My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches. Psalm 63:5-6
When a man lies down at night, and his body and mind rest from the labors, trials and challenges of another day, what he thinks about then, surely defines him in some way. Although certainly all of our thoughts and actions do so, yet, during the day our attention is demanded by many things. When all is quiet, we become ourselves in a unique sense. When we are alone and influenced by nothing, distracted by nothing, what are we made of then?
When we are in the worship of God and we have music which is appropriate for such, we sing songs which honor the Lord Jesus Christ and a man preaches His gospel, our thoughts and attention are upon Him, aren't they? Even then, in this most precious time, we shamefully acknowledge this rebuke from our Lord, What, could ye not watch with me one hour (Matt. 26:40)? Our minds trifle with all manner of trivial and even vile wanderings while the Lover of our souls meets with us and speaks.
Much more in this absence of all outward advantages and inducements to meditate upon Him, are we unlikely to do so. When King David lay down his head, surely his mind could have found much more trouble and anxious care to dwell upon than we shall ever find. Even at the end of such a day as He was accustomed to spend, his thoughts were upon Him who had satisfied his soul with marrow and fatness. I say this not to David's praise but to the glory of Him, the thought of whom bids all anxious cares depart.
I, by His grace, also, at times, find it sweet to watch all my troubles and cares melt before the remembrance of His mercy and greatness. I often find it difficult to feel the sweet rest settle over my body without thinking of the far sweeter rest of my soul, the Lord Jesus Christ. In Him my heart finds rest from all of my self-righteous labor and fearful bondage. In Christ I have rest from the fear of the wrath of God which I otherwise richly deserve.
*