July 27, 2026 • 19 mins
How do you find peace when worries about your past or fears about your future keep you awake at night? Listen to discover how Psalm 121 reminds us that while we sleep, God never does—and He is faithfully watching over us. #StJohnsBuffalo #CovertoCoverBible #Psalm121 #RestInGod #SleepInPeace
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(00:02):
Hello, this is Pastor Ryan Clark.
You are listening to a message from St.
John's Lutheran Church in Buffalo, Minnesota. 4 00:00:14,154.897959184 --> 00:00:19,294.897959184 Oh Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praises in the name of Jesus. 5 00:00:19,904.897959184 --> 00:00:20,414.897959184 Amen. 6 00:00:22,214.896959184 --> 00:00:23,724.896959184 Look at that cutie right there. 7 00:00:24,244.897959184 --> 00:00:29,564.897959184 It is hard to believe that photo is now over five years old. 8 00:00:30,34.897959184 --> 00:00:34,994.896959184 That is a picture of my oldest son, Nathan, taken shortly after he was born. 9 00:00:35,754.896959184 --> 00:00:40,134.896959184 The name Nathan, by the way, it's a Hebrew name, it means, gift from God. 10 00:00:40,484.896959184 --> 00:00:43,834.896959184 And Nathan certainly has been a gift from God to us. 11 00:00:43,834.896959184 --> 00:00:47,884.896959184 From the very moment he was born, he has brought us, oh, so much joy. 12 00:00:48,924.895959184 --> 00:00:57,264.897959184 Of course, along with any phases that kids go through, that newborn phase, along with having some joys, it had some challenges as well. 13 00:00:58,94.897959184 --> 00:01:03,264.895959184 One particularly challenging season for us occurred around the time that Nathan was two months old. 14 00:01:03,664.896959184 --> 00:01:10,154.894959184 Right around that time, my wife Catherine went back to work and, well, no one was happy about that. 15 00:01:11,884.897959184 --> 00:01:26,344.899959184 At that point, her job involved her working straight nights, five nights a week, which means it became primarily my responsibility to get Nathan to sleep at night, and then to get him back to sleep again once he would inevitably wake up. 16 00:01:27,264.899959184 --> 00:01:33,224.899959184 What I found out very quickly is that I had greatly misunderstood what that phrase sleeping like a baby meant. 17 00:01:33,224.899959184 --> 00:01:39,924.894959184 You know, silly me, I thought that it meant gentle, restorative, peaceful sleep. 18 00:01:40,894.89695918 --> 00:01:55,904.89795918 What it actually meant was waking up every two hours shrieking, and then spending upwards of an hour going back and forth between hyperventilating and hopeless sobbing, and I'm just talking about myself trying to get Nathan back to sleep. 19 00:01:56,864.89795918 --> 00:01:59,304.89295918 He did have some theatrics of his own, by the way. 20 00:01:59,314.89495918 --> 00:01:59,844.89195918 Hey, look at that. 21 00:01:59,854.89595918 --> 00:02:02,964.89295918 There's a nice photo from that season of life right there. 22 00:02:02,964.89595918 --> 00:02:04,624.89295918 Things were going well, no doubt. 23 00:02:06,494.89495918 --> 00:02:06,844.89895918 And St. 24 00:02:06,844.89895918 --> 00:02:11,4.89395918 John's family, I would try everything in my power to get him back to sleep. 25 00:02:11,4.89695918 --> 00:02:16,304.89495918 I'd do all the stuff you know you're supposed to do, right? I'd feed him, I'd hold him, I'd change him. 26 00:02:16,304.89495918 --> 00:02:21,84.89195918 I'd even put him in that stroller and take him for a nice 2:00 AM stroll around the neighborhood. 27 00:02:21,904.89895918 --> 00:02:24,564.88795918 But nothing seemed to regularly work. 28 00:02:26,104.88795918 --> 00:02:27,184.90195918 But don't you worry. 29 00:02:27,364.89795918 --> 00:02:33,234.89795918 After a couple months of the failures, we finally figured out a solution to help everyone rest better. 30 00:02:34,124.89295918 --> 00:02:35,194.89295918 It was simply this. 31 00:02:35,904.89095918 --> 00:02:39,674.89195918 My wife Catherine, she stopped working the night shift and started working the day shift. 32 00:02:42,570.89795918 --> 00:02:46,40.89795918 And from that point on, everyone in the Ryan household slept better. 33 00:02:46,120.89795918 --> 00:02:48,540.89795918 Well, except for maybe Catherine. 34 00:02:51,532.89795918 --> 00:03:04,842.89695918 Hey, if you've been following along in our two-year Bible read-through, you'll know that we have been spending a whole lot of time in the Book of Psalms, haven't we? Well, this week we came across one of my absolute favorite Psalm, Psalm 121. 35 00:03:06,512.89795918 --> 00:03:17,212.89795918 And if you look closely at this Psalm, you'll see that it's all about someone who stays awake so that we all can get that gentle, peaceful, restorative sleep that we all need. 36 00:03:17,592.89795918 --> 00:03:19,722.89695918 And boy, could we use better sleep. 37 00:03:19,722.89695918 --> 00:03:23,322.89795918 Anyone here ever have trouble sleeping at all? Raise those hands. 38 00:03:23,322.89795918 --> 00:03:25,342.89695918 Look at that, there's two hands in the air up here. 39 00:03:26,542.89795918 --> 00:03:26,732.89795918 Ah. 40 00:03:27,402.89895918 --> 00:03:30,702.89795918 If you have trouble sleeping, know that you are not alone. 41 00:03:31,32.89595918 --> 00:03:38,632.89795918 According to a CDC, Center of Disease Control study, only 38% of adults are getting enough sleep at night. 42 00:03:39,442.89595918 --> 00:03:44,722.89695918 By the way, Minnesotans, we're almost the best at something, the best at being the worst at something. 43 00:03:44,722.89695918 --> 00:03:51,142.89495918 According to that study, we are the second worst sleepers out of all the states, behind just Vermont. 44 00:03:52,132.89495918 --> 00:03:57,292.89895918 You say, "Pastor Ryan, after the night of sleep I had last night, we might be in first place right now. 45 00:03:57,292.89895918 --> 00:04:01,332.89595918 We might have passed them right around 3:00 AM as I was tossing and turning." 46 00:04:02,802.89695918 --> 00:04:09,32.89895918 If that is you, and you have trouble sleeping at night regularly, I hope our verses of the day speak to you. 47 00:04:09,422.89995918 --> 00:04:18,582.89595918 Our highlighted verses of the day, they're from Psalm 121:3-4, and they say about God that, "He will not let your foot slip. 48 00:04:18,822.89295918 --> 00:04:21,102.89395918 He who watches over you will not slumber. 