Have you ever been awaken from a sound sleep in the middle of the night by the Holy Spirit? It happened to me a few nights ago. It wasn’t the first time and, God willing, it won’t be the last. Sometimes it is an instruction for me to pray for someone who needs prayer. I usually know who I’m praying for, but not always why. Sometimes it is a message He wants me to write down and share with an individual or maybe share with everyone through my blog. Although I often hear my name when I wake, His promptings are normally not audible, but a mental process that clearly comes from Him. After all of these years I immediately recognize His promptings and messages. It is not an accident that He communicates at night when there are no distractions; nothing He does is by accident. I have found I do my best work with Him on my blog between ten and midnight. None of this is surprising. Jesus prayed before sunrise in the calm and peace of the night.
Why am I sharing this with you? It is because it is a common occurrence in the life of Christians, not something special for me. Many of my brothers and sisters in Christ have related similar experiences to me. Many of those stories end with a praise report from the person for whom they were instructed to pray, but all of them describe the peace that experience gives them when they obey the Holy Spirit and communicate with Him. It is a peace we should always feel when we worship or pray as well.
One of my favorite Old Testament stories is found in 1 Samuel chapter 3. As a young boy, Samuel had such an experience while asleep in the Tabernacle. He awoke hearing his name and thought it was Eli calling him. He woke the old man to see what he wanted, but was told to go back to sleep. After the third time, Eli realized it was God calling Samuel and he told Samuel how to respond. The next morning he reluctantly shared the message he received with Eli and that began Samuel’s career as a prophet and messenger of God.
Every Christian, not just one with a special calling, is a messenger of God’s love, mercy and grace; God’s good news to a lost world. Never be surprised or alarmed if you are awakened by the still small voice of God inside you with a prayer request or message especially for you to share. It is our duty and privilege as God’s children.