News From Terre Haute, Indiana

Religion

September 15, 2012

THE JOY LADY: It’s always the right time to pray, no matter what time it is

TERRE HAUTE — Sleep. I love a good sleep. But, like a lot of us, there are times when I can’t fall asleep or when I wake up in the middle of the night, knowing it will be hours before I can go back to sleep. I toss and turn, fluffing and flattening the pillows, covering and uncovering my feet and shoulders. I keep stealing looks at the clock, worrying about how tired I’m going to be the next day. That’s when all sorts of things run through my mind — how many tasks I left undone before going to bed, how many tasks I have facing me between breakfast and supper, things I said the day before that I shouldn’t have and things I should have said that I didn’t, daily troubles that seem intrusive and insurmountable in the darkness of my bedroom.

It’s frustrating, but I know what “experts” say about why I can’t sleep: before I go to bed, I have too much caffeine, too much stress and too much activity. So, to help my sleep “problems,” I have cut back on my caffeine consumption: no caffeine after 5 p.m., I pray for God to give me the strength to reduce the stress in my life, and I don’t exercise or do housework (ha!) before I go to bed.

But what’s even more frustrating is when my sleep is disturbed by God.

For instance, last night I woke from a deep sleep. My clock said it was 12:18. I rolled over and tried to go back to sleep, but I kept seeing the printout of the clock in my mind’s eye: 12:18. I fell asleep thinking about the phrase “live at peace” and vowing that the first thing I would do this morning was to apologize to my husband for something I had said to him yesterday.

Was it God who woke me at 12:18 with the words “live at peace” ringing in my ears? Could be, for Romans 12:18 says, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” I guess that includes husbands, huh?

Once, my husband heard Jack Hayford, TV and radio evangelist and author of the chorus “Majesty,” say that when God wants Hayford’s attention, He will wake him at 4:44. When this happens, Hayford begins praying. If God doesn’t give him an idea of what to pray for, Hayford begins praying for his family, his congregation, his ministry and whatever else God brings to his mind.

Since hearing that, God has awakened my husband numerous times at 4:44, resulting in fervent prayers for whatever God has brought to his mind.

“Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests,” (Ephesians 6:18). “Devote yourselves to prayer,” (Colossians 4:2). “Pray continually,” (1st Thessalonians 5:17).

I hope you remember those verses the next time God wakes you in the middle of the night. It’s always the right time to pray, no matter what time it is.



Verna Davis, speaker and writer, may be reached at vrdspeaks@yahoo.com.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Religion
Latest News
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
TribStar.com Poll
AP Video
Hunt for Ex-Teamster Boss Hoffa's Remains Ends Ohio Woman Accuses 3 of Holding Her Captive Fans Cheer Dramatic Heat Comeback Time Lapse: Rebuilding Bridge Post-collapse Car Crash in NYC's East Village Injures 8 Tiger on Sergio: 'It's Time to Move On' Aug. Trial Set for Ohio Man in Triple Kidnapping Raw: NASCAR Driver Jason Leffler Dies in Wreck Raw: Car Jumps Curb in NYC, Injures 8 Robot Action Connected to Human Thought Ex-NFL Star Chad Johnson Out of Jail Raw: Massive Protests Fill Brazilian Streets Obama Renews Call for Nuclear Reductions Failed Cuba-to-Florida Swimmer Won't Try Again Rain Damages Brazil Soccer Stadium Raw: Volcano Erupts Near Mexico City Raw: Baby White Rhino Debuts at Australian Zoo Unusual Heat Wave Bakes Alaska Raw: Heat, Spurs Back on Court Ahead of Game 7 Falling Cable Hurts 10 NASCAR Fans
NDN Video
James Gandolfini Dies at Age 51 Paula Deen Admits to Using N Word Rihanna Hits Fan With Microphone Men's Wearhouse Founder Fired Obama Renews Call for Nuclear Reductions Miss Utah Explains Rambling Response Exclusive: Locklear & Seymour Lock Lips Miami Heat Wins in Overtime Raw: Arizona Wildfire Scorches 8 Square Miles Fists, chairs fly in restaurant brawl Journalist Michael Hastings Dies in Fiery Hollywood Crash Hairy Leg Stockings Aim to Deflect Male Attention Inside Kim Kardashian's Premature Labor Three Charged for Enslaving Mother and Daughter Raw: Huge Fire Near Yosemite National Park Spurs' Popovich has no problem with Spurs' intensity RAW: NSA Director Says 50 Plots Foiled Paige Butcher Scorches on Hawaii Beach Video: worst way to load cargo onto a plane Never-before-seen footage of '08 Times Square bomber
Parade
Magazine

Click HERE to read all your Parade favorites including Hollywood Wire, Celebrity interviews and photo galleries, Food recipes and cooking tips, Games and lots more.
  • -

     

    March 12, 2010

activity
Real Estate News