Faith that is better than Ambien

I just finished reading the twelfth chapter of Acts this morning. Paul, as usual, is teetering on the edge of imminent death, this time at the hands of Herod.

Herod, ever risk-averse, plans an execution the next morning therefore has made sure that Paul doesn't ruin his plans by doing something sneaky like breaking out of prison. He puts many many guards everywhere around Paul. He even shackled each of Paul's arms to guards. Let's face it, this guy was taking no chances.

So, let's make sure we get the picture here. Paul is going to be killed in less than 12 hours. He also has no way of escape because he is in prison with 15 million guards everywhere.

What would you do?

What would I do?

What did Paul do?

He laid down and went to sleep. According to the Scripture, he slept like a baby.  He had deep, peaceful sleep.

Apparently not a care in the world… It was almost as if there was nothing on his mind!

And it wasn't because Paul did not know what was going down… he did.  He was a very learned  man who probably had it all figured out before he was even brought to the prison.

Folks, I don't know about you but I do not have this type of faith.

In the same breath, I must hasten to add that I want this type of faith. 

I need this type of faith. 

Faith like this comes when we experience God ... Not when we read about him ... Not when we hear others speak of how they have experienced God.

All of that is good but it seems to me that you have to be knocked down by a waterfall before you can authoritatively speak of the power of falling water. You have to actually put the fork into the cheesecake then move it to your mouth, chew and swallow before you can truthfully describe the glories of that near-divine dessert.

Override your internal censor and listen for his prompting today ... Turn the tv, twitter, Facebook, email and texting off.

I know, I know ... this is ridiculously radical ... I am asking us to look within ... novel concept ... but I want us to ask God to help us experience him today. Then sit back.

We just might fall asleep.