49 00:04:21,102.89395918 --> 00:04:25,542.89595918 Indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep." 50 00:04:26,992.89895918 --> 00:04:31,502.89795918 Say, "Pastor Ryan, it sounds like God is having as much trouble sleeping at night as I am." 51 00:04:32,532.89295918 --> 00:04:34,722.89895918 Well, that's not exactly what that verse means. 52 00:04:34,932.89395918 --> 00:04:36,272.89195918 It simply means this. 53 00:04:36,372.89595918 --> 00:04:37,772.89695918 It's an old Victor Hugo quote. 54 00:04:38,422.89195918 --> 00:04:41,832.89395918 "Sleep in peace, God is awake." 55 00:04:42,782.89295918 --> 00:04:50,892.89395918 In other words, you can rest easy knowing that God is taking care of, and has taken care of, those things that keep us up at night so often. 56 00:04:51,612.89395918 --> 00:05:02,592.88795918 And when it comes to the non-physical things that keep us awake at night, they can basically be boiled down into two categories: worries about our past and worries about our future. 57 00:05:02,592.88995918 --> 00:05:11,902.90195918 54% of people actually say they lose sleep regularly over replaying the way things went that day, usually the mistakes they made. 58 00:05:11,902.90195918 --> 00:05:16,512.89295918 We're not usually replaying the highlight reel at night, are we? It's the low light reel. 59 00:05:16,512.89295918 --> 00:05:19,532.89695918 It's the mistakes, it's the bloopers, it's the sins. 60 00:05:20,212.89995918 --> 00:05:24,352.88895918 And by the way, notice that's just the previous day's mistakes. 61 00:05:24,972.89495918 --> 00:05:32,362.89895918 Imagine how big that number gets beyond 54 if we span out to two days, three days, a week, a month, a year, a lifetime. 62 00:05:34,68.89795918 --> 00:05:39,628.89795918 On the flip side, 41% of people say they lose sleep over a stressor that's coming up the next day. 63 00:05:39,818.89795918 --> 00:05:42,138.89795918 And note, that's just the next day. 64 00:05:42,388.89795918 --> 00:05:48,938.89795918 Once again, imagine how big that number gets when we expand it beyond a day to two days, three days, a week, a month, a year. 65 00:05:50,78.89695918 --> 00:05:55,328.89795918 By the way, the most common stressor that people lose sleep over regarding their future is finances. 66 00:05:55,728.89695918 --> 00:06:05,298.89695918 78% of people have admitted, that's the key word, they've admitted to it, to losing sleep over financial concerns and job security related stressors. 67 00:06:06,8.89795918 --> 00:06:25,438.89595918 That's over three out of four people that lose sleep thinking about their finances, right? But I'll say it again, God wants us to rest easy knowing that He is in charge, He is in control, He's watching over us, and has taken care of and is taking care of those things that keep us awake at night. 68 00:06:26,598.89595918 --> 00:06:30,618.89495918 In fact, not only does He want us to sleep, He actually grants us sleep. 69 00:06:31,448.89795918 --> 00:06:40,298.89795918 The Psalmist says in Psalm 127:2 that God grants sleep to those He loves, and He loves you, which means He grants you sleep. 70 00:06:41,478.89695918 --> 00:06:49,118.89495918 It's a really good thing to think, if you are someone who struggles to fall asleep at night, that eventually it's going to happen. 71 00:06:49,718.89495918 --> 00:06:51,48.89295918 It always does. 72 00:06:51,48.89695918 --> 00:06:54,408.89595918 I was thinking that last night as I was tossing and turning a little bit. 73 00:06:55,498.89395918 --> 00:06:57,18.89295918 I'm going to fall asleep. 74 00:06:57,68.89295918 --> 00:07:01,228.89295918 God grants sleep to those He loves, and He loves me, so I will fall asleep. 75 00:07:01,238.89895918 --> 00:07:06,138.89795918 That's why the Psalmist says elsewhere, "In peace I will lie down and sleep. 76 00:07:06,178.89395918 --> 00:07:09,58.89395918 For you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety." 77 00:07:09,468.89495918 --> 00:07:10,708.89695918 I will lie down. 78 00:07:10,828.89595918 --> 00:07:13,138.89795918 I will go to sleep in peace. 79 00:07:13,708.89295918 --> 00:07:15,238.89795918 Remember that when you're struggling. 80 00:07:15,248.89395918 --> 00:07:17,198.89695918 You always fall asleep. 81 00:07:17,388.89295918 --> 00:07:18,818.89795918 It's going to happen. 82 00:07:18,928.89395918 --> 00:07:20,178.89595918 It's a very calming thought. 83 00:07:21,328.89595918 --> 00:07:29,48.89895918 Now, beyond that, there's a couple specific thought processes I want you to walk through if you find yourself falling into either one of these categories here regularly. 84 00:07:30,58.89895918 --> 00:07:46,278.89295918 If you're amongst the 54% of people who say they lose sleep over replaying those mistakes, those sins from the previous day, the first thing I want you to think as you're struggling that night is this: God's grace, it works every single shift. 85 00:07:46,918.89195918 --> 00:07:54,428.88895918 What do I mean by that? Well, simply put, Jesus didn't just die on the cross for the sins that you committed way back in the past. 86 00:07:55,268.89795918 --> 00:07:57,408.89295918 His grace in your life is present. 87 00:07:57,888.89295918 --> 00:08:02,738.89595918 He died for the sins that you committed this very day. 88 00:08:03,318.90095918 --> 00:08:06,298.89895918 His grace covers over the weeks, the months, the years. 89 00:08:06,298.89895918 --> 00:08:10,438.89595918 It's a 24/7, 365 kind of deal. 90 00:08:11,268.89795918 --> 00:08:13,918.89695918 His grace applies to the sins you committed during the day. 91 00:08:14,48.89695918 --> 00:08:27,278.88995918 It applies to the evening when you're struggling with the burden of sin and you're replaying those mistakes again and again and again, and it applies to the night when you wake up and start what you might call that stinking thinking and you can't fall back asleep. 92 00:08:28,706.89795918 --> 00:08:39,976.89695918 And by the way, when you're struggling with unforgiveness for yourself at night and it's keeping you awake, you know you're paying a price that God doesn't require you or even want you to pay. 93 00:08:41,786.89795918 --> 00:08:55,206.89795918 Jesus already paid that price, right? He went to the cross with his perfect life and died on it just for you, knowing every sin that you'd ever commit, not just the ones in the ancient past, but the ones that you committed today. 94 00:08:56,126.89795918 --> 00:09:03,316.89795918 That's why it says in Romans 5:8 that, "God shows his love for us in this, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." 