THE MIDNIGHT HOUR

                                At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee
                                because of thy righteous judgments.
                                                    Psalm 119:62


One thing I didn't like about spending the night with Uncle Bob and Aunt Dora on their farm was how early I had to go to bed.  I was used to regular bedtime hours but their bedtime was ridiculous...shortly after dark.  What's more, there was no sleeping in when morning came.  Uncle Bob told me that too many people are "good-'fer-nothin'" because they went to bed too late at night and slept in too long in the morning.  My mother used to tell me that nothing good happens after midnight.  However, in Scripture there are some spiritual exceptions to that rule.

Some things have changed for me through the years.  Career, marriage and three babies changed a lot with regard to my sleep habits.  In the process, I became a night person.  I can't say I have a regular bedtime and maybe that's the problem when I find myself waking up at midnight or into the morning hours.  It's always hard to go back to sleep and if I do, I don't get a good quality of sleep.

I have often felt guilty about waking up during the midnight and early morning hours.  My doctor told me to never just lay in bed wide awake.  He said I should get up, read, drink something warm, pray...anything to settle my system down.  I don't feel guilty though when I do wake up and find someone coming to my mind.  I have learned that at those times, I should pray even though I may not know what is going on in that particular persons life at that moment.

I have to wonder how many people have prayed for me during the midnight hours.   Perhaps they couldn't sleep, I came to mind and they decided to pray.  I realize there are people with genuine sleep problems,  but I wonder if more of us aren't called upon to be prayer warriors during the night when fewer folks are awake or awakened to pray.  How many dear folks in my lifetime have held me up in prayer during the night when I too was perhaps awake with a sick child or when in great turmoil.  I will not know of them until Heaven, but I thank God for them, whoever they are.

God has taught me some tremendous things from Scripture in those midnight hours when I have taken my Bible out into the living room to read and pray.  The Holy Spirit has enlightened my eyes from Scripture during the wee hours of the morning.  Would I have grasped those life changing concepts during the day?  Perhaps I would have, but alone and in the quiet of the house, the Holy Spirit was able to get through to me when there were no distractions.

Paul and Silas had been arrested.  What a shock to other prisoners when at the midnight hour they heard something strange coming from their dungeon area.  Acts 16:25 says:

                      And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang
                      praises unto God:  and the prisoners heard them.

Who can sleep when cast into the inner prison with their feet tight in stocks?  They chose the better way.  They chose to pray and sing praises and the next verse says that an earthquake shook the very foundations of the prison.  When we feel bound by something not of our own choosing, at the midnight hour, do we pray and even sing praises to God?  It would never be time wasted.  Who knows...there might be other "prisoners" who hear and are encouraged.

I am not discouraging a good night's sleep.  I do feel though that there are times when the Holy Sprit has gently awakened me for maybe no apparent reason.  Someone in that moment needs me and I may not know who it is,  but I should pray anyway.

Late one night, I was awakened and went with my Bible in hand to the living room.  It was probably around 11:30 at night.  I went to Psalm 119.  In the fall I had led a ladies home Bible study on the book of Psalms.  Psalms has always been a meaningful book for me, but even moreso now.  Just about at midnight, I came to Psalm 119:62 that you see at the beginning of this article.  Within moments, I took pen and papar and wrote the following words:

                             At midnight I will rise
                                 ...to give thanks to You,
                                 ...for everything You do,
                                 ...for a time of praise
                                 ...for Your being in my days,
                                 ...that I might seek Your face,
                                 ...and the blessings of Your grace
                                                 At midnight I will rise.

                            At midnight I will rise
                                 ...for You to remove my fear
                                 ...knowing You will hear,
                                 ...for others urged to pray,
                                 ...that they will know Your way
                                 ...to clear my crowded view,
                                ...while seeking more of You,
                                               At midnight I will rise.

Dear Father,
Thank you for those times I know you have awakened me during the midnight hours that I might be alert spiritually to the needs of others.  I also thank you for those things You have taught me from Your Word during some of those hours.  I know I am the better for it.  Keep me close to You 24 hours a day.  My days and my nights are yours to use as You see fit.  I love you and thank You for who You are in my life.   Amen