These last few months it seems like it’s harder and harder to get a good night’s sleep. I’ve been unemployed since end of December and at my age job hunting has been a huge challenge. The longer I’m unemployed the more I worry that I’ll never get a job. Then the whole Covid thing exploded out of control. With all that all how can anyone sleep!?

It’s not like my day is not busy. I spend a good chunk of the morning job hunting. Then work on setting up an information technology online business. I do dishes, laundry, and cook meals. You’d think I’d still be tired at bedtime. Then I recently saw a meme that stopped me in middle of a Facebook visit … it said: 

Did you ever think the reason you can’t sleep at night is God’s way of wanting to talk to you? It’s the only time you seem to be available for chatting.

Wow. As Shakespeare wrote, ‘hoisted by my own petards’. I started thinking about how much time I give to God. Let’s see…there’s Sunday mornings. Ummm .. then there’s Sunday mornings… ugh. Oh! I do read a daily devotion in email from All God’s Creatures from Guideposts. But even with that I sometimes don’t read it ‘til Noon. So, I have to honestly say I don’t spend much time with God.

How do I fix that? How do I spend time with God? Let’s get back to basics.

First pray. Pray when you first awake. Thank God for a good day He’s going to give you. Ask for any guidance if you know the day will be challenging. Ask Him for healing if you woke up not feeling well. Then pray during the day. Ask Him for restraint for not yelling at traffic and for keeping you safe when that car pulled out in front of you. Then pray before you go to bed. Thank God for a great day. Thank Him for the food you ate that day and the shelter over your head.  Ask Him for forgiveness if you did yell superlatives at that driver that pulled out in front of you. 

Second, up your ante on reading the Bible or a daily devotional. There are many ways to do this. One is just open the book. Pick a chapter and start reading. Don’t worry about what to read, He’ll guide you. Reading Genesis reminds me about His creation of man and the world. If you have a smart phone you can download the Bible app from You Version for free. This app allows you to get daily verse quotes on your phone. Because none of us is ever without their phone, you can read whenever you have a few minutes free. It also offers study plans and devotionals for all levels of users. 

For me, I now pick up my tablet and open a plan to read and converse with God when I find myself staring at the ceiling at night. I’m also learning to Let Go, Let God! One of the hardest things to do.

For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways. And My thoughts than your thoughts.

– Isaiah 55:8-9 (NKJV)

During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.

– Hebrews 5:7