95 00:09:04,546.89795918 --> 00:09:11,316.89595918 He died knowing each and every sin that you would commit, and he goes to the cross willingly to do just that just for you. 96 00:09:12,446.89595918 --> 00:09:18,596.89795918 And he doesn't want you to hang onto that guilt at night and stay awake over that and pay a price that he already paid for you. 97 00:09:19,306.89595918 --> 00:09:23,656.89695918 He wants you to bring those sins to him and live out the words of 1 John 1:9. 98 00:09:25,36.89595918 --> 00:09:31,216.89695918 It says, "If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 99 00:09:32,386.89795918 --> 00:09:37,276.89595918 Because of the blood of Jesus, when we confess our sins to God, they are forgiven. 100 00:09:37,276.89795918 --> 00:09:49,156.89395918 No ifs, ands, or buts there, right? Because of the blood of Jesus, according to the psalmist in Psalm 103, as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. 101 00:09:49,366.89395918 --> 00:10:03,806.89595918 And the east and the west, they are pretty far apart, aren't they? And when you do that, when you go to God, confess your sins to him and receive your forgiveness that he wants to give to you, along with that forgiveness, you get a clean conscience. 102 00:10:04,156.89495918 --> 00:10:11,206.89495918 And according to Proverbs 3:24, when we have a clean conscience, it says, "When you lie down, you will not be afraid. 103 00:10:11,396.89295918 --> 00:10:14,876.89195918 When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet." 104 00:10:16,930.89795918 --> 00:10:25,560.89795918 So if that is you and you struggle to sleep at night because you're replaying all those mistakes, bloopers, sins, this is the process I want you to walk through. 105 00:10:26,200.89795918 --> 00:10:34,350.89695918 And by the way, take note, it's probably gonna involve you memorizing some verses and then maybe meditating on them a little bit, and thinking about them as you go to sleep. 106 00:10:35,20.89795918 --> 00:10:38,640.89695918 The first thing I want you to remember is this: I will fall asleep. 107 00:10:38,680.89795918 --> 00:10:40,630.89695918 God grants sleep to those he loves. 108 00:10:40,630.89695918 --> 00:10:44,620.89695918 He loves me, so in peace I will lie down, I will sleep. 109 00:10:44,880.89695918 --> 00:10:46,120.89795918 It is going to happen. 110 00:10:47,410.89795918 --> 00:10:54,100.89595918 And then as you get tempted to start replaying those sins over and over again, think about Romans 5:8. 111 00:10:54,100.89595918 --> 00:11:02,810.89595918 Remember that Jesus died for that sin that you committed today, knowing that you would commit it, and he doesn't want you to hang onto that guilt, he wants you to bring it to him. 112 00:11:03,490.89595918 --> 00:11:04,350.89895918 So do that. 113 00:11:04,700.89795918 --> 00:11:21,980.89895918 Go to him, confess your sins, receive that forgiveness he wants to give you, have your transgressions removed from you as far as the east is from the west, and then with that clean conscience, receive the sweet sleep that he promises to those who are forgiven. 114 00:11:22,970.89895918 --> 00:11:28,640.89795918 That's what I want you to do if you are struggling to awake at night with sins and mistakes from the previous day. 115 00:11:29,400.89895918 --> 00:11:38,40.89895918 Now, on the flip side, there's a little bit different of a process if you're in that 41% of people who say they lose sleep over a stressor that's coming up the next day. 116 00:11:39,0.89795918 --> 00:11:50,490.89295918 The first verse I want you to think of if that is you is Psalm 50:10, where God says, "For every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills is mine." 117 00:11:51,870.89295918 --> 00:11:57,890.89595918 That means with whatever you're stressed out about about your future, that the Lord can provide. 118 00:11:58,550.89295918 --> 00:11:59,740.89395918 It's all his. 119 00:11:59,780.89595918 --> 00:12:01,810.89595918 The cattle on a thousand hills are his. 120 00:12:01,840.89395918 --> 00:12:03,910.89495918 He can provide for you. 121 00:12:05,330.89195918 --> 00:12:13,400.89495918 You say, "Pastor Ryan, that's great, the cattle on a thousand hills is God, but sometimes it feels like I can't even afford a hamburger, let alone a steak. 122 00:12:14,250.89795918 --> 00:12:26,880.89495918 So what do you have to say to that?" Well, this is what I have to say to that: not only can God provide, but he promises that he knows exactly what you need, and that he will provide. 123 00:12:27,330.89195918 --> 00:12:31,0.89595918 Listen to what Jesus says in the Sermon on the Mount here in Matthew 6. 124 00:12:31,750.89595918 --> 00:12:43,950.89395918 He says, "Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' Or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all." 125 00:12:44,860.89095918 --> 00:12:53,660.89495918 God knows exactly what you need, and he can provide, and best of all, he promises to provide. 126 00:12:54,20.89395918 --> 00:13:01,50.88995918 Philippians 4:19, "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus." 127 00:13:01,290.89895918 --> 00:13:04,170.88895918 And those are substantial riches, my friend. 128 00:13:05,962.89795918 --> 00:13:11,792.89795918 When the Apostle Paul wrote these words, he had just gone through somewhat of a difficult season in his ministry. 129 00:13:12,22.89795918 --> 00:13:15,92.89695918 It seems like finances were a little bit tight. 130 00:13:16,92.89795918 --> 00:13:28,102.89695918 He needed some extra help to provide for his ministry, and then out of nowhere seemingly, it says that that church in Philippi, and these are Paul's words, provided amply for his financial needs. 131 00:13:29,892.89695918 --> 00:13:39,102.89895918 And he says back to them, and to us through the pages of scripture, "Just like you provided for my needs, God is going to provide for your needs amply." 132 00:13:39,822.89595918 --> 00:13:45,152.89595918 Now, will it always be our solution? Probably not. 133 00:13:45,662.89595918 --> 00:13:48,862.89695918 As you heard us say from up here before, sometimes we pigeonhole God. 134 00:13:48,862.89695918 --> 00:13:59,132.89595918 We say, "We need A or B," and He gives us C, right? And C a lotta times when we reflect on it is better than we could have ever asked for or imagined. 135 00:14:00,202.89695918 --> 00:14:02,642.89695918 Will it be on our timeline? Probably not. 136 00:14:02,652.89795918 --> 00:14:13,772.89295918 Like Pastor Clark talked about last week, sometimes we want God to speed up a little bit, don't we? But you can trust that God's timing, it's always perfect. 137 00:14:13,892.89895918 --> 00:14:16,102.89595918 It's always better than our timing. 