When I was very small, my mother taught me these words as a bedtime prayer:

Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep;
If I should die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take.

Pretty heavy words for a preschooler — but this short prayer remains in my memory, so it must have at least taught me that it is important to talk to God regularly.

I still sometimes pray as I'm preparing to sleep, though not with those same words. More often, however, it is my habit to pray as I'm preparing to get up in the morning. I'm sure those aren't always the most coherent prayers, but it is my way of checking in, of re-establishing the connection, of saying "Good morning, Lord!"

Not long ago, I woke up and remembered, "Now I lay me down to sleep." Just for fun, I changed it up a little. Then, I hopped out of bed and wrote it down. I must confess that I like mine better than the original!

Now I stir me up to rise
I pray the Lord will guide my eyes,
My ears, my hands, my thoughts, my talk;
I pray You'll show me where to walk,
And lead me in Your path so true,
And show me what I ought to do.

I pray that as I hear Your voice
I will obey in every choice,
And in Your strength I will hold fast
Until the sun goes down at last;
And when I lay me down to sleep,
I'll trust You, Lord, my soul to keep.

Whatever words you use, it is always a good idea to check in with God at the start of every day. Now, please join me in one more little prayer:

Prayer: Lord God our Father, help us to reaffirm our connection to You this very moment, and to stay close by Your side all day long. You have promised to guide us; remind us to follow. If we seek first Your kingdom, anything else we need You will provide. Amen.

While they provide joy to those of us who hear them, the warblers' songs serve very practical purposes. It is generally the male that sings, and he uses his song to attract a mate and to establish and secure his territory. Throughout the nesting season, the male will spend time every day singing from various perches around the perimeter of his territory, announcing to potential competitors, "This is mine!"

I recently learned that the baby birds begin learning their appropriate song while still in the nest. As their father circulates around his area and sings, defending his territory, the nestlings are listening to his song, which is being imprinted upon them. However, if the father is too far away for long stretches of time, and a male of a different species is singing his own song close by, it is possible that the offspring will learn the wrong song.

Imagine how confusing and difficult it would be for a bird to find a mate and live out its life when it has learned the wrong song!

It reminds me how important it is for us to listen to the right voice. Jesus said:

John 10:27 – My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. (NIV)

John 10:10-11 – The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. (NIV)

Let us keep our ears tuned to the voice of our good shepherd.

Prayer: Our beloved Father in heaven, there are so many competing voices in our world. Help us to hear Yours and Your Son's above all others. Teach us to listen well, and help us to follow Jesus, our good shepherd. Amen.

Every day, I seem to be struggling with something or someone. It may be as trivial as struggling to open a tight jar, or to complete a challenging jigsaw puzzle. Other times, it might be a struggle to get along with a difficult person, or to overcome an injury. And sometimes, I must confess to struggling with God.

I know Christians who seem to be always immovable and unshakeable in their faith, content in every circumstance, praying constantly, and receiving unmistakable answers. Not me. I struggle. I question and search, and question some more.

For those of us who grapple spiritually, we can find some hope in the story of Jacob in Genesis. He made some terrible choices: he tricked his brother and deceived his father in order to secure an inheritance that he wasn't entitled to. Later, he gathered his family and belongings and tried to sneak them all away from his father-in-law. On more than one occasion, he was visited by God and received clear instructions, but he still persisted in making a "Plan B" just in case God's promise wasn't enough. Yet, through it all, God never gave up on Jacob and continued repeating His promise to treat him kindly and multiply his descendants. Jacob kept on trying to get things right, giving God the credit when promises were fulfilled.

At the point of today's passage, Jacob literally struggled with God and refused to let go until God blessed him. That is the first time that God told Jacob his new name, "Israel", which means "he struggles with God". Jacob did struggle, both physically and spiritually — but eventually, he received all that God promised, and then some, being a direct ancestor of Jesus.

God, Who was willing to struggle with Jacob, is able to handle our struggling souls, too. God's promises are stronger than our questions or doubts. It's okay to struggle, as long as we don't let go.

Will you pray with me now?

Prayer: God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, sometimes, we struggle in our faith. We long to remain close to You, but our human nature wrestles with Your Spirit. Lord, forgive us for our doubts. Even more than that, keep struggling with us until we are able to stand strong and solid in You. Thank You for Your grace and patience. Amen.