When I Cannot Sleep--April 13, 2021

 

Gracious God, when my spirit is troubled, 

and I dream dreams, and cannot sleep,

 

remind me that Jesus sends us into a world,

where there is no justice for the oppressed,

where there is no food for hungry children,

and where prisoners have no freedom.

 

Remind me also of commandments

 old and new:

 

to fend for the poor and oppressed,

to care for the hungry and thirsty,

and to set the prisoners free--

and to do it all in love. 

 

Then let me sleep, the better 

to work for these ends

with your Spirit

to guide me.

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 98; 146; 66; 116

Dan. 2:1-16

1 John 2:1-11

John 17:12-19

 

Selected Verses 

Ps. 146:7-8

…who executes justice for the oppressed;
          who gives food to the hungry.

The LORD sets the prisoners free;
          the LORD opens the eyes of the blind.

 

Dan. 2:1

In the second year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed such dreams that his spirit was troubled and his sleep left him.

 

1 John 2:7

Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word that you have heard.

 

John 17:18

“…As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.  …”  [Jesus, praying for the disciples]