138 00:14:16,902.89395918 --> 00:14:30,152.89395918 1 Peter 5:6-7 it says, "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you." 139 00:14:30,952.89695918 --> 00:14:32,862.89995918 God's timing, it's always proper. 140 00:14:33,132.89695918 --> 00:14:43,222.89795918 It's always perfect, and He actually wants us to reflect in our lives on all the times His timing has been perfect just for you, just for me. 141 00:14:44,272.89595918 --> 00:15:01,542.89495918 And as we reflect on all of those times that His timing was absolutely perfect, He then wants us to take that worry that we have about our future that's keeping us up at night and cast that anxiety onto Him because He wants to take it because He loves you and He cares for you so much. 142 00:15:03,282.89895918 --> 00:15:12,362.89595918 So if that is you, and it's worries about your future that are keeping you awake at night, this is the process I want you to walk through each and every night. 143 00:15:13,102.89795918 --> 00:15:16,682.89095918 As you're tossing and turning, remember, you will fall asleep. 144 00:15:17,252.89995918 --> 00:15:21,512.90195918 God grants sleep to those He loves, and He loves you, so in peace you will lie down. 145 00:15:21,832.90195918 --> 00:15:22,822.89595918 You will sleep. 146 00:15:23,912.88795918 --> 00:15:28,122.88795918 And then that anxiety that's keeping you up about your future, don't hang onto that. 147 00:15:28,622.89495918 --> 00:15:33,832.89295918 Cast it onto Him and trust in His perfect, proper timing in your life. 148 00:15:34,712.89095918 --> 00:15:42,402.89295918 And then remember, like Jesus says in Matthew 6, that God knows exactly what you need, so you don't have to worry. 149 00:15:43,472.90095918 --> 00:15:47,902.89795918 Because best of all, He can provide and He will provide. 150 00:15:47,912.88795918 --> 00:16:01,802.89795918 He will meet all your needs according to the riches and glory of Christ Jesus And by the way, it doesn't just have to be finances that we entrust over to God when it comes to worries about our future. 151 00:16:02,442.89795918 --> 00:16:03,832.89795918 It can be just about anything. 152 00:16:03,832.89795918 --> 00:16:06,722.89695918 Maybe it's a big to-do list that's keeping you awake at night. 153 00:16:06,932.89795918 --> 00:16:10,32.89795918 Walk through that same exact process. 154 00:16:10,312.89695918 --> 00:16:12,622.89695918 Maybe it's a situation with a loved one. 155 00:16:12,622.89795918 --> 00:16:15,352.89795918 Walk through that same exact process. 156 00:16:15,652.89795918 --> 00:16:20,692.89795918 Give that loved one over to him and trust in God's perfect and proper timing for them. 157 00:16:21,242.89695918 --> 00:16:39,56.89795918 Remember that God knows exactly what they need too, so that you don't have to worry, and remember that you have a God that can provide, and he promises to provide And one final thought here actually as we get towards the end of this message. 158 00:16:39,56.89795918 --> 00:16:42,376.8979592 I see that a few of you right now are really taking this message to heart. 159 00:16:42,376.8979592 --> 00:16:43,486.8979592 You're practicing it already. 160 00:16:43,486.8979592 --> 00:16:44,156.8979592 That's great. 161 00:16:51,10.8979592 --> 00:16:58,200.8979592 So open those eyes, pay attention here because I think this is really, really practical. 162 00:16:59,310.8979592 --> 00:17:03,740.8979592 It's a way to cast our anxieties onto God when we're struggling to sleep at night. 163 00:17:03,790.8979592 --> 00:17:05,260.8969592 Someone on staff at St. 164 00:17:05,260.8979592 --> 00:17:09,600.8979592 John shared this technique with me this week, and I have used it this very week. 165 00:17:09,600.8979592 --> 00:17:14,10.8989592 I used it last night, and it helped me sleep a little better, I promise you that. 166 00:17:14,870.8969592 --> 00:17:16,570.8979592 It's a visualization technique. 167 00:17:17,540.8969592 --> 00:17:27,990.8979592 If you are struggling to sleep, what I want you to do is close your eyes, take some deep breaths, and then picture yourself crawling up onto your heavenly Father's lap. 168 00:17:28,760.8979592 --> 00:17:32,680.8969592 That loving Father, picture Him wrapping His arms around you. 169 00:17:32,680.8969592 --> 00:17:41,500.8979592 Lean back into Him, and then tell God what you need, and thank Him for all that He has done for you. 170 00:17:42,590.8959592 --> 00:17:53,310.8959592 When you do that, the Bible promises peace, and peace leads to sleep, doesn't it? Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all that He has done for you. 171 00:17:54,200.8969592 --> 00:18:09,310.8949592 Thank Him most of all for the blood of Jesus, right? Because of Jesus, you get an eternal relationship with God that starts now and lasts forever, one that's gonna lead you to experiencing perfect peace and rest one day in all eternity with God in heaven. 172 00:18:10,390.8949592 --> 00:18:14,550.8959592 Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all that He has done for you. 173 00:18:15,570.8959592 --> 00:18:19,730.8949592 And thank Him that because of Jesus, we can take these words to the bank. 174 00:18:19,740.8939592 --> 00:18:22,360.8959592 We can know that God will not let your foot slip. 175 00:18:22,490.8939592 --> 00:18:24,690.8929592 He who watches over you will not slumber. 176 00:18:24,900.8969592 --> 00:18:29,160.8989592 Indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 177 00:18:29,310.8929592 --> 00:18:29,640.8929592 St. 178 00:18:29,640.8949592 --> 00:18:31,450.8999592 John's family, rest easy. 179 00:18:31,830.8979592 --> 00:18:32,870.8989592 God is awake. 180 00:18:33,110.8959592 --> 00:18:37,160.8929592 He is taking care of and has taken care of those things that keep us up at night. 181 00:18:37,370.8989592 --> 00:18:39,240.8929592 May you rest easy because of Jesus. 182 00:18:39,240.8939592 --> 00:18:41,530.8929592 In Jesus' name, Amen. 183 00:18:44,659.2312925 --> 00:18:46,309.2312925 You've been listening to a sermon from St. 184 00:18:46,309.2312925 --> 00:18:48,389.2312925 John's Lutheran Church in Buffalo, Minnesota. 185 00:18:48,709.2312925 --> 00:18:50,509.2312925 If you would like more information about St. 186 00:18:50,509.2312925 --> 00:18:56,169.2312925 John's and any of our ministries to our community and beyond, you can go to our website, www. 187 00:18:56,259.2312925 --> 00:18:56,499.2312925 stjohnsbuffalo. 188 00:18:57,739.2302925 --> 00:18:58,69.2302925 org. 189 00:18:58,449.2302925 --> 00:18:59,739.2312925 Thank you and God bless you.
