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Rest is in worship

Now I lay me down to sleep
I pray the Lord my eyes won’t peep
But sleep won’t come; I’m still awake
I pray the Lord—don’t let me break
insomnia-eye1

Every night I lie down.

I close my eyes.

But not every night do I sleep.
At some point, yes.
At all points, never

I can’t depend on my body knowing what to do at night.
My bones beg,
Sleep! Sleep! Tomorrow is coming. Tomorrow is coming.”

But my mind says,
“I’m not finished with today yet. Let’s read. Let’s listen. Let’s watch. Let’s play.”

Being still physically doesn’t always equate with rest.
It’s not proven dependable for me.
I must search elsewhere.

Yesterday: The phone rings. The nurse does not “highly recommend” that we put our mom in the hospital immediately. She tells me it is so. “Your mom is on the way.”

No time to rest up. When the waters in the calm-before-the-storm are stirred, you move with them. Take a deep breath and plunge in.

I gather some books, her insurance cards, a snack. I switch to auto-pilot and drive. The path is too familiar now.

And I rest.
I rest?

I rest through worship.

I punch the CD knob. Aaron Shust immediately begins leading me in worship to Father. We’ve done this often enough. When he switches from “My Savior My God” to “Stand to Praise” to “In Your Name,” I don’t miss a beat either.

If there’s a sure-fire way to rest my soul, it’s by handing it over. Telling God how great He is. Saying whether I understand or not, I’ll trust. Affirming Him as my strength, my God, my King.

It’s how I “Be still and know” that He is God (Psalm 46:10).
Through worship.

To Him and in Him, I rest.

* * *

My Walks with Him

4 comments:

Melissa Runcie | Madabella said...

I love resting in worship too, friend!

I did a compliation series for my home bible study on rest...can I send you a copy? Send me your address!

Lisa notes... said...

Thanks. I will do that!

Karen said...

What a great post! I must say I can identify with needing to sleep but can't sleep. Tonight is another one of those nights.

Rest in Him through worship...amen to that!

Hope you're having a great week!
Karen

BTW, did you get my email?

Lisa notes... said...

It's another one of those nights for me, too, Karen. But I am trying to sleep in a noisy recliner in my mom's hospital room, so I'll cut myself some slack with this one. I'm listening to "No Sweeter Name" at the moment.

And no, I haven't gotten any e-mail from you...

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