Asleep

Act 12:6  Then the time came for Herod to bring him out for the kill. That 

	night, even though shackled to two soldiers, one on either side, Peter 

	slept like a baby. And there were guards at the door keeping their eyes on 

	the place. Herod was taking no chances! 

Act 12:7  Suddenly there was an angel at his side and light flooding the room. 

	The angel shook Peter and got him up: "Hurry!" The handcuffs fell off his 

	wrists. 

Act 12:8  The angel said, "Get dressed. Put on your shoes." Peter did it. Then, 

	"Grab your coat and let's get out of here." 

Act 12:9  Peter followed him, but didn't believe it was really an angel--he 

	thought he was dreaming. 


	In the care that we find, held in the hand of our God, there is a peace 

that transcends surrounding circumstances and brings deliverance to us way 

beyond our comprehension or awareness. There is a great need to obtain 

understanding and to be filled with knowledge on how to conduct ourselves in any 

situation, but there is a time in which our understanding is totally useless and 

we are taken into a peaceful place where we are almost oblivious to the care 

that is being given us by our Father. In these times, He really doesn't require 

our observation or direction in any of the arrangements for our escape. In fact, 

it's probably better that we get into this neutral mode so that He can 

administer restoration unhindered by our analysis or criticism. 

	It's incredible what physicians can do as they make changes in a human 

body through surgery. A sickness can be removed, an appearance can be altered, 

and something broken can be mended. There are some surgeries that allow the 

patient to remain awake, but most that are of a serious nature provide a 

condition of complete peace in which the doctor can cut and sew as needed 

without reaction or response from the patient. It might actually be possible to 

conduct the surgery with them awake, but the patients' reactions to the 

procedures might prove to be a great hindrance in the progress of the operation. 

With the purpose being a successful surgery, it is best for all involved that 

there be complete oblivion on the part of the one getting the operation. As 

there is peaceful sleep throughout all the details of extreme change in their 

body, all there is for them to do is lie quietly and submit to the unrestricted 

administration of the change. As they later awake it's like it was just a dream. 

	There is a necessary peace for us, even when it might seem that the end is 

coming on the morrow. It's not so much that we try and conjure up this condition 

on our own, but as we submit to the Great Physician, His hand begins to provide 

us with the anesthesia of peace. Allowing His presence to transport us from the 

realm of consciousness to the place where, entertained by dreams of His hand at 

work in our lives, His delivering power is free to work on our part to 

completely remove any hindrance in our path. While we may feel a responsibility 

to know every scripture and pray perfectly, there is a point at which we arrive 

where the operation is actually going to take place, and all we need to do is 

lie back on His operation table and entertain dreams of His glorious 

deliverance. It is way beyond our power to perform the necessary procedures, and 

it is best that He be given free reign to do what only He can do. 

	We may find ourselves in this state where it seems like everything is a 

dream and we're just sleep walking. Due to the serious intensity of our 

situation, we might feel like we should be doing something about our condition, 

that we're being irresponsible in this state. If we have arrived here, though, 

as a result of an awareness of and dependence on the presence of God, there is 

nothing for which concern must overtake us. We are just under the influence of 

the Almighty, and His careful hand is bringing to pass exactly what is needed 

for our freedom. There will be a time when consciousness returns and we can 

return to diligence in performing our necessary tasks, but for any of the 

necessary changes to take place, peace must reign. There will be no doubt that 

this was completely His doing. After all, weren't we fast asleep?


Isa 26:3  Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: 

	because he trusteth in thee. 



5/3/04s