Have you ever composed a letter or email while you were supposed to be sleeping? I go to bed tired and ready to sleep, only to have my eyes pop open and my mind kick into high gear. Forget counting sheep — I try to fix things in my mind as I lie there in the dark.

I often rehearse speeches that I need to give someone, or compose a letter or email that I think needs to be sent to straighten someone out. I can say anything in my mental letter or email. I can tell someone how they hurt me or disappointed me, or how I think that they should handle a situation. I do this a lot when I have talked with someone and thought afterward, Boy, I should have said this or said that. If I could do that again, I would tell them a thing or two.

There are many other times when I know that I should have said something wonderful to someone, or shown my appreciation more, or let them know how much I love them. I write those kinds of letters mentally too, but they usually bring me peace instead of tossing and turning, because my mind is thinking good thoughts.

I know that I should write more actual thank-you notes, not only to those people, but also to the Lord for His patience with me. I love this Bible verse:

Philippians 4:8 – Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things. (NIV)

This reminds me that before I write those mental letters, I must ask God if what I am wanting to tell someone is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy. Is it kind?

Many sleepless nights could be peaceful nights if we filtered our thoughts through this glorious truth.

Prayer; Lord, help us to use Philippians 4:8 as a model for how to think, even in the middle of the night. Amen.