NOVEMBER 14

Psalm 4:8

Karen ran so hard that it hurt. She glanced over her shoulder. The lion was still chasing her and getting closer. Suddenly, she tripped and fell flat on her face! A huge roar echoed, and she could almost feel the hot breath on her neck. She screamed… and found that she was lying in her own bed. All the covers were kicked off. Her forehead was sweaty and she shook with fear.

Karen laid still, trying to calm her beating heart and go back to sleep. But every time she closed her eyes, she saw the lion chasing her. Finally, she got out of bed and tiptoed to her parents’ room. “Mom,” she whispered, “I had another nightmare, and I’m afraid to go back to sleep.” Mom got up, put her arms around Karen, and together they went back to Karen’s room. “I know the dream wasn’t real, Mom, but it was so scary,” said Karen after Mom tucked her back in bed. “How can I get it out of my mind?”

Mom switched on the lamp and got Karen’s Bible out of a drawer. “God’s Word can help your nightmares go away, honey,” she said as she turned the pages. “The Book of Psalms is a good place to find verses of comfort and promises of protection. Let’s read Psalm 4:8. Here, read it out loud for me.”

Taking the Bible, Karen read, “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.” Then, she read it again silently. She gave her mother a little smile. “I’m going to put a bookmark here to save the place,” decided Karen. “I’ll read this whenever I have a nightmare. I won’t have to get up and find you.”

“Great idea,” said Mom, returning the Bible to the drawer. “It’s short, and you could even memorise it. That way you’ll have it in your heart. You can repeat it to yourself whenever something scares you.”

“Yeah,” agreed Karen. “I won’t have to get out of bed at all.”

After Mom kissed her goodnight, Karen snuggled down deep into the covers and whispered, “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.”

Thought: Do you have nightmares? Do you find it hard to go to sleep? Do not forget that God is with you all the time.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to remember Your presence and power, and any fear or concern of mine, compared to Your power, will be what it really is – much smaller! Please grant me a peace of mind, knowing that You are in total control. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.