Sleepless

This idea is marvelous. My nights are interrupted very often. Thank you for a solution of investing the time wisely!

Thanks!! So simple and practical.... another way to pursue the command to 'pray without ceasing'!

This is an incredible post for someone like myself who is just beginning my journey with Christ! Often I awake in the night with the same sort of situation. Now I will try this wonderful approach! Thank you!

Excellent advice! I often just dive into the Word when I can't sleep and read about what's really bothering me. I love your first suggestion because behind the entire list is worry that it won't all get done. Taking everything to Him in prayer is truly priceless advice. Thanks again!

Cathe...thanks so much! This is what I needed for my day...I look forward to anything you write...you are a blessing! Thanks,
Donna

I thought I was the only one who woke up at 2 or 3 in the morning wondering what to do! I've prayed for myself and others, but I've never focused on praying about the attributes of God and being thankful for all He has done for me! Thanks for the suggestions for my next early morning with God!

Cathe, Thank you for sharing your struggles and your thoughts and your victories with us! You are such a blessing! :)

Hey thanks so much. I have lots of sleepless nights due to my disease and this is just AWESOME and a great idea. Thank you so much Cathe, you are a blessing for sure. Cricket

Thank you so much for this...I copied and pasted and printed and put it in my nighstand drawer...I wake up several times in the night...I want to read my Bible but I know I will just keep reading the same verse over and over because I am just too tired to let it sink in. With what you do, just #1 alone, your very first sentence, "Take them, one by one, by the hand to the Lord in prayer...." I loved that...but then what you followed it with..."Better yet, forget your needs for a moment, and remember all those who are lonely, in pain, suffering, and lost and pray for God to show them mercy." That just touched my heart.

Thank you Cathe...for your words of love and inspiration. You truly are a role model to me, as is your husband. It was through his ministries, via the internet, 17 months ago, that Jesus saved me. I have a 34 yr old son named Christopher who was saved 12 yrs ago, and tried to lead me to the Lord then. I thought at the time he was brainwashed. He was only 22 yrs old then. I turned 55 yrs old last month. I cry now when I think about how he tried to reach out to me then. God Bless.

Cathe, Thank you for the thoughts! Very good use of our sleepless times! Thanks so much!

Thank you for the advice. What a precious way to spend any sleeplessness, praising God.

I love this idea Cathe!!! Thank you so very much for posting this. I will do this next time I'm up and can't get to sleep.

It is comforting to know that many of us are awake in the middle of the night, not just me. Cathe, thanks for the great suggestions. I really like the last suggestion about the "I am" statements. I had never seen them listed
before. What a great way to praise Him!

Oh yes how we all experience nights like that. I pray the Lord's prayer as Jesus taught His disciples, the prayer from the book of Jude, continually ask for God's favor, ask for the Holy Spirit to lead me every moment and give thanks to the Lord for all His blessings. By then if I am still awake, I just meditate on Him and how I am totally dependent on Him.

I use to take each letter of the alphabet (A-Z) and make up a song for my daughter when she was young (A - you're Adorable, B - you're so Beautiful...). She loved it. But now that she's in college, I will use your idea on those sleepless nights to remember what the Lord has done for me. Thanks for the tips and happy sleeping!

Cathe,

Hi, My husband actually sent me the link to start receiving these women's devotions from you, because he receives them from your husband. I am very grateful that he did, because the one that you you sent today really spoke to me. I sometimes wake up or just cannot go to sleep because of the worries of school, work, or family. I wonder if it's because God wants me to go into prayer or if it is just too much in my head and it can't shut down. I want to thank you for taking the time to do these devotions. I look forward to whatever you send next. God Bless

This is an excellent way to soothe yourself back to sleep, and I thank you for the excellent idea. A lot of times when I wake up, I become frustrated and I turn on my booklight and read the Bible for a wee bit to help me fall back asleep. I do know that waking up early like this is an excellent time to reflect on your day and to pray to our Lord for how grateful we are for what we have. There are so many people in the world that are less fortunate than we are spiritually, mentally, financially, etc. Thanks for this excellent message.

Cathe, I too have nights when I stay awake thinking about things and have trouble going back to sleep. What I do is pray, but sometimes when that doesn't work, I will try what you suggested. When I pray, the Lord gives me peace. Thank you Nancy

I like your idea better than mine. I don't have trouble falling asleep and sleep like a baby. A few years ago when I would have one of those night I would say my three favorite Psalms, the Ten Commandments, and a Communion prayer that I learned fifty years ago. Then I would remember to give my worries to God.

