I woke up at 2:30 a.m. the other night.

There were no loud sounds to startle me, no random alarm that went off.

No cold shaft to bother me- the comforter was tucked in place

My eyes adjusted to the dark.

It was quiet. But I was wide awake.

That’s strange, I thought.  Maybe the Holy Spirit wanted to talk to me.

Maybe He woke me up to talk.

So, for an hour, I talked to Him. And He reminded me of His promises.

Oh, I shared everything-  the frustrations from the night before, the weight of raising children, just all the things.

By 3:30 am, I was hungry…but I felt a sudden burden to pray for my daughter.

This was unusual- I don’t typically wake up that early in the morning to pray for my kids.

But in that moment, I felt led to go pray by her bed. I pulled myself out of the warmth of the sheets, walked to her room and  knelt near her bed.

I felt overwhelmed with emotion. I cried and prayed.

My daughter is my treasure. God entrusted me to raise her along with my boys. She is His.

I asked the Holy Spirit to give me wisdom to raise her.

After praying, I nestled back in my bed. A few hours later, I woke up to the sound of a blaring alarm.

I didn’t think much of my conversation with the Holy Spirit until later in the day. My daughter needed me in a way that only a mother could help.

That’s when I realized that God was preparing me for that moment.  He DID wake me up because He needed me to pray for her.

I just love how Jesus wants to have a relationship with me.

Yes, I love my sleep.  I love my naps (ask my kids!)

But, there is just something sweet that happens in the quiet.  In the stillness of the night I just hear His voice clearer..

If the walls in my house could talk, I think they would tell you of the miracles they’ve witnessed in our home, the tears they have seen, and the prayers they have heard.

I want my home to be a house of worship.  Not just my church…but my home.

I want waking up to talk to Jesus to be normal around here.

For me…and my family.

My kids have their own testimonies of hearing from Jesus.

Don’t discount the 2:30 a.m. awakenings.

It may be the Holy Spirit wanting to share something in the stillness.

Do you need a raging sea opened up in front of you?

A second chance?

A prophetic word over you?

I can’t count the ways He has been there for me, and I know He will do the same for you.

Do you have four free minutes?

Once you’ve finished reading this, turn up the volume and get ready to worship to this song.

For what reason?

There’s too many to count.

~Elizabeth/Betsy