Awakening In The Middle Of The Night
It is not that often, but it happens. I will be sound asleep, when all of a sudden, I am wide awake. It is almost as if someone has shaken me awake. All is dark and all is quiet. The mind is clear. And I used to fight this thing by turning over and trying to go back to sleep. What would ensue would be a long time of tossing and turning. Now I go ahead and get out of bed, because I know there is work to do.
Mostly I am rather practical with my faith. But with this matter I am a mystic. I believe God shakes me from my sleep at night so I can pray. And such is a strange compliment to me. I do not know why He wants or needs my prayers; after all, He is God. But I comply.
I get up. First I let the dog out so he can take care of business. Then I pour myself a glass of tea; no coffee for this guy. And then I sit down and pray. Names and faces race through the mind: People I know who have been struggling...Those I believe God has brought to cross my pathway in the last several days...Hurting people. And I know a lot of them- it is my business to know.
Eventually I settle into a more mysterious prayer. This person I cannot picture her face, or his specific need. I just sense that my prayers are needed. So I ask God to protect, strengthen, help, and save. A good bit of time is spent focusing upon the connection of God and this unknown friend. I wonder if I will ever be allowed to know the specifics. And I wonder if someone, sometime, gets up in the middle of the night to pray for me?
It is a simple thing in some ways. You may attribute it to indigestion or insomnia. I believe it is God. And I try to listen.
05.08.06 (4:10 am) [
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posted by:
surrogate (
reply)
post date:
05.08.06 (1:03 am)
Really a cool post...
Been there.
posted by:
0hdgk7 (
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post date:
05.08.06 (6:02 am)
hey..how religious are you?..I cannot say i am religious or that i am not religious..it just happens..but if God is really there..I would want a God Who I can l love and make friends with..and when i pray..it's mostly in that way ..but yo-i'm not a Christain either
posted by:
0hdgk7 (
reply)
post date:
05.08.06 (6:03 am)
P.S. very interesting posts..i like them..but i haven't read all..it'd take me ages!!
posted by:
Misguided (
reply)
post date:
05.08.06 (6:36 am)
This blog brings back a scary moment in my life...I truly believe in god...as i believe there is something dark larking around also...after my grandfather had passed away a year ago weird things have been happening around my house...i was woke same has u all of the sudden and i wanted 2 go back 2 sleep i mean come now its 3am...when i turn 2 my fiance 2 wrap my arms around him there was this dark spot near us...well of course i just threw my covers over my eyes and swore i would not take them off until morning...so now when i feel that wake up...i do not open my eyes...
posted by:
midnightepicure (
reply)
post date:
05.08.06 (6:43 am)
id give the pastor a religious rating of H:37.
nonsensicle, but so was the question. hahaha you cant really rate your religiousness.
anyway, very cool post. one in my field of study would call this a piece of Creative Non-fiction.
personally, i'd be irked that he couldnt wait until morning, but hey. :-P
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
05.08.06 (7:23 am)
Reply to: midnightepicure
I have to believe that God is in charge of the timing, not myself. So even if He chooses to be inconvenient, then who am I to argue? Such is the message of Romans 9.
So, what is your field of study? I suspect Mythology.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
05.08.06 (7:24 am)
Reply to: surrogate
I surmise that you are a person of prayer. Honestly, it is not one of my strong points. I think it is because I am ADD, and just have a hard time concentrating for a long time. But I do carry on an ongoing conversation with God. I try o keep it quiet, so others will not consider me to be disturbed.
posted by:
DonkeyOrchid (
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post date:
05.08.06 (7:38 am)
Hi Pastor Dave, that is God, moving in you, stirring you up for prayer in the wee small hours, you are doing what God is asking of you, God bless you for your response to Him. Praise the Lord and glory be to His holy name.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
05.08.06 (7:41 am)
Reply to: Misguided
Sometimes, and rarely, I can truly sense the presense of Darkness nearby. It is a scary feeling and I do not mess around with the experience. That is when I take great comfort in knowing my God is greater than anything that is scary in this world. So I pray.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
05.08.06 (7:47 am)
Reply to: DonkeyOrchid
I do believe it is God. I think of the story of young Samuel in the Bible. As he was sleeping, he heard a voice call to him. Three times it called. Finally the elderly Eli surmised that Samuel was hearing from God. So he instructed him to say, "Yes, Lord, your servant is listening."
I will have to wander over to your site and see what photographs you are displaying of the beautiful nature that is so obviusly abundant in you country.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
05.08.06 (7:51 am)
Reply to: 0hdgk7
I guess I am religious. I go to church, and I engage in various religious rituals like scripture study and prayer. But I do not put much faith in religion as a provision of a healthy relationship with God. You and I know plenty of folks who are religious but not in a good way. I believe Jesus spent the majority of His ministry fighting "religion" that does not connect with God and hurts others. Love God, love others, allow your faith to make a positive difference in your life- such makes for a healthy kind of religion.
Glad you stopped by. I hope you get your blog up and running. Be sure to "enable" your comments.
posted by:
babe4jesus55 (
reply)
post date:
05.08.06 (8:53 am)
Reply to: midnightepicure
I get mad at the inconvience factor myself. Probably not the best thing to do, but sleep is rather high on my priority list.
posted by:
midnightepicure (
reply)
post date:
05.08.06 (11:15 am)
"So, what is your field of study? I suspect Mythology."
im a writer, and an artist. your crowd might call me "one of those liberal art fags." hahaha, its happened.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
05.08.06 (4:45 pm)
Reply to: midnightepicure
I would not call you a derogatory name, unless in understood jest. And I now crown you my favorite liberal art fag.
posted by:
toztee (
reply)
post date:
05.08.06 (6:06 pm)
I really like this new post and as I read it there is a news clip on tv about how many patients improve with prayer.
posted by:
midnightepicure (
reply)
post date:
05.09.06 (7:41 am)
SCORE!
posted by:
bacardibreezer (
reply)
post date:
05.10.06 (6:17 am)
well that's pretty cool. I bet it makes you feel pretty good :)
