A Sample "Christian Soul Care Devotional"

From Sleeplessness to Shepherfulness

William Gaultiere, Ph.D.

What do you do when you can’t get to sleep?  Or when you’re awake in the middle of the night?  Perhaps your mind follows down trails of worries, upsets, things to do, or strategies to solve your problems?  

Kristi and I know this experience.  Who hasn’t tossed and turned in bed?  We all have!  And the older we get the more we may have aches and pains, along with stresses, that make it harder for us to sleep soundly.  The issue we’re discussing here is how we respond to laying in bed awake.  

If you haven’t learned how to lie quietly and be at peace with the Lord for long stretches of time then you’ll go to great lengths to avoid sleeplessness.  Many people we talk to in counseling and in church settings deal with their nighttime anxiety by falling asleep to the television or reading themselves to sleep.  Others shortchange themselves on sleep, staying up late or getting up early to put their stress to work and be productive.  Still others use alcohol or sleeping pills.  In each of these cases people are distancing themselves from their hearts.

The ancient Hebrews practiced a rhythm of life after sundown that is good for the soul!  They considered the evening as a time to wind down and rest, to reflect on the day that is passed, to examine the conscience, to give thanks to God for his mercy and grace, to be quiet and listen to God.  We see these themes in the “Evening Psalms” of the Bible, which for thousands of years were prayed by God’s people as individuals, families, and faith communities (e.g., Psalms 4, 26, 91, 127, 139, 141).  Praying Evening Psalms helps to cleanse us of sin and stress and to connect us more deeply with God and one another and our own selves.  

In recent generations the discipline of praying from the Psalms in the evening (and throughout the day) has been lost.  We’re busy with many “good things” but distracted from the “one thing” that is best: seeking God’s face as David, Mary, and Paul did (Psalm 27:4, Luke 10:41-42, Philippians 3:13-14).  Most of us don’t make time at the end of our day to confess our sins, release our worries to God, appreciate God’s blessings, or meditate on the Word.  As a result we miss out on God’s peace – so much so that even physical pain and disease can result from neglecting to open our hearts to God in prayer (Psalm 32:3-5).

For the last year I have been praying from the Psalms in this way everyday.  What a difference this is making in my relationship with God and my life!  I am the learning the truth of the Psalmist’s word from the Lord: “In vain you rise up early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat – for the Lord grants sleep to those he loves” (Psalm 127:2).

My favorite Psalm to pray at night is Psalm 23.  Many years ago I learned that when I couldn’t sleep instead of counting sheep it was better to talk to the Shepherd!  Perhaps you do the same thing.  Briana, our youngest child, memorized Psalm 23 and started praying it at bedtime when she was just 10 years old.  Indeed, David’s beloved Shepherd Psalm offers us the counsel and blessings of God in a simple pictorial prayer that even a child can understand and benefit greatly from.  Perhaps that’s why it is so helpful to people in all kinds of situations, including restless nights.  The key is fixing our minds on Jesus, to accept times of sleeplessness as opportunities for Shepherdfulness!  

Let me share with you a way that I have found great benefit from praying Psalm 23 as a “Breath Prayer”…

For each phrase in Psalm 23 breathe in the first part and breathe out the second part.  Breathe slowly and deeply.  Your body is helping to engage your mind in prayer.  You want to breathe in the heavenly air of the Holy Spirit.  You want to absorb the eternal oxygen of the Word of God.  

Get into a rhythm in which you meditate on one phrase for each breath and this will help you to keep your mind from straying so far away from God’s Word that you get lost on a rabbit trail.

Imagine yourself as a sheep in the scenes and the journey of Psalm 23.  Open your heart to ponder and delight in the ancient healing wisdom of God’s Word…

    The LORD is my shepherd…  I shall not want. 
    He makes me to lie down…  in green pastures;
    He leads me…  beside the still waters.  
    He restores…  my soul;
    He leads me in the paths of righteousness…  for His name’s sake.   
    Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death…  I will fear no evil;
        For You are with me;
    Your rod and Your staff…  they comfort me.
    You prepare a table before me…  in the presence of my enemies;
    You anoint my head with oil…  my cup runs over.  
    Surely goodness and mercy…  shall follow me all the days of my life;
    And I will dwell…  in the house of the LORD Forever (Psalm 23, NKJV).

To learn more of Bill's teaching on how to pray Psalm 23 order "Soul Shepherding in Psalm 23".

Blessings,

Bill & Kristi