Prayer Helps for Worry Filled Nights
Are you struggling with anxiety? Facing loss and disappointment? This study talks about that.
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“He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us” (2 Corinthians 1:10-11, NIV).
It’s a yoyo night. Up and down. Anxiety swallows my sleep. Hot milk, television, pacing. Where is Jesus? Back in bed I clench my eyelids shut, willing my mind to silence. Picturing my problem in my hand I ‘throw’ it out of bed. No good, my problem comes back glued to my hand, screaming, “Worry!”
Accusing voices begin. The enemy says, “You’ve failed, that child will never be whole.” I command Satan and demon powers to be silent in Jesus name only to hear the voice of self, blaming, “It’s your fault. You’re a lousy mother. There’s no remedy.”
Insomnia. What keeps your stomach churning, your eyes staring into midnight blackness? Is your teenager living on the streets? Is the stack of bills higher than the stack of money? Are you terrified over a cancer diagnosis? Is divorce the only solution to the fighting and heartache you live with daily?
Whatever the problem, we’ve got to find a way to leave anxiety with Jesus and go to sleep. The choice? Toss and turn or get up and pray. Giving Jesus the problem is the only way to peace and rest. When sleep eludes and distress overwhelms, these prayer methods work. Climb out of bed and apply these truths, they’ll help you too.
Midnight Methods to Defeat Worry
1. Worship Jesus whether you feel like praising or not. Sing along with a praise tape. Watch worship videos on television. Meditate – think about – Jesus’ names. What do those names mean to you? For instance, Psalm 18:2: how is Jesus your ‘rock,’ your ‘fortress,’ or your ‘deliverer’? Praise him for the ways he’s rescued you in the past. Praise looks past circumstances and sees God. “I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.” (Psalm 9:1-2, NIV)
2. Can’t speak prayers? Write them. Writing helps us focus. Write the problem and your feelings then ‘give’ it to Jesus by placing it near his picture or burning it as an offering. Thank him. He hears you and will answer. “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of him.” (1 John 5:14 -15, NIV)
3. Write down positive traits of the problem person. Thank God for their strengths and past answers to prayer. Praising positives refocuses your trust in God. “He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us. On Him we have set our hope that He will continue to deliver us….” (2 Corinthians 1:10-11, NIV).
4. Quote encouraging scripture. If you’ve journaled scripture promises speak them to God claiming them as yours. “You said, Lord, ‘He sent forth His word and healed them; He rescued them from the grave’ ” (Psalm 107:20, NIV). You don’t have a promise journal? Begin one tonight.
Worship, journal or pray and then go to bed. Faith trusts God’s character and his Word. As Pastor Ron Mehl says, “God works the night shift.”
Questions: What are some of the things that keep you awake at night? What has helped you when you are kept awake at night with troubled thoughts?
About the Author Petey Prater (La Von)
Thank you Nancin for your comments. Yes, faith is not for the faint hearted. Someone said you must be a ‘hot dog’ not a weinie in things of faith. He is our Sovereign, Creator of all things from the beginning of the world, our light and life – the Word that leads us along.
We compete against the old man in ourselves, not against one another. May we all grow straight and tall in him. Blessings, petey
Hello Petey,
The truth is that, some times i wonder where this Faith thing is taking me to. God is just unfathomable,the closer i get to Him,i just realise that He’s mightier than i think but one thing is certain, some thing good will come out of this race of FAITH.
I believe you are recuperating very well from your operation. The Lord is your strenght.
Hello dear prayer warrior and groaners in the Spirit for God,
He is developing character and compassion in us so that we can comfort others with the comfort with which we have been comforted. He is ever faithful, All powerful, and Jehovah Nissi, our war banner is planted on the hills of our lives. It is under that banner that we war. No weapon formed against us will prosper and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment you shall show to be in the wrong. This peace, righteousness, security, triumph over opposition is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,those in whom the ideal Servant of the Lord is reproduced; this is the righteousness or the vidication which they obtain from Me, this is that which I impart to them as their justification, says the Lord. Is 54:17
Blessings on your day. petey
Petey, firstly, I hope recovery has been going well.
For the last three years, perhaps on both hands (maybe) do I recall having restless nights due to unpleasant events. That’s not to say that my life has not been dealt blows. Five years ago my mother passed unexpectedly. I did not have Jesus Christ in my life then. I did not handle her passing respectfully. Three years ago I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior and a year and a half ago, lost another family member. The Lord provided the strength and in turn I was able to help others ‘handle’ their sorrow. With every trial that has touched my life, the grace and mercy of our Lord God has shone through. Within my family (siblings)I’ve been inadvertantly drawn into their trials of depression, addiction and through these trials there ‘should have’ been many, many sleepless nights on my part, but….there was not.
What helped me get through was, is, and always will be, these five little words: ”let go and let God”. I do not WORRY, but I can be concerned.
Recently I found myself at a loss, I had no more words for a sibling that was seeking solace as they are slowing drowning in their trial. I had to give it to God. I prayed and asked the Lord to take the responsibility as I felt it was beyond my ability. This sibling is agnostic but also in denial, a deadly combination. Yet my door will always be open as will my heart because Jesus Christ did not give up on me when I was lost.
