[picapp align=”center” wrap=”false” link=”term=sleepy&iid=269463″ src=”0266/a734c4b3-325f-451f-95c9-9af47d64d711.jpg?adImageId=11309591&imageId=269463″ width=”380″ height=”253″ /]I woke up in the middle of the night last Thursday morning.  It was an odd experience.  Most times I awake because I am worried about something, or forgot something, or solving some present problem, or I am ill.  I don’t sleep many hours and, to be honest, I despise being interrupted by anything less than a life threatening emergency or a family member in need.

This time was different.  I awoke to thoughts of thanksgiving.  Item after item scrolled through my brain.  Each thought served as testimony to God’s thoughtfulness, his provision, his miraculous power; the completeness of his authority.  Without reservation I offered up thanks again and again.  Many minutes passed and when the lengthy list was complete, I rolled over and went back to sleep.

I think myself a grateful person.  Sometimes, however, my gratitude remains hidden in my heart and is not properly vocalized.  Although it is now several days past, I am still wondering over the experience.  What was God doing?  Had I forgot to tell him “thank you” for making sure a long overdue rebate came at just the right time to fill a gap in my finances? Did I neglect to give praise for the encouragements to stand firm in the midst of the battle? Have I become so enmeshed in my own efforts that I have neglected to be faithfully aware of the Sovereignty that places my feet on firm ground?

I honestly don’t know why this singular experience happened.  The only thing I can say with surety is that it was not a fabrication of my own doing.  I am not that righteous of a man.  I suppose I am just overwhelmed by grace.

It is vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep. (Psalm 127.2, ESV)