“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)

I am not normally aware of dreaming. The other night I woke up just before midnight from a nightmare. It was one of those dreams that seemed so real, and upon waking I was genuinely frightened. My heart was pounding, I was sweating, and I was terrified.

Upon waking fully, I made a choice not to give in to the fear, but instead to have faith in our Sovereign Lord, and depend on Him. I started reciting a few verses of Psalm 23 from memory. I pulled out my NIV Study Bible and started reading the psalm. I picked up my phone and went to Bible Gateway and found the KJV and read it over and over again. I prayed the psalm to God.

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.”

Psalm 23 4I repeated v4 over and over again: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.” I believe I was given a gift in the middle of the night to internalize the trust in God I had written about the day before. To seek Him – to have faith bigger than fear. And to be able to thank Him for His provision. And thanks to God, I was able to fall back asleep (and rest well) KNOWING in Him I have found peace.