Fine Tuning

Do you ever have one of those sleepless nights? Or two or three? How about two or three in a row? As soon as you lay your head down to sleep the noise begins?

I have been battling a bit of insomnia I'm afraid. I am sure a lot of it is due to my husband being away and my sleeping without him, but nonetheless it is mainly due to my allowing the enemy in to distract me with worry and try to rob me of the faith and trust I have in the Lord for the answers to prayers I've been seeking from Him.

Not sleeping, my head became like a communication tower moving large amounts of sporadic information through the air. It was as if my thoughts, or worries rather, came and went in the same manner my daughter tries to tune into her radio. I am sure you all know what that sounds like. A mess!

Unlike the radio in the car that has programmed digital tuning, my daughter doesn't understand that to find something she desires the dial must be moved slowly. Like her moving the dial back and forth, my mind was racing through the channels so fast that I was unable to process anything.

One of my favorite scriptures I would normally rehearse to myself of during a time like this is Philippians 4:6, NLT - "Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done."

I didn't, however, remember to recite this verse at the time. I was too caught up in the moment to even allow God to intervene. I allowed Satan to turn my intentions to pray into worry. I have always worried a lot as I am a deep thinker and everything filters when all is quiet around. But it has been a long time since I've done this - especially since I've learned how to commune with God. I am learning that while the Lord is in my heart I will find a constant battle with Satan who tries to get in my head to make me an ineffective Christian. Spiritual warfare has been quite a battle for me lately. The enemy knows when to get me and that is when I am tired! But I will not give up! I do trust the Lord and I am very grateful!

I find my communion with the Lord like the example of my daughter learning to tune her radio slowly to find clear connections. My conclusion is that in order to slow down and tune in, the key is keeping on top of the Word to prepare battles with the enemy in just the same manner Jesus did while tempted out in the desert. His response to the enemy's schemes were, "It is written" - what a great example He has given me! My goal this summer is to begin memorizing verses for this very reason. Before I was following I didn't understand the importance of memorizing verses but now I do!

In addition to "fine tuning" my communion, my daughter's radio has other lessons to teach me. She and I have both noticed that when I am helping her to tune the radio to find a station with good reception the reception becomes lost when I step away. I am sure this is due to the broken antenna, so I tell her to simply keep the radio close to her and it will work the way it is supposed to. The same is true for keeping myself close to God - I too am broken and need a Savior.

Through these sleepless nights I am reminded yet again of the importance of why I must remain close to the Lord and take the time to slowly move through the channels to find His answers and guidance. I am left with this reflection today and praying to the Lord to help me be patient to be slow and to tuning to His channel and to keep Him near granting me His graceful peace...and rest!