Have you ever watched a puppy get comfortable? To us it may look pretty comical, but for the puppy it is a very important ritual that is an intricate part of settling down for a good sleep. All that pawing at a blanket, rug or pillows tells her little puppy brain to relax and remove all the stress of the day.

We would do well to follow Sheba’s example. Yes, a good mattress is important, but how we prepare for sleep is more valuable than the latest mattress fad.

Most of us give little thought to preparing for sleep beyond brushing our teeth and putting on our jammies. We take all the stress and worries and lists right down into the pillow with us. How much better it would be to spend time listening to uplifting music with a cup of hot tea (decaf of course) and reading a Psalm or two.

Instead of watching 3-4 hours of television in the evening, we can read a good book or write what God has done for us that day in a journal. We can write down our ‘to do’ list for the next day so that these tasks don’t plague us while we sleep.

 And most importantly, we can and must take all our cares and needs and praise before our Lord and lay them at His feet for the night! He is The Conqueror and will handle them all just fine while we sleep.

 When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

Proverbs 3:24 (NASB)