Did you know the Bible gives us a way to go to sleep?
In this reflection on Psalm 4, John Ortberg explores what sleep can teach us about surrender, control, prayer, and trusting God.
Drawing from Answering God, John points out a fascinating biblical rhythm: evening comes before morning.
Genesis says, “There was evening, and there was morning.”
Sabbath begins at sundown.
Psalm 4 gives us an evening prayer before Psalm 5 gives us a morning prayer.
Why?
Because before we wake up, accomplish anything, solve anything, or even become conscious of the new day, God is already at work.
Every night, sleep asks us to relinquish our grip on our work, our relationships, our problems, our thoughts, and our need for control.
The world keeps turning.
God remains awake.
And we can rest.
In this episode:
- Psalm 4 as an evening prayer
- Why the biblical day begins at night
- Eugene Peterson on evening and morning prayer
- Sleep as an act of surrender
- Why we struggle to relinquish control
- "Search your hearts and be silent"
- Historical "first sleep" and "second sleep"
- Reviewing your day with God
- Gratitude before bed
- Psalm 4:8 and sleeping in peace
- Learning to trust God's providence while we sleep
Scriptures:
Psalm 3:5 • Psalm 4 • Psalm 5 • Genesis 1 • Genesis 2:2–3
#Psalm4 #JohnOrtberg #Sleep #Prayer #Psalms #EugenePeterson #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #TrustGod
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00:00 The Right Way to Go to Sleep
00:34 Psalm 4 & Psalm 5
01:01 I Sleep Because the Lord Sustains Me
01:26 Why Evening Comes Before Morning
01:44 Genesis, Sabbath & God's Rhythm
02:05 Who's Really in Control?
02:27 Eugene Peterson on Evening Prayer
03:05 Sleep Is the Practice of Letting Go
03:37 Why We Don't Want to Surrender Control
04:07 Psalm 4: An Evening Prayer
04:33 What False Gods Did You Chase Today?
05:08 Search Your Heart and Be Silent
05:34 First Sleep & Second Sleep
06:30 What to Do When You Can't Sleep
06:42 Review Your Day With God
07:15 Gratitude Instead of Discontent
07:38 The Right Way to Sleep
08:07 God Is God and I Am Not
08:22 Why "Sleep Like a Baby" Isn't Quite Right
08:54 Sleep Is the Friend of God
09:50 Trusting God Through the Night
10:16 Let God Look After the World
10:51 Sleep, for God's Sake
Become New with John Ortberg 