I think if it was taking me that long to fall asleep that I wouldn't fight it and would put on my light and start to read a book. Since I use my eyes a lot during the day for close work, after a few lines of reading I would need to put the book away and then I would be able to fall asleep.

This note of yours has arrived so timely... I am meditating on this now as I write this.... Thank you so much. This was such an immediate answer to my unspoken prayers!

Cathe,

Thanks so very much for caring enough to send this out. I printed it off so that I can refer to it often. There are times when I wake up due to a scary dream or have thoughts about what needs to be done. The information that you shared will be very valuable to me.

Thank you Cathe for these positive, comforting words! I am awake every night on and off and sometimes those stretches of time are filled with unsettling thoughts as I pick my way through what lies ahead the next day. I am comforted by your words and how you organized your thoughts and prayers and will do the same at my future wakeful times!

Thank you Cathe for addressing a subject that is not touched upon too often yet is vital to our well-being; sleep. I have a sleep disorder and know all too well the consequences of poor sleep. Your advice is so welcome and comforting. I will print it out and use it.

Cathe - thank you so much for sharing. This is great and I will begin to put into pracitce.

I look forward to your monthly notes. This is such a sweet blessing we have as Christians to be able to come to our Lord and Savior and praise Him. When I am having a disturbed night, I always ask, What do you want to reveal to me? and later I begin to thank Him and praise Him. What a joy the night turns into.

Thank you. I never thought about the alphabet in the middle of the night when something is gripping at my thoughts. I will do just that. A for God is awesome! I will use this process. Also, I use "Calm my soul, Lord" and that helps too! Learned that in our wonderful Virtue Bible study.

Keep praying and look up,

Nicole

WOW! Great idea! Im one that never sleeps the whole night through. And with this great idea I don't have to awake others with the light or leave my warm bed. Thanks Cathe for allowing God to use you with delivering these wonderful suggestions. God bless you and your family.

Thank you so much for sharing your life with us. My husband receives devotions from Pastor Greg so he decided to send me your devotions and I am so grateful for that. You are an encouragement to all of us and it helps us know we are not alone in our issues of life. Thanks again.

Cathe, I have printed this and will give a copy to my Mom and my Aunt. Thank you for sharing.

It reminded me of a prayer by Ruth Bell Graham that I found. It goes: Like other shepherds, help me keep watch o'er my flock by night; mindful of each need, each hurt which might lead one to stray, each weakness, and each ill. While others sleep, teach me to pray. At night wolves and leopards, hungry and clever, prowl in search of strays and wounded; when they howl, Lord, still my anxious heart to calm delight--for the Great Shepherd watches with me over my flock by night.

Cathe - thank you for the positive message and encouragement. I think that God so enjoys time with us, even in the middle of our nights. I spend some of my sleepless time relishing in the fact that I am a daughter to the King!

Praise Him!

Excellent and thank you! I'm printing this out and keeping it near my bed!!!

I had one of those nights recently. I decided to stop fighting it (and not get up and watch tv!) and just said, "Okay Lord...I have to think You woke me for a reason." I began to pray for each of my family and friends individually. Then prayed for myself. Then for others He brought to mind. Next thing I knew it was morning! It brings peace to fall asleep at His feet.

That is so powerful! I can't wait to use this great tool! It's hilarious! I will share this with my sisters! Thank you! God bless you and those beautiful grand daughters. They were so cute singing last night. I'll be praying for your family while I lay awake at night, ha ha ha!

Thanks so much Cathe!!! I heard you give the A,B,C's of praise example on the radio and its such an innovative and helpful idea.

Thank you for the beautiful suggestions. I have learned to put a pen and paper on my nightstand next to my bed and whenever the "to do" list starts emerging in my mind, I write down what needs to be done and the thought doesn't bother me again. I sometimes turn the light on and off several times during the night to do this but it is worth it. I also find myself praying in the wee hours of the morning. I finally go to sleep.

Thank you for the encouraging message. I will try this next time my to-do's wake me up (and they oftern do!).

Thank you Cathe for such helpful guidance.

God Bless You

Please have me in your prayers.

Melanie

Cathe, I love this idea!! I am 55 years old and sometimes wake up at 2 or 3 oclock and cannot go back to sleep. I will definitely use your ideas to talk to God and hopefully will fall back asleep peacefully, instead of frustrated. I want to thank you and Greg for helping me so much since I lost my husband 2 years ago. I met Greg at the Cove a few years ago. Keep the great ideas coming!! Thanks

Thank you for this message. It's very encouraging. I do get some sleepless nights & usually I have a difficult time going back to sleep. I have these Christian songs I play every night & as I fall asleep I sing along to the words of it & before I know it, I've drifted away waking up very refreshed in the morning. Thanks!!! God Bless!

