I will lie down and sleep peacefully,
for you, Lord, make me safe and secure
(Psalm 4:8; NET).
1. I sleep in your presence,
Absorbing your love,
Soothed by your peace, Lord,
And safe in your arms.
2. I wake in your presence,
Suffused by your light,
Hearing your voice, Lord,
And learning your truth.
3. I rise in your presence,
Accepting each loss,
And, trusting your strength, Lord,
I take up my cross.
If any of you wants to be my follower,
you must turn from your selfish ways,
take up your cross daily, and follow me
(Luke 9:23; NLT).
References
1. God is love (1 John 4:8; NLT).
He loves us with unfailing love (Psalm 117:2; NLT).
The Lord is peace (Judges 6:24; NLT).
I myself will tend my sheep and give them a place to lie down in peace, says the Sovereign Lord (Ezekiel 34:15; NLT).
The everlasting Gods is a refuge, and underneath you are his eternal arms (Deuteronomy 33:27; NET).
2. When I wake up, you are still with me! (Psalm 139:18; NLT).
God is light (1 John 1:5; NLT).
God speaks time and again, but a person may not notice it (Job 33:14; CSB).
The Spirit is truth (1 John 5:6; NKJV).
Mary sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught (Luke 10:39; NLT).
3. Rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you (Acts 26:16; NKJV).
Should we accept only good things from the hand of God, and never anything bad? (Job 2:10; NLT).
Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows (John 16:33; NLT).
The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord (Job 1:21; CSB).
Though the Lord gave you adversity for food and suffering for drink, he will still be with you to teach you (Isaiah 30:20; NLT).
The Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength (Isaiah 26:4; KJV).
The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy (Psalm 28:7; NLT).
In your strength I can crush an army; with my God I can scale any wall (Psalm 18:29; NLT).
These remind me of one of John Michael Talbot’s songs, The Lord protects a simple heart…
The Lord protects the simple hearts
I was helpless so He saved me
The Lord protects the simple hearts
How gracious is the Lord
They surrounded me, the snares of death
With the anguish of the tomb
They caught me, sorrow and distress
I called on the name of the Lord
The Lord protects the simple hearts
I was helpless so He saved me
The Lord protects the simple hearts
How gracious is the Lord
Turn back my soul now to your rest
For the Lord has been good
He has kept my soul from death
And my eyes from sorrow’s tears
The Lord protects the simple hearts
I was helpless so He saved me
The Lord protects the simple hearts
How gracious is the Lord
I love the Lord
For He has heard my cry
The Lord protects the simple hearts
How gracious is the Lord
How gracious is the Lord
Thank you so much for this, George.XXXXXX
Amen 🙏
Bless you, Alan. How are you both? xxxxx
We are both in good health at present, praise God.😁
That’s such good news, Alan xxxxx
This poem has all the more depth of meaning with the olive cross clutched in my hand through the night.
That’s wonderful, Beth! As it happens, just this morning I sent for some wrist straps which attach as closely as you wish to your wrist. The soft, short lanyard then comes loosely over the knuckles, and between the thumb and first finger, so the cross just sits snugly in your palm. No need for clutching. This is what I use at night. When the new wrist straps arrive, would you like another cross, with a wrist cord, so you have the most comfortable way forward, day and night?
XXXXXXXX
Ruth, you are one of the most generous people I know. Thank you for the kind offer, but the chord you sent has done so nicely for me. I have yet for it to slip off my wrist during the night. I can’t wear it during the day as it draws the attention of our puppy who would eagerly take it in her mouth given any opportunity. Alas, this puppy season will eventually pass.
Well, my offer remains open, Beth. NB I wear a little silver cross on a very short chain on the outside of my clothes during the day, whilst the wooden one hangs down inside my clothes, where I tuck it safely into my bra, always ready to take out and hold. Even your puppy wouldn’t get hold of it there! XXXXX