Part of my mid-life revision of life is trying to change tiny, but leveraged, habits, which together change a life.
Everyone, from Trollope, to Hemingway, to Bruce Wilkerson testifies to the power of early rising. However, I have the classic depressive personality, waking slowly, and really getting going much later. I am groggy in the mornings, and tired and brain-fogged all day if I get up too early. In the evenings, I am wide-awake and very creative.
So I have been getting to bed earlier in the evenings. Setting the alarm for bedtime, rather than waking.
Of course, I am often wide awake when the alarm shrills at 10.40 p.m., time to get to bed. But I have been going to bed anyway, and praying.
In the watches of the night, I will think of thee.It’s strangely peaceful, actually, going through one’s life in prayer, putting one’s life in the force-field of radiant light and energy which emanates from God. Letting that light shine on areas of weakness and sadness—weight, disappointing writing productivity, weaknesses in relationships. To pray for family. To bathe areas of my life—housekeeping, my garden, future plans, in the light of God in prayer.
Of course, ideally, I would sleep at night, not pray—but I am getting used to this new early bedtime, and am enjoying the extra time opened up to pray through my life, to submit it to God’s radiation.
I am in a strangely happy phase of life now in which I realize all the things I cannot do. I cannot touch spirits with my writing, unless the Spirit touches me. I cannot lose weight unless the Spirit heals me, and strengthens me. I cannot be a loving person unless the Spirit fills me and loves from within me.
So prayer to me is an incredibly powerful thing—seeking power and healing and strength in areas of woundedness, brokenness, low self-confidence, and weakness. And slowly being healed, strengthened and changed!!
Truly, it’s the most powerful thing I can do!!
Read my new memoir: Rosaries, Reading, Secrets: A Catholic Childhood in India (US) or UK.
Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anitamathiaswriter/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anita.mathias/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnitaMathias1
My book of essays: Wandering Between Two Worlds (US) or UK
Thanks, DJV. I am a little envious, both of early risers, and those who can fall asleep easily!! I suppose they go together!!
Wow, love this piece its so inspiring ; I'm an early riser so I often fall asleep easily, often without prayer; great idea to focus heart and spirit at the end of the day, not just prayer request but on reflection of the day and thanks for the walk and the care of my saviour.