A wonderfully, beautiful idea. Thank you Cathe. I will share this with my husband and children. What a great way to shift focus and when finally falling asleep, falling asleep with Our Father on our mind.

Thank you Cathe!

I've have the same "invaders" invade my thoughts and have told them to leave only for them to be "waiting" out by the door too..ha ha. One scripture always comes to mind when I can't sleep and it help me too, but I really love your attitude....of adoringness. That I needed someone to show me how to do, so thank you, from my heart!

Thank you Cathe;
I am so thankful for the ways Our Lord Jesus uses others to speak to us in times of need.
My husband and I are making Job changes and we have had a few sleepless nights. (3:00 am seems to be the time for everyone.. LOL)
Thank you for sharing this wisdom with all of us.

EXCELLENT my sister. Words of wisdom indeed. Blessings

Wonderful message, Cathe... Could you help me to continue on w/ my walk w/ Christ and helping others. I would love to have more of this in my ministry w/ my husband where we are presently ministering. Please contact me, if you feel led.
In Christ, Robyn

Cathe,
What I love about you most is your relationship with Jesus, I love how you spend a sleepless night.

I like getting on you tube and listening to all kinds of old worship songs from the 1970's.
Do you remember " Aint Gonna Fight It " by Danial Amos? Another one is " Jesus, There is Something About That Name". It's so much fun to hear those old songs again.
I'm going to try what you do.

Thank you Cathe....What a wonderful idea. My daughter has been a part of your church for 15 years and she sent this to me. I live in Cape Town South Africa. I shall share your tthoughts with my Bible study ladies. God bless you and Greg. Susi

Thank you Cathe. Sometimes the noise and busyness of this present life seems overwhelming. The enemy (as you know) preys on our minds to stir up anxieties. What better way to deflect those anxietes and resist the enemy than to honor our Heavenly Father with good thoughts such as you have suggested. God richly bless you for sharing such rich encouragement of the right thoughts.

Thanks Cathe for getting us back on track, and living as an awesome example to teach us younger ladies!

Cathe, Your walk with the Lord & the encouragement to go to the Lord in every situation as stated in this most recent message encourages me.

I was having trouble sleeping as well. I found that if I have a notebook on my nightstand when I think of something that I need to do, I can write it down. When I do this, I can rest easy that I will remember it in the morning and the popcorn, (the thoughts that won't allow me to sleep), are on paper and not in my head anymore. I also use a fan in the corner of the room blowing at the wall because it is winter. The white noise jut luls me to sleep. I will try your suggestions as well. Thank you for all you do for us!

Cathe, you'er a great example! Sometimes I suddenly wake up in the middle of the night and just can't fall asleep again for awhile, sometimes I feel like I have to pray for someone and sometimes I have a feeling like I just have to read the Bible. Quiet time with God in the night is great.

Hii Cathe, Thanks for the encouragment! I wish there was a forwarding option for this page to give to a friend that could be encouraged also! =) Love you in the Lord, Gina

Cathe,
It's awesome to know that I'm not alone. I also wake up in the middle of the night with a ton of things going through my mind and can't get back to sleep and often seek out GOD and His peace. At least that's how GOD makes me feel when I'm anxious. I never have used the method you describe. You can be sure that it's one that I'll be trying to remember and utilize now, although it might make me think even more about using that A to Z method, but thank you for sharing.

The Word always comforts, always brings a peaceful spirit, always talks directly to my concerns and worries for others. Many times it is the problems of others that keeps me up at night, but then my Heavenly Father reminds me that it is He who carries our burdens and resolves our issues in His time. So, I am reminded that prayer is my ultimate duty, my best tool in any given situation and once again I can rest and be at peace. Many times after a tearful night of talking to God and asking for direction and help for my prodigals, be it family or friends ... I am comforted by scripture, by a spoken word. I am so blessed to live in So Cal where we have 24-7 Christian radio which is such a strong help and reassurance that God is listening and that He is reigning and using each life lesson to teach us to rely upon Him and Him alone. Thank you Cathe for your suggestions. I will meditate upon the great I AM.

Thanks Cathe for the ideas, especially the a-z just love it!!!
I have had the sleepless middle of the night episodes as well and indeed it is due to overwhelming my mind....
I will try these the next time, muah!

At times I have a hard time falling asleep and/or staying asleep.....due to the random thoughts of what needs to be done...situations.....just life....thank you for some great ideas to help focus in the middle of the night on the Lord and not problems. Thank you so much. Blessings...