Hello, this is Pastor Ryan Clark.
You are listening to a message from St.
John's Lutheran Church in Buffalo, Minnesota. 4 00:00:14,154.897959184 --> 00:00:19,294.897959184 Oh Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praises in the name of Jesus. 5 00:00:19,904.897959184 --> 00:00:20,414.897959184 Amen. 6 00:00:22,214.896959184 --> 00:00:23,724.896959184 Look at that cutie right there. 7 00:00:24,244.897959184 --> 00:00:29,564.897959184 It is hard to believe that photo is now over five years old. 8 00:00:30,34.897959184 --> 00:00:34,994.896959184 That is a picture of my oldest son, Nathan, taken shortly after he was born. 9 00:00:35,754.896959184 --> 00:00:40,134.896959184 The name Nathan, by the way, it's a Hebrew name, it means, gift from God. 10 00:00:40,484.896959184 --> 00:00:43,834.896959184 And Nathan certainly has been a gift from God to us. 11 00:00:43,834.896959184 --> 00:00:47,884.896959184 From the very moment he was born, he has brought us, oh, so much joy. 12 00:00:48,924.895959184 --> 00:00:57,264.897959184 Of course, along with any phases that kids go through, that newborn phase, along with having some joys, it had some challenges as well. 13 00:00:58,94.897959184 --> 00:01:03,264.895959184 One particularly challenging season for us occurred around the time that Nathan was two months old. 14 00:01:03,664.896959184 --> 00:01:10,154.894959184 Right around that time, my wife Catherine went back to work and, well, no one was happy about that. 15 00:01:11,884.897959184 --> 00:01:26,344.899959184 At that point, her job involved her working straight nights, five nights a week, which means it became primarily my responsibility to get Nathan to sleep at night, and then to get him back to sleep again once he would inevitably wake up. 16 00:01:27,264.899959184 --> 00:01:33,224.899959184 What I found out very quickly is that I had greatly misunderstood what that phrase sleeping like a baby meant. 17 00:01:33,224.899959184 --> 00:01:39,924.894959184 You know, silly me, I thought that it meant gentle, restorative, peaceful sleep. 18 00:01:40,894.89695918 --> 00:01:55,904.89795918 What it actually meant was waking up every two hours shrieking, and then spending upwards of an hour going back and forth between hyperventilating and hopeless sobbing, and I'm just talking about myself trying to get Nathan back to sleep. 19 00:01:56,864.89795918 --> 00:01:59,304.89295918 He did have some theatrics of his own, by the way. 20 00:01:59,314.89495918 --> 00:01:59,844.89195918 Hey, look at that. 21 00:01:59,854.89595918 --> 00:02:02,964.89295918 There's a nice photo from that season of life right there. 22 00:02:02,964.89595918 --> 00:02:04,624.89295918 Things were going well, no doubt. 23 00:02:06,494.89495918 --> 00:02:06,844.89895918 And St. 24 00:02:06,844.89895918 --> 00:02:11,4.89395918 John's family, I would try everything in my power to get him back to sleep. 25 00:02:11,4.89695918 --> 00:02:16,304.89495918 I'd do all the stuff you know you're supposed to do, right? I'd feed him, I'd hold him, I'd change him. 26 00:02:16,304.89495918 --> 00:02:21,84.89195918 I'd even put him in that stroller and take him for a nice 2:00 AM stroll around the neighborhood. 27 00:02:21,904.89895918 --> 00:02:24,564.88795918 But nothing seemed to regularly work. 28 00:02:26,104.88795918 --> 00:02:27,184.90195918 But don't you worry. 29 00:02:27,364.89795918 --> 00:02:33,234.89795918 After a couple months of the failures, we finally figured out a solution to help everyone rest better. 30 00:02:34,124.89295918 --> 00:02:35,194.89295918 It was simply this. 31 00:02:35,904.89095918 --> 00:02:39,674.89195918 My wife Catherine, she stopped working the night shift and started working the day shift. 32 00:02:42,570.89795918 --> 00:02:46,40.89795918 And from that point on, everyone in the Ryan household slept better. 33 00:02:46,120.89795918 --> 00:02:48,540.89795918 Well, except for maybe Catherine. 34 00:02:51,532.89795918 --> 00:03:04,842.89695918 Hey, if you've been following along in our two-year Bible read-through, you'll know that we have been spending a whole lot of time in the Book of Psalms, haven't we? Well, this week we came across one of my absolute favorite Psalm, Psalm 121. 35 00:03:06,512.89795918 --> 00:03:17,212.89795918 And if you look closely at this Psalm, you'll see that it's all about someone who stays awake so that we all can get that gentle, peaceful, restorative sleep that we all need. 36 00:03:17,592.89795918 --> 00:03:19,722.89695918 And boy, could we use better sleep. 37 00:03:19,722.89695918 --> 00:03:23,322.89795918 Anyone here ever have trouble sleeping at all? Raise those hands. 38 00:03:23,322.89795918 --> 00:03:25,342.89695918 Look at that, there's two hands in the air up here. 39 00:03:26,542.89795918 --> 00:03:26,732.89795918 Ah. 40 00:03:27,402.89895918 --> 00:03:30,702.89795918 If you have trouble sleeping, know that you are not alone. 41 00:03:31,32.89595918 --> 00:03:38,632.89795918 According to a CDC, Center of Disease Control study, only 38% of adults are getting enough sleep at night. 42 00:03:39,442.89595918 --> 00:03:44,722.89695918 By the way, Minnesotans, we're almost the best at something, the best at being the worst at something. 43 00:03:44,722.89695918 --> 00:03:51,142.89495918 According to that study, we are the second worst sleepers out of all the states, behind just Vermont. 44 00:03:52,132.89495918 --> 00:03:57,292.89895918 You say, "Pastor Ryan, after the night of sleep I had last night, we might be in first place right now. 45 00:03:57,292.89895918 --> 00:04:01,332.89595918 We might have passed them right around 3:00 AM as I was tossing and turning." 46 00:04:02,802.89695918 --> 00:04:09,32.89895918 If that is you, and you have trouble sleeping at night regularly, I hope our verses of the day speak to you. 47 00:04:09,422.89995918 --> 00:04:18,582.89595918 Our highlighted verses of the day, they're from Psalm 121:3-4, and they say about God that, "He will not let your foot slip. 48 00:04:18,822.89295918 --> 00:04:21,102.89395918 He who watches over you will not slumber. 49 00:04:21,102.89395918 --> 00:04:25,542.89595918 Indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep." 50 00:04:26,992.89895918 --> 00:04:31,502.89795918 Say, "Pastor Ryan, it sounds like God is having as much trouble sleeping at night as I am." 51 00:04:32,532.89295918 --> 00:04:34,722.89895918 Well, that's not exactly what that verse means. 