When Your Mind Will Not Rest

When your mind will not rest, there is a solution.

The Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah is one of the best-known songs sung by choirs during the Christmas season each year. Many audiences do not know that the words come from the book of Revelation, or that the 260 pages of Messiah were written in only 24 days in 1741.

This beautiful composition is a call to praise the King of Kings and Lord of Lords who reigns forever. In the book of Psalms, the last five chapters are songs of praise called hallelujah Psalms, beginning with Chapter 146. This Psalm, as others do, begins, and ends with three words, “Praise the LORD!” It becomes personal when the Psalmist vows to praise the LORD all the days of his life.

Today if we as believers made the same vow to God, to praise him all the days of our lives, I believe all our days would be different. If we woke in the morning with praise on our lips, it would set the tone for a productive and peaceful day. Our hearts would be light as we get out of bed with renewed strength and purpose.

The Psalmist goes on to warn against trusting in Princes (human wisdom), but to place our hope in God and be blessed. In God we can be confident of His provision, freedom, restoration, and sovereignty. (Verses 5-10).

For weeks, I was having dreams every night that left me exhausted when I woke up in the morning. It seemed like my mind was busy all night and not getting rest. As I read these Psalms, I began to praise God before going to sleep. From the very first night, there were no more dreams, and my mind was at rest as I slept. Since then, my mornings have been energetic and productive.

The children of Israel sang songs of praise as they traveled to their traditional festivals. But we do not need to wait until our traditional Christmas celebration, or when we are on our way to church to sing praises to the LORD. Our songs of praise can occur anytime day or night.

“I will praise the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.” Psalm 146:2 (ESV)