Hi all, I am sorry to address all at once. Just had knee surg and still recouping. It is thrilling to see how many identify with this problem. I went thru 20 years praying over our dgtrs eating disorders, pulling them back to the Lord. This works. Only prayer gets us thru the tough times. God will never give us more than we can bear – and when he finishes comforting us and our grief is assuaged then we take his comfort and offer it to others he brings to us. A continual circle of comfort is formed. How great is our God. He is Sovereign. All is under his control. Be blessed, faith is a choice and it is often ‘work’. hugs, petey prater
Thank you for the reminder ,in which is so easly put aside, at night when I lay awake waiting for the morning light. My thought seem to be blank and I wonder why sleep won’t come. I know deep inside I need to let go and let God. But why oh why must I continue to welcome sleepless nights. Instead of His loving peace.
Donna, if you’ve not found it, there’s a form at http://powertochange.com/experience/subscribe/ where you can subscribe to the women’s devotional email. I hope you have found them helpful.
Thank you. I never struggled with insomnia, until I went thru a tumultuous relationship a few yrs ago. Since then, I have struggled to sleep like I used to. Thanks for reminding us (& also comforting me that I am not the only one struggling with this – hehe, the comment about milk, tv, pacing was funny). Yes, may God have mercy upon us & touch us, help us to sleep in peace!
Pls lift up a prayer for me – my co-workers (teachers) are so hateful toward Christians/ ‘religious’ people. Sometimes it is difficult being around them. I am also seeking a new, sound church. Thank you for your prayers. God bless.
What great timing. I laid awake all night worrying. After reading this I did some journaling and took some actions to help the problem. I also repented for thinking that everything depends on me. Praise God that we have him to turn to. He is our comfort, our help in time of trouble, our Father and faithful brother. He is worthy. I look forward to a good nights sleep tonight.
Dear friends,
Forgive me for answering you all in one ‘whack’. I had knee replacement surgery 1 week ago and can’t sit long at my computer…. ALL of you could have written this column, what good advice you gave each other! Check Deut 28:1-14 and be encouraged. GOD INTENDS TO BLESS US AS WE WALK IN OBEDIENCE. He alone is the solution to each problem. Let’s altar our problems and let him alter them permanently for his glory. Blessings on all, petey prater
My favorite scriptures when I can’t sleep at night are Psalms 91, Psalms 23, and Psalms 27. I know that God is able to protect me, lead me, guide me, surround me, fight for me, and preserve me. If I continue to remind myself that God is my refuge and my strength, I feel confident enough to rest in Him, and go back to sleep.
Last night was one of those nights, which seem to occur more frequently, where I had trouble staying asleep. Often, that is when my mind goes in overdrive and thinks. Sometimes just calling on Jesus for his peace helps, but not last night. Othertimes, I try focusing on my breathing or reciting memorized prayers. I like to pray by talking to God, but sometimes memorized prayers works for falling to sleep. Last night I had trouble staying asleep and woke up this morning exhausted. I have been reading on sleep issues and sometimes the food we eat can keep you awake. For example, last night I had Lasagna. I read that red sauce can keep you awake. Sometimes I do get up and read my Bible, or other things, but last night, I was so tired, because often I don’t sleep well because of slight pain in hip issues, that I just wanted to get back to sleep. YAWN and am very tired today. It is hard to think straight when you don’t get enough sleep.
Yes, Psalm 46: 10 Be still and know that I am God.
I have that written down in my prayer list.
For me I think that it is at the time when I am trying to sleep that the enemy crawls in with all these negative thoughts. What a glorious Father we have that night or day He is with us. Sometimes, especially when I am sleepy, it is hard to call to mind the many wonderful verses that I have read. There is one though that is easy to remember and covers every thing that could ever be…”Be still and know that I am God”. Do this and sleep and peace will come.
The Lord is my rock, my sword and my shield. He protects me from dangers that I can or cannot see. When the enemy draws his forces near me with discouragement or fear, He deaws me even nearer to His side which bears the scar that He suffered for me. No wonder that I love Him so.
I would like to sign up for the daily devotions.
thanks,
donna
I can testify to that.I used to struggle with sleep in the night because of issues in my life that seems not to have solution but when i cultivated the habit of either praying,studying the bible or praising Him that has the solutins to my prolems based on my knowledge of His word,every thing changed and since then,if i’m awake,is not because i’m worried but praising God. He grant sleep to His belove.Thank you.
A friend sent me this article in response to my email requesting prayer. As usual, God works in miraculous ways. I needed this so much, after hopping out of bed this morning with my heart pounding and butterflies in my stomach at the thought of the load I bear. Just now, Jesus’ words “my yoke is easy, my burden is light” came to me and I know I need to give it all to him. I am a prayerer, but I think I will start journaling as well. Thank you, Laura, for sending me this. Thank you, God, for the people at this web site who have come together to create this for women. I can’t wait to read more of what is available here.
Insomnia keeps me awake at night . . . . between menopause and medication I have to take impacts my sleep. If I cannot sleep, I get up, come read my bible, check my email (which includes my daily devotional), check facebook, and have my prayer time. I found I often can sleep after I read my bible and pray.