Who hasn’t struggled with sleep?  Who hasn’t whispered, “God help me to sleep!” or even cried out in desperation, “Please God, Oh God, help me to sleep!”

Now imagine King David, chased out of his palace, trying to sleep in a cold, damp cave, miles from Jerusalem, surrounded by exhausted, snoring men, while being hunted by his own son, Absalom.   But instead of struggling to sleep, David says, “I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night.  I think of how much you have helped me. . .” Psalm 63:6-7

Wow!  What a recipe for peace.  What a three-part prescription for sleep!

1. “I lie awake thinking of God.” Note that David is not trying to sleep – but he is lying down and thinking about God.  God the creator.  God the one who delivered Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses and Ruth just to name a few of David’s Old-Testament stories worth pondering.
2. “Meditating on you throughout the night.” Talk about a stress reducer!  David focused his mind on God and who God was.  How God loved him.  When and where he had felt God’s presence in his life.
3. “I think of how much you have helped me.” Where can we even begin as we think of the miracle of God’s love and grace through Jesus.  Then think about all the miracles that have happened in your own life – the love you’ve experienced.  The healings you’ve had.  The opportunities that have come your way.  The good people who have been a part of your life.

This three-thousand-year-old prescription is time tested and God approved.  If you cannot sleep, I encourage you to lie in bed and hold one arm up toward heaven.  Start with David’s number one – thinking of God – by simply saying these words – nothing more, “Our Father in heaven, praise to your name.”

Keep your arm up and pray these words, just the beginning words of the Lord’s prayer, again and again.  Think of the power, grace and love in these words, “Our Father in heaven, praise to your name” as you fall asleep in your loving Father’s arms.