protect us from the evil one.  When Your work means sacrificing sleep, please help us to remember that You are our strength.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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