Daily Devotional
The Daily Devotional from The Upper Room in Nashville Tennessee United States for Saturday, 13 January 2018 "Eyes Closing" by Marion Turnbull (Liverpool, England) - Acts of the Apostles 12:1-6
I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side. (Psalm 3:5-6 (NIV))
Four-year-old James climbed into his car seat, and we drove off. “My eyes are closing down,” he announced sleepily. No wonder! He had just spent a long day playing on the beach and splashing in the sea.
I laughed. My eyes were also drooping. How easily sleep takes over when we have had plenty of fresh air and exercise. Sleep is one of God’s good gifts to us, but sometimes circumstances require us to keep awake a bit longer.
How wonderful that God’s eyes never droop! In today’s reading, Herod had just killed Peter’s friend and planned to have Peter killed the next day. Imprisoned and chained to soldiers, he had good reason to spend a sleepless night. But his eyes drooped and he slept. Even while Peter slept, some stayed awake all night praying for him. He was in the hands of the God who never slumbers or sleeps. (See Ps. 121:4.) We can rest, knowing that the same is true for us.
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TODAY'S PRAYER:
Dear God, we need not fear because you are watching over us. Thank you for your love and constant care. Amen.
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TODAY'S READING: Acts of the Apostles 12:1-6
Four-year-old James climbed into his car seat, and we drove off. “My eyes are closing down,” he announced sleepily. No wonder! He had just spent a long day playing on the beach and splashing in the sea.
I laughed. My eyes were also drooping. How easily sleep takes over when we have had plenty of fresh air and exercise. Sleep is one of God’s good gifts to us, but sometimes circumstances require us to keep awake a bit longer.
How wonderful that God’s eyes never droop! In today’s reading, Herod had just killed Peter’s friend and planned to have Peter killed the next day. Imprisoned and chained to soldiers, he had good reason to spend a sleepless night. But his eyes drooped and he slept. Even while Peter slept, some stayed awake all night praying for him. He was in the hands of the God who never slumbers or sleeps. (See Ps. 121:4.) We can rest, knowing that the same is true for us.
***
TODAY'S PRAYER:
Dear God, we need not fear because you are watching over us. Thank you for your love and constant care. Amen.
***
TODAY'S READING: Acts of the Apostles 12:1-6
Acts of the Apostles 12:1 It was around this time that King Herod began arresting and persecuting certain members of the Messianic community; 2 and he had Ya‘akov, Yochanan’s brother, put to death by the sword. 3 When Herod saw how much this pleased the Judeans, he went on to arrest Kefa as well. It was during the Days of Matzah, 4 so when Herod seized him, he threw him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each, with the intention of bringing him to public trial after Pesach. 5 So Kefa was being held under watch in prison, but intense prayer was being made to God on his behalf by the Messianic community.
6 The night before Herod was going to bring him to trial, Kefa was sleeping between two soldiers. He was bound with two chains; and guards were at the door, keeping watch over the prison.
6 The night before Herod was going to bring him to trial, Kefa was sleeping between two soldiers. He was bound with two chains; and guards were at the door, keeping watch over the prison.
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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
I can close my eyes and rest, knowing God never sleeps.
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PRAYER FOCUS:
People who cannot sleep
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READ MORE:
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
I can close my eyes and rest, knowing God never sleeps.
***
PRAYER FOCUS:
People who cannot sleep
***
READ MORE:
***
The Upper Room
1908 Grand Avenue
Nashville, Tennessee 37212, United States
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