We sleep, but the Holy Spirit and demons do not sleep. So our subconscious mind can also be the battlefield of spirituality.
C.S. Lewis recommended the following steps in prayer before bed. First, ask God to show you what sins you may have committed during the day. Those sins include thoughts, words, and actions. Confess those sins and ask God to forgive you for them, as well as for other sins that may not even occur to you.
Second, turn your worries and anxious thoughts over to God. Let go of the worries that might keep you awake. Commit them to God. As another translation of this psalm says, “You let me lie down in peace, and keep me completely safe.” We can be protected not only from violence or physical disturbance, but also from the attacks of Satan. We are under the care of a loving God not only while we are awake but also while we sleep.
Finally, pray to God to protect you while you sleep and while you are awake. Only God provides us with true rest. Rest is Shalom/Peace. Everything is fine in the shelter of God. Everything is in harmony. This is the peace that Jesus leaves with his disciples, and those who follow Jesus are his disciples. Pray to the Lord for this peace. It is always available, whether you are awake or asleep.
