SLEEPLESS NIGHTS!

March 2, 2006

Check out the story of a man who claims he has not slept once in 33 years!

THINK ABOUT IT

Vietnam man handles three decades without sleep!

As songbirds awaken the early risers at dawn on the farm, one resident is already up; in fact, he never slept – not once in the past 33 years.

You’d think going without sleep for that long may have its drawbacks, but not for the man in central Quang Nam province who has never been ill after decades of insomnia.

His inability to sleep has not only made him famous, but also represents a “miraculous” phenomenon worthy of scientific study.

Sixty-four-year-old Thai Ngoc, known as Hai Ngoc, said he could not sleep at night after getting a fever in 1973, and has counted infinite numbers of sheep during more than 11,700 consecutive sleepless nights.

“I don’t know whether the insomnia has impacted my health or not. But I’m still healthy and can farm normally like others,” Ngoc said.

Proving his health, the elderly resident of Que Trung commune, Que Son district said he can carry two 50kg bags of fertilizer down 4km of road to return home every day.

His wife said, “My husband used to sleep well, but these days, even liquor cannot put him down.”

She said when Ngoc went to Da Nang for a medical examination, doctors gave him a clean bill of health, except a minor decline in liver function.

“I have tried sleeping pills and Vietnamese traditional medicine but nothing helps, even to sleep for a few minutes,” he said.

photo & story courtesy thanhniennews.com, 02/14/06

TAKE A LOOK

Psalms 3:1-5 - (NLT)

A psalm of David, regarding the time David fled from his son Absalom.
      ¹O LORD, I have so many enemies;

            so many are against me.
      ²So many are saying,

            "God will never rescue him!"
Interlude
      ³But you, O LORD, are a shield around me,

            my glory, and the one who lifts my head high.
      ⁴I cried out to the LORD,

            and he answered me from his holy mountain.
Interlude
      ⁵I lay down and slept.

            I woke up in safety,

            for the LORD was watching over me.

HOW CAN YOU APPLY DAVID'S WRITING ON THE TOPIC OF SLEEPING?

Can you believe the story of the guy in Vietnam who says he hasn't slept in 33 years? I don't know...is this physically possible? Even if it is, how about mentally? I would go insane!

Do you sleep well at night? Maybe you're blessed with the ability to sleep anytime, anywhere, even in class or at work?

I often have trouble sleeping at night. Sometimes it's having coffee too late. Sometimes it's pizza too late. Sometimes it's because I get my best ideas at night! Sometimes it's because even though I know that God is in control, I think He needs my help worrying about life. So, today's Devo may help me more than anyone, but just in case you are like me once in awhile, read these study notes from Tyndale's LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE:

3:5 Sleep does not come easily during a crisis. David could have had sleepless nights when his son Absalom rebelled and gathered an army to kill him. But he slept peacefully, even during the rebellion. What made the difference? David cried out to the Lord, and the Lord heard him. The assurance of answered prayer brings peace. It is easier to sleep well when we have full assurance that God is in control of circumstances. If you are lying awake at night worrying about what you can't change, pour out your heart to God, and thank him that he is in control Then sleep will come.

Sweet dreams...

TALK ABOUT IT

Read aloud from Psalm 121. Let it be a prayer of praise to God and a prayer of trust in your Heavenly Father:

I look up to the mountains - does my help come from there?

My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth!

He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber.

Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps.

The LORD himself watches over you!

...The LORD keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.

Amen.

TRY IT

Save the Psalm 121 prayer above as God's truth and promise to you on those nights when you have trouble sleeping.
Write down a list of what seems to keep you awake at night. Change what you can control (caffine, exercise, eating right, etc.). Whatever you can't control and seems to worry you, write it on a list and place it under your pillow or on your night stand. In prayer, thank God that he will take your list (because he never sleeps) and let you get the sleep you need.
Share your worries and sleep struggles with a friend and ask him or her to hold you accountable, encourage you and pray for you.
If you never have trouble sleeping, thank God. Also, could you leave some lights on for those of us who can't sleep. Since we're up, we may as well get some work done! We'll try to be quiet.

ABOUT IT

DAILY DEVOS is brought to you by Youth for Christ. Youth for Christ works with young people on campus and in the community in over one hundred countries around the world so that they might have an opportunity to become a follower of Christ and be a part of a local church.

Byron Emmert Daily Devos is published Monday through Friday. Archives can be found at YFC.ORG. Its purpose is to help you apply truths from God's Word every day.

Our writer, Byron Emmert, has been involved with Youth For Christ for 30 years. He's served as Campus Life Staff, as a writer, and in leadership for the DCLA Conferences. Byron is married to Linda and their family includes two married sons and daughters-in-law, and a daughter in college. He loves sports, deep dish pizza, and spending time with his family.