My husband, Joe, is a gifted problem-solver, and he loves a challenge. When we have a problem around our home, he likes to use his ingenuity to fix it. Fortunately, he has learned over the years that if he seeks God’s wisdom for a solution, he not only gets better results, but faster ones. The only real flaw in this process is that Joe is often distracted during the day. “Stillness,” is not his strong suit, and thankfully, the Lord knows this. Because of that, God usually has to speak to Joe during the night, even while he’s sleeping. It’s not unusual for my husband to wake up in the morning and say something like, “God showed me how to fix the washing machine!” Or, “God showed me what to do about our car situation!”

I have to wonder if King David had the same tendencies as my husband, because he wrote, “I will bless the Lord who counsels me; He gives me wisdom in the night and tells me what to do.” (Psalm 16:7 TLB) More than ever before, our days are filled with noise and distractions of all kinds. If we don’t have times of stillness before the Lord, we will have a hard time receiving all of the wisdom, answers, and solutions that He has in store for us.

Scripture says, “For God speaks again and again, though people do not recognize it. He speaks in dreams, in visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on people as they lie in their beds.” (Job 33:14-15 NLT) If we fail to be receptive to the voice of God while we are awake, He will often resort to speaking to us while we are asleep. That’s how much the Lord wants to be heard, mainly for our own good. This passage goes on to say, “He whispers in their ears and terrifies them with warnings. He makes them turn from doing wrong; He keeps them from pride. He protects them from the grave, from crossing over the river of death.” (v. 16-18) When I first met my husband, during one of our very first conversations, he told me that God always gives us warnings before we are about to do something unwise. If we will not heed His warnings while we are awake, He will often try to reach us while we are sleeping. From now on, let’s carve out times of stillness in our schedules each day, and give God plenty of opportunities to guide us and bless us!

Prayer: Lord, I am so grateful that You love me enough to go to great lengths to speak to my heart. Make me receptive and obedient to Your voice in all things, and warn me before I do anything that I will regret. Thank You that as I seek You daily, I will receive all of the divine wisdom, answers, and solutions that You have for me!