A New Day!

The Sovereign Lord says: “Long have I sustained you through the darkness of night and brought you safe to morning’s first light. As you have slept, I have not been idle, for I watched over you. I exchanged rest for your weariness and washed your wounds with tears of love. I stilled your anxious heart with whispers of peace. I thwarted your enemies’ strategies to undermine and frustrate you. I put in place the words and the deeds which will be your tomorrow. And I prepared a bountiful sunrise to herald your waking.

“Yet even in sleep or time of rest, there is so much more. I delight with those who seek me in the small hours; whose eyes remain vigilant through the watches of the night; whose ears hear My words of wise counsel; whose subconscious minds meditate on My promises; whose imaginations are receptive to My dreams of revelation; whose hearts ache for My presence and embrace; whose spirits soar with hope as the dawn brings forth a new day, full of fresh possibilities and opportunities.”

Activation

The Lord has so much more to give us when we sleep. Even then, He wants us to prepare our hearts, minds and spirits to be open to His ministering grace and revelation, which will then set us on the right path each new day. There are ways we can prepare: Keep short accounts with the Lord and don’t go to sleep without doing a quick soul check. Ask Holy Spirit to bring to mind anything you need to say sorry for or someone you need to forgive.

Recite a Bible verse you know well before you lie down. Pray that the Lord will bring fresh wisdom to your mind as you wake. Listen to a worship song before you go to sleep. Pray that the words of that song will be on your lips when you wake. Keep pen and paper by the side of your bed or a recording device. Early morning dreams can be rich in revelation so be ready to write them down as soon as you wake.

Consider waking for a particular watch of the night or ask the Lord to wake you when He wants to give you a ‘watch revelation download’. Write it down and pray. Then go back to sleep. In the morning, reflect on what you wrote and prayed and ask Holy Spirit what the Lord wants you to do with it.

Lamentations 3:21-24 (NRSV Anglicised)

“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in him.’”

Psalm 119:145-8 (NIV)

“I call with all my heart: ‘Answer me, Lord, and I will obey your decrees.’ I call out to you: ‘Save me and I will keep your statutes.’ I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word. My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises.”

Isaiah 50:4 (NIV)

“The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that

sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed.”