(Note: St. Augustine is famous for writing a book called “The Confessions,” which he wrote completely as a prayer to God. In the same spirit, I plan to write these posts as a prayer to God.)
“You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound. In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.” (Psalm 4:7–8, ESV)
You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.
Heavenly Father, what an amazing promise you give me. I can have more joy in my heart than anything the world has to offer me. You will put this joy in my heart and implant it deeper than any joy I can receive from external things. You will implant this joy in my heart in the midst of difficulty and struggle.
Yet, Father, I have to admit I don’t always feel this joy. Even when things are going well, I feel a longing for something more. I’m unsatisfied with what I have. I worry about the future. I mope around in disappointment and frustration.
Please forgive me, Father. This is not how I want to live. I want to be filled with your joy. I want your joy to be my strength in every situation. So, Father, I ask you to work in my heart and open my eyes so I can find the joy you offer. Father, please put more joy in my heart than anything the world has to offer, then let the world see that joy and find joy in You.
In peace I will both lie down and sleep…
Father, I know when I lose my joy in you, I do not sleep well. I may lie down in bed, but I do not sleep. My mind wanders into all the dark places of my life. Anxieties march through my thoughts in order, forcing me to pay attention. Every unfinished task demands I finish them right now. So, I lay in bed, but without peace and without sleep.
Father, help me! Restore to me the joy of my salvation and renew a right spirit within me. I know when you restore my joy, peace will come trailing behind. When you restore my joy, I will lie down in bed at night and sleep—trusting you with all that is undone, with all my fears, with all my anxieties.
Father, when I find joy in you, I have peace because I no longer seek joy in grain or wine—in money, power, achievement, comfort, etc. I have joy and peace because I trust you. So, Father, help me trust you more fully.
…for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.
Father, help me remember that everything comes to me from your Fatherly hand. Rain and drought, prosperity and poverty, health and sickness all come from your Fatherly hand. Even my peace and joy come from your Fatherly hand.
Father, I ask you to remind me of these things because I easily forget them. I easily get swept up in today’s tasks that I don’t think of you and begin to rely on myself. I begin thinking that everything comes from me. Then, I become anxious and worried—losing my peace and joy—losing sleep.
So, Father, I ask you to remind me that you ALONE are my God. You ALONE are the one who makes me dwell in safety. You ALONE are my Shepherd who leads me beside quiet waters AND who safely leads me through the valley of the shadow of death. You are the reason I can lie down and sleep each night—no matter the situation. You are the reason I have peace—even in the midst of the storm. You are the reason I have joy—more joy than anything the world has to offer.