No Fear
And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. Acts 12:6
For years, I have struggled with sleeping soundly. When it comes time to go to bed each night, I often have difficulty going to sleep. Part of the reason, I believe is because I spent many years working the overnight shift and my system has never really gotten back on track with sleeping through the night. One of the other reasons is because I have a hard time shutting down when it is time to go to bed. Many times when I lay down, I find that my thoughts are still going a million miles an hour. Often time after an hour or so of tossing and turning, I will begin to repeat scripture in my thoughts or thank God for the rest and sleep that He gives those whom He loves (See Psalms 127:2). That usually works, but if I wake up in the middle of the night, it often starts all over again.
This is not God’s plan. He designed me to unplug and rest through the nighttime. He created my body to sleep peacefully in the dark and I know that it is His will and plan for that to happen. So why do I wrestle with it even still today?
In Today’s reading, the apostle Peter is about to be executed. It seems like if anyone had a excuse for not being able to sleep, it would be Peter on that night. Yet, the passage says that even though Peter was chained up between two soldiers and locked in a prison with guards at all the doors, he was able to sleep without any fear or concern. He was not trying to figure out a plan to escape or be released. He was not scheming how to bargain his way out of the predicament. He had perfect peace at that time because he set his mind on the One he knew was in control of the situation and had the power to rescue him. Peter was not up all night worrying about what was going to happen the next morning. He rested and trusted that God would bring him out or that he would be with his Father in heaven the next day. Either way, he was not afraid.
What a great example this is for me and all of us who sometime feel stress about the coming events of life. It comforts me to know that whatever I am up against, I do not have to worry or fear about the outcome. I can rest assured that when I commit all things to my Father, He will see me through to victory and if for some reason things do not go as planned, I know my Father is working all these things together for good. I keep my mind stayed on Him and have perfect peace. I will leave you with this final thought that the apostle Paul wrote to the church in Corinth: For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. – 2 Corinthians 4:17-18
Today I want to encourage you to trust your Father in heaven. Commit every thought and concern to Him and believe that He will carry you through every care and worry. There are so many promises He has given in His word that you can remind yourself about when you are afraid. Make yourself a list from His word and when you find yourself in doubt and unbelief, read over and meditate on the promises He has given you. Then believe those promises above every other idea that comes to mind and never wrestle with getting a good night sleep again.
Today’s Scripture Reading: Acts 12:6-19
6 And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison.
7 Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands.
8 Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.”
9 So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.
10 When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.
11 And when Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.”
12 So, when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying.
13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a girl named Rhoda came to answer.
14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, because of her gladness she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate.
15 But they said to her, “You are beside yourself!” Yet she kept insisting that it was so. So they said, “It is his angel.”
16 Now Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished.
17 But motioning to them with his hand to keep silent, he declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Go, tell these things to James and to the brethren.” And he departed and went to another place.
18 Then, as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers about what had become of Peter.
19 But when Herod had searched for him and not found him, he examined the guards and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there.
The Daily Dose 