How do you handle adversity? What are you thinking when the sun goes down on those cold, windy nights, when you’re trying to get to sleep, and the wind keeps swirling and howling through your bedroom windows?
Sleep Soundly When the Wind Blows
Years ago a farmer owned land along the Atlantic seacoast. He constantly advertised for hired hands. Most people were reluctant to work on farms along the Atlantic. They dreaded the awful storms that raged across the Atlantic, wreaking havoc on the buildings and crops. As the farmer interviewed applicants for the job, he received a steady stream of refusals. Finally, a short, thin man, well past middle age, approached the farmer. “Are you a good farm hand?” the farmer asked him. “Well, I can sleep when the wind blows,” answered the little man. Although puzzled by this answer, the farmer, desperate for help, hired him. The little man worked well around the farm, busy from dawn to dusk, and the farmer felt satisfied with the man’s work. Then one night the wind howled loudly in from offshore. Jumping out of bed, the farmer grabbed a lantern and rushed next door to the hired hand’s sleeping quarters. He shook the little man and yelled, “Get up! A storm is coming! Tie things down before they blow away!” The little man rolled over in bed and said firmly, “No sir. I told you, I can sleep when the wind blows.” Enraged by the response, the farmer was tempted to fire him on the spot. Instead, he hurried outside to prepare for the storm. To his amazement, he discovered that all of the haystacks had been covered with tarpaulins. The cows were in the barn, the chickens were in the coops, and the doors were barred. The shutters were tightly secured. Everything was tied down. Nothing could blow away. The farmer then understood what his hired hand meant, so he returned to his bed to also sleep while the wind blew. Can you sleep when the wind blows? When you’re prepared, spiritually, mentally, and physically, you have nothing to fear.
A Cat goes to Heaven
A cat dies and goes to Heaven. God meets him at the gate and says, ‘you have been a good cat all of these years. Anything you desire is yours, all you have to do is ask.’ The cat says, ‘Well, I lived all my life with a poor family on a farm and had to sleep on hardwood floors.’ God says, ‘Say no more.’ And instantly, a fluffy pillow appears. A few days later, 6 mice are killed in a tragic accident and they go to Heaven. God meets them at the gate with the same offer that He made the cat. The mice said, ‘All our lives we’ve had to run. Cats, dogs and even women with brooms have chased us. If we could only have a pair of roller skates, we wouldn’t have to run anymore.’ God says, ‘Say no more.’ And instantly, each mouse is fitted with a beautiful pair of tiny roller skates. About a week later, God decides to check and see how the cat is doing. The cat is sound asleep on his new pillow. God gently wakes him and asks, ‘How are you doing? Are you happy here?’ The cat yawns and stretches and says, ‘Oh, I’ve never been happier in my life. And those Meals on Wheels you’ve been sending over are the best!
Prayer to let go of the past
Lord Jesus I pray that You would enable me to forget the things which are past and help me to press forward, knowing that my hope and my future is in You. Help me not to dwell on past hurts and painful memories and enable me to forget what is behind and to walk forward into each new day, holding Your hand. Lord I release all of the painful memories I have to You and pray that You would help me to renew my mind day by day and to focus my thoughts on the Lord Jesus Christ. Help me also to forgive all those that have caused me pain so that by Your grace You would help me to fill my heart with new and joyful thoughts. Lord I believe that You came to heal the broken-hearted and set the captives free. Wash away all these hurtful memories that are causing me so much heartache I pray – and replace them with the joy of my salvation, which I have received in Christ Jesus my Saviour – for which I offer You thanks and praise. Lord may the words of my mouth and all the thoughts in my mind be filtered through You – and may I build up new memories that are sweetened by the beauty of Your Person, in Jesus name I pray, Amen.