52 00:04:34,932.89395918 --> 00:04:36,272.89195918 It simply means this. 53 00:04:36,372.89595918 --> 00:04:37,772.89695918 It's an old Victor Hugo quote. 54 00:04:38,422.89195918 --> 00:04:41,832.89395918 "Sleep in peace, God is awake." 55 00:04:42,782.89295918 --> 00:04:50,892.89395918 In other words, you can rest easy knowing that God is taking care of, and has taken care of, those things that keep us up at night so often. 56 00:04:51,612.89395918 --> 00:05:02,592.88795918 And when it comes to the non-physical things that keep us awake at night, they can basically be boiled down into two categories: worries about our past and worries about our future. 57 00:05:02,592.88995918 --> 00:05:11,902.90195918 54% of people actually say they lose sleep regularly over replaying the way things went that day, usually the mistakes they made. 58 00:05:11,902.90195918 --> 00:05:16,512.89295918 We're not usually replaying the highlight reel at night, are we? It's the low light reel. 59 00:05:16,512.89295918 --> 00:05:19,532.89695918 It's the mistakes, it's the bloopers, it's the sins. 60 00:05:20,212.89995918 --> 00:05:24,352.88895918 And by the way, notice that's just the previous day's mistakes. 61 00:05:24,972.89495918 --> 00:05:32,362.89895918 Imagine how big that number gets beyond 54 if we span out to two days, three days, a week, a month, a year, a lifetime. 62 00:05:34,68.89795918 --> 00:05:39,628.89795918 On the flip side, 41% of people say they lose sleep over a stressor that's coming up the next day. 63 00:05:39,818.89795918 --> 00:05:42,138.89795918 And note, that's just the next day. 64 00:05:42,388.89795918 --> 00:05:48,938.89795918 Once again, imagine how big that number gets when we expand it beyond a day to two days, three days, a week, a month, a year. 65 00:05:50,78.89695918 --> 00:05:55,328.89795918 By the way, the most common stressor that people lose sleep over regarding their future is finances. 66 00:05:55,728.89695918 --> 00:06:05,298.89695918 78% of people have admitted, that's the key word, they've admitted to it, to losing sleep over financial concerns and job security related stressors. 67 00:06:06,8.89795918 --> 00:06:25,438.89595918 That's over three out of four people that lose sleep thinking about their finances, right? But I'll say it again, God wants us to rest easy knowing that He is in charge, He is in control, He's watching over us, and has taken care of and is taking care of those things that keep us awake at night. 68 00:06:26,598.89595918 --> 00:06:30,618.89495918 In fact, not only does He want us to sleep, He actually grants us sleep. 69 00:06:31,448.89795918 --> 00:06:40,298.89795918 The Psalmist says in Psalm 127:2 that God grants sleep to those He loves, and He loves you, which means He grants you sleep. 70 00:06:41,478.89695918 --> 00:06:49,118.89495918 It's a really good thing to think, if you are someone who struggles to fall asleep at night, that eventually it's going to happen. 71 00:06:49,718.89495918 --> 00:06:51,48.89295918 It always does. 72 00:06:51,48.89695918 --> 00:06:54,408.89595918 I was thinking that last night as I was tossing and turning a little bit. 73 00:06:55,498.89395918 --> 00:06:57,18.89295918 I'm going to fall asleep. 74 00:06:57,68.89295918 --> 00:07:01,228.89295918 God grants sleep to those He loves, and He loves me, so I will fall asleep. 75 00:07:01,238.89895918 --> 00:07:06,138.89795918 That's why the Psalmist says elsewhere, "In peace I will lie down and sleep. 76 00:07:06,178.89395918 --> 00:07:09,58.89395918 For you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety." 77 00:07:09,468.89495918 --> 00:07:10,708.89695918 I will lie down. 78 00:07:10,828.89595918 --> 00:07:13,138.89795918 I will go to sleep in peace. 79 00:07:13,708.89295918 --> 00:07:15,238.89795918 Remember that when you're struggling. 80 00:07:15,248.89395918 --> 00:07:17,198.89695918 You always fall asleep. 81 00:07:17,388.89295918 --> 00:07:18,818.89795918 It's going to happen. 82 00:07:18,928.89395918 --> 00:07:20,178.89595918 It's a very calming thought. 83 00:07:21,328.89595918 --> 00:07:29,48.89895918 Now, beyond that, there's a couple specific thought processes I want you to walk through if you find yourself falling into either one of these categories here regularly. 84 00:07:30,58.89895918 --> 00:07:46,278.89295918 If you're amongst the 54% of people who say they lose sleep over replaying those mistakes, those sins from the previous day, the first thing I want you to think as you're struggling that night is this: God's grace, it works every single shift. 85 00:07:46,918.89195918 --> 00:07:54,428.88895918 What do I mean by that? Well, simply put, Jesus didn't just die on the cross for the sins that you committed way back in the past. 86 00:07:55,268.89795918 --> 00:07:57,408.89295918 His grace in your life is present. 87 00:07:57,888.89295918 --> 00:08:02,738.89595918 He died for the sins that you committed this very day. 88 00:08:03,318.90095918 --> 00:08:06,298.89895918 His grace covers over the weeks, the months, the years. 89 00:08:06,298.89895918 --> 00:08:10,438.89595918 It's a 24/7, 365 kind of deal. 90 00:08:11,268.89795918 --> 00:08:13,918.89695918 His grace applies to the sins you committed during the day. 91 00:08:14,48.89695918 --> 00:08:27,278.88995918 It applies to the evening when you're struggling with the burden of sin and you're replaying those mistakes again and again and again, and it applies to the night when you wake up and start what you might call that stinking thinking and you can't fall back asleep. 92 00:08:28,706.89795918 --> 00:08:39,976.89695918 And by the way, when you're struggling with unforgiveness for yourself at night and it's keeping you awake, you know you're paying a price that God doesn't require you or even want you to pay. 93 00:08:41,786.89795918 --> 00:08:55,206.89795918 Jesus already paid that price, right? He went to the cross with his perfect life and died on it just for you, knowing every sin that you'd ever commit, not just the ones in the ancient past, but the ones that you committed today. 94 00:08:56,126.89795918 --> 00:09:03,316.89795918 That's why it says in Romans 5:8 that, "God shows his love for us in this, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." 95 00:09:04,546.89795918 --> 00:09:11,316.89595918 He died knowing each and every sin that you would commit, and he goes to the cross willingly to do just that just for you. 96 00:09:12,446.89595918 --> 00:09:18,596.89795918 And he doesn't want you to hang onto that guilt at night and stay awake over that and pay a price that he already paid for you. 97 00:09:19,306.89595918 --> 00:09:23,656.89695918 He wants you to bring those sins to him and live out the words of 1 John 1:9. 