Have you ever gone through a season when you just can’t seem to sleep at night? Or a time when you keep waking up at a certain time of night and find yourself consistently unable to go back to sleep, day after day?
God invites us into the night watch. The funny thing about it is that many people never realize it. They just fight the season when sleep is difficult, instead of inviting God to speak to them, or instead of praying and interceding.
Many mothers know the night watch very well. Up late at night nursing a baby, wondering when we will ever sleep again…then we notice that the presence of God is thick. He is so present in the night watch. Even as new moms we can make use of the night watch by always praying during those late-night feedings. It’s like training to be a parent.
I’m in a night watch season. I’ve been struggling to get steady sleep. But since I’ve been here before, I know what to do. I invite God to speak to me. I invite Him to show me why I’m awake. I ask, “Why am I awake? Are you keeping me awake for a reason or is the enemy trying to rob me of sleep?”
Ah yes, mothers especially know the night watch.
In the night watch we wrestle for our children. We speak life as we pace the floor. We storm heaven with our requests for breakthrough within our family. We hold the pieces of broken hearts around us and ask God to restore them.
I hope today, to encourage you to become more aware. If you notice a pattern in your life, especially being awakened regularly night after night, then inquire of the Lord. Ask if He is the One doing the waking. If He is, then cooperate. Pray. Pray in the spirit. Pray with passion. Pray.
Embrace the night watch and hope for morning. Let the stillness of night stand guard around you as you focus in a way that simply can’t happen during the day.
On my bed I remember You; I think of You through the watches of the night. Because You are my help, I sing in the shadow of Your wings. I cling to You; Your right hand upholds me. Psalm 63:6-8
I call with all my heart; answer me, Lord, and I will obey Your decrees. I call out to You; save me and I will keep Your statutes. I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in Your word. My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on Your promises. Hear my voice in accordance with Your love; preserve my life, Lord, according to Your laws. Those who devise wicked schemes are near, but they are far from Your law. Yet You are near, Lord, and all Your commands are true. Long ago I learned from Your statutes that You established them to last forever. Psalm 119:145-152
365 Days in the Presence 