98 00:09:25,36.89595918 --> 00:09:31,216.89695918 It says, "If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 99 00:09:32,386.89795918 --> 00:09:37,276.89595918 Because of the blood of Jesus, when we confess our sins to God, they are forgiven. 100 00:09:37,276.89795918 --> 00:09:49,156.89395918 No ifs, ands, or buts there, right? Because of the blood of Jesus, according to the psalmist in Psalm 103, as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. 101 00:09:49,366.89395918 --> 00:10:03,806.89595918 And the east and the west, they are pretty far apart, aren't they? And when you do that, when you go to God, confess your sins to him and receive your forgiveness that he wants to give to you, along with that forgiveness, you get a clean conscience. 102 00:10:04,156.89495918 --> 00:10:11,206.89495918 And according to Proverbs 3:24, when we have a clean conscience, it says, "When you lie down, you will not be afraid. 103 00:10:11,396.89295918 --> 00:10:14,876.89195918 When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet." 104 00:10:16,930.89795918 --> 00:10:25,560.89795918 So if that is you and you struggle to sleep at night because you're replaying all those mistakes, bloopers, sins, this is the process I want you to walk through. 105 00:10:26,200.89795918 --> 00:10:34,350.89695918 And by the way, take note, it's probably gonna involve you memorizing some verses and then maybe meditating on them a little bit, and thinking about them as you go to sleep. 106 00:10:35,20.89795918 --> 00:10:38,640.89695918 The first thing I want you to remember is this: I will fall asleep. 107 00:10:38,680.89795918 --> 00:10:40,630.89695918 God grants sleep to those he loves. 108 00:10:40,630.89695918 --> 00:10:44,620.89695918 He loves me, so in peace I will lie down, I will sleep. 109 00:10:44,880.89695918 --> 00:10:46,120.89795918 It is going to happen. 110 00:10:47,410.89795918 --> 00:10:54,100.89595918 And then as you get tempted to start replaying those sins over and over again, think about Romans 5:8. 111 00:10:54,100.89595918 --> 00:11:02,810.89595918 Remember that Jesus died for that sin that you committed today, knowing that you would commit it, and he doesn't want you to hang onto that guilt, he wants you to bring it to him. 112 00:11:03,490.89595918 --> 00:11:04,350.89895918 So do that. 113 00:11:04,700.89795918 --> 00:11:21,980.89895918 Go to him, confess your sins, receive that forgiveness he wants to give you, have your transgressions removed from you as far as the east is from the west, and then with that clean conscience, receive the sweet sleep that he promises to those who are forgiven. 114 00:11:22,970.89895918 --> 00:11:28,640.89795918 That's what I want you to do if you are struggling to awake at night with sins and mistakes from the previous day. 115 00:11:29,400.89895918 --> 00:11:38,40.89895918 Now, on the flip side, there's a little bit different of a process if you're in that 41% of people who say they lose sleep over a stressor that's coming up the next day. 116 00:11:39,0.89795918 --> 00:11:50,490.89295918 The first verse I want you to think of if that is you is Psalm 50:10, where God says, "For every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills is mine." 117 00:11:51,870.89295918 --> 00:11:57,890.89595918 That means with whatever you're stressed out about about your future, that the Lord can provide. 118 00:11:58,550.89295918 --> 00:11:59,740.89395918 It's all his. 119 00:11:59,780.89595918 --> 00:12:01,810.89595918 The cattle on a thousand hills are his. 120 00:12:01,840.89395918 --> 00:12:03,910.89495918 He can provide for you. 121 00:12:05,330.89195918 --> 00:12:13,400.89495918 You say, "Pastor Ryan, that's great, the cattle on a thousand hills is God, but sometimes it feels like I can't even afford a hamburger, let alone a steak. 122 00:12:14,250.89795918 --> 00:12:26,880.89495918 So what do you have to say to that?" Well, this is what I have to say to that: not only can God provide, but he promises that he knows exactly what you need, and that he will provide. 123 00:12:27,330.89195918 --> 00:12:31,0.89595918 Listen to what Jesus says in the Sermon on the Mount here in Matthew 6. 124 00:12:31,750.89595918 --> 00:12:43,950.89395918 He says, "Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' Or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all." 125 00:12:44,860.89095918 --> 00:12:53,660.89495918 God knows exactly what you need, and he can provide, and best of all, he promises to provide. 126 00:12:54,20.89395918 --> 00:13:01,50.88995918 Philippians 4:19, "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus." 127 00:13:01,290.89895918 --> 00:13:04,170.88895918 And those are substantial riches, my friend. 128 00:13:05,962.89795918 --> 00:13:11,792.89795918 When the Apostle Paul wrote these words, he had just gone through somewhat of a difficult season in his ministry. 129 00:13:12,22.89795918 --> 00:13:15,92.89695918 It seems like finances were a little bit tight. 130 00:13:16,92.89795918 --> 00:13:28,102.89695918 He needed some extra help to provide for his ministry, and then out of nowhere seemingly, it says that that church in Philippi, and these are Paul's words, provided amply for his financial needs. 131 00:13:29,892.89695918 --> 00:13:39,102.89895918 And he says back to them, and to us through the pages of scripture, "Just like you provided for my needs, God is going to provide for your needs amply." 132 00:13:39,822.89595918 --> 00:13:45,152.89595918 Now, will it always be our solution? Probably not. 133 00:13:45,662.89595918 --> 00:13:48,862.89695918 As you heard us say from up here before, sometimes we pigeonhole God. 134 00:13:48,862.89695918 --> 00:13:59,132.89595918 We say, "We need A or B," and He gives us C, right? And C a lotta times when we reflect on it is better than we could have ever asked for or imagined. 135 00:14:00,202.89695918 --> 00:14:02,642.89695918 Will it be on our timeline? Probably not. 136 00:14:02,652.89795918 --> 00:14:13,772.89295918 Like Pastor Clark talked about last week, sometimes we want God to speed up a little bit, don't we? But you can trust that God's timing, it's always perfect. 137 00:14:13,892.89895918 --> 00:14:16,102.89595918 It's always better than our timing. 138 00:14:16,902.89395918 --> 00:14:30,152.89395918 1 Peter 5:6-7 it says, "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you." 139 00:14:30,952.89695918 --> 00:14:32,862.89995918 God's timing, it's always proper. 140 00:14:33,132.89695918 --> 00:14:43,222.89795918 It's always perfect, and He actually wants us to reflect in our lives on all the times His timing has been perfect just for you, just for me. 141 00:14:44,272.89595918 --> 00:15:01,542.89495918 And as we reflect on all of those times that His timing was absolutely perfect, He then wants us to take that worry that we have about our future that's keeping us up at night and cast that anxiety onto Him because He wants to take it because He loves you and He cares for you so much. 142 00:15:03,282.89895918 --> 00:15:12,362.89595918 So if that is you, and it's worries about your future that are keeping you awake at night, this is the process I want you to walk through each and every night. 143 00:15:13,102.89795918 --> 00:15:16,682.89095918 As you're tossing and turning, remember, you will fall asleep. 144 00:15:17,252.89995918 --> 00:15:21,512.90195918 God grants sleep to those He loves, and He loves you, so in peace you will lie down. 145 00:15:21,832.90195918 --> 00:15:22,822.89595918 You will sleep. 146 00:15:23,912.88795918 --> 00:15:28,122.88795918 And then that anxiety that's keeping you up about your future, don't hang onto that. 147 00:15:28,622.89495918 --> 00:15:33,832.89295918 Cast it onto Him and trust in His perfect, proper timing in your life. 148 00:15:34,712.89095918 --> 00:15:42,402.89295918 And then remember, like Jesus says in Matthew 6, that God knows exactly what you need, so you don't have to worry. 149 00:15:43,472.90095918 --> 00:15:47,902.89795918 Because best of all, He can provide and He will provide. 150 00:15:47,912.88795918 --> 00:16:01,802.89795918 He will meet all your needs according to the riches and glory of Christ Jesus And by the way, it doesn't just have to be finances that we entrust over to God when it comes to worries about our future. 151 00:16:02,442.89795918 --> 00:16:03,832.89795918 It can be just about anything. 152 00:16:03,832.89795918 --> 00:16:06,722.89695918 Maybe it's a big to-do list that's keeping you awake at night. 153 00:16:06,932.89795918 --> 00:16:10,32.89795918 Walk through that same exact process. 154 00:16:10,312.89695918 --> 00:16:12,622.89695918 Maybe it's a situation with a loved one. 155 00:16:12,622.89795918 --> 00:16:15,352.89795918 Walk through that same exact process. 156 00:16:15,652.89795918 --> 00:16:20,692.89795918 Give that loved one over to him and trust in God's perfect and proper timing for them. 157 00:16:21,242.89695918 --> 00:16:39,56.89795918 Remember that God knows exactly what they need too, so that you don't have to worry, and remember that you have a God that can provide, and he promises to provide And one final thought here actually as we get towards the end of this message. 158 00:16:39,56.89795918 --> 00:16:42,376.8979592 I see that a few of you right now are really taking this message to heart. 159 00:16:42,376.8979592 --> 00:16:43,486.8979592 You're practicing it already. 160 00:16:43,486.8979592 --> 00:16:44,156.8979592 That's great. 161 00:16:51,10.8979592 --> 00:16:58,200.8979592 So open those eyes, pay attention here because I think this is really, really practical. 162 00:16:59,310.8979592 --> 00:17:03,740.8979592 It's a way to cast our anxieties onto God when we're struggling to sleep at night. 163 00:17:03,790.8979592 --> 00:17:05,260.8969592 Someone on staff at St. 164 00:17:05,260.8979592 --> 00:17:09,600.8979592 John shared this technique with me this week, and I have used it this very week. 165 00:17:09,600.8979592 --> 00:17:14,10.8989592 I used it last night, and it helped me sleep a little better, I promise you that. 166 00:17:14,870.8969592 --> 00:17:16,570.8979592 It's a visualization technique. 167 00:17:17,540.8969592 --> 00:17:27,990.8979592 If you are struggling to sleep, what I want you to do is close your eyes, take some deep breaths, and then picture yourself crawling up onto your heavenly Father's lap. 168 00:17:28,760.8979592 --> 00:17:32,680.8969592 That loving Father, picture Him wrapping His arms around you. 169 00:17:32,680.8969592 --> 00:17:41,500.8979592 Lean back into Him, and then tell God what you need, and thank Him for all that He has done for you. 170 00:17:42,590.8959592 --> 00:17:53,310.8959592 When you do that, the Bible promises peace, and peace leads to sleep, doesn't it? Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all that He has done for you. 171 00:17:54,200.8969592 --> 00:18:09,310.8949592 Thank Him most of all for the blood of Jesus, right? Because of Jesus, you get an eternal relationship with God that starts now and lasts forever, one that's gonna lead you to experiencing perfect peace and rest one day in all eternity with God in heaven. 172 00:18:10,390.8949592 --> 00:18:14,550.8959592 Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all that He has done for you. 173 00:18:15,570.8959592 --> 00:18:19,730.8949592 And thank Him that because of Jesus, we can take these words to the bank. 174 00:18:19,740.8939592 --> 00:18:22,360.8959592 We can know that God will not let your foot slip. 175 00:18:22,490.8939592 --> 00:18:24,690.8929592 He who watches over you will not slumber. 176 00:18:24,900.8969592 --> 00:18:29,160.8989592 Indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 177 00:18:29,310.8929592 --> 00:18:29,640.8929592 St. 178 00:18:29,640.8949592 --> 00:18:31,450.8999592 John's family, rest easy. 179 00:18:31,830.8979592 --> 00:18:32,870.8989592 God is awake. 180 00:18:33,110.8959592 --> 00:18:37,160.8929592 He is taking care of and has taken care of those things that keep us up at night. 181 00:18:37,370.8989592 --> 00:18:39,240.8929592 May you rest easy because of Jesus. 182 00:18:39,240.8939592 --> 00:18:41,530.8929592 In Jesus' name, Amen. 183 00:18:44,659.2312925 --> 00:18:46,309.2312925 You've been listening to a sermon from St. 184 00:18:46,309.2312925 --> 00:18:48,389.2312925 John's Lutheran Church in Buffalo, Minnesota. 185 00:18:48,709.2312925 --> 00:18:50,509.2312925 If you would like more information about St. 186 00:18:50,509.2312925 --> 00:18:56,169.2312925 John's and any of our ministries to our community and beyond, you can go to our website, www. 187 00:18:56,259.2312925 --> 00:18:56,499.2312925 stjohnsbuffalo. 188 00:18:57,739.2302925 --> 00:18:58,69.2302925 org. 189 00:18:58,449.2302925 --> 00:18:59,739.2312925 Thank you and God bless you.
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