Daily Devotional for October 14, 2019
Only a Dream
Grrrrr! The dark thing chasing Delaney snarled as it lunged at her heels. She ran as fast as she could. She was unable to see what chased her, but it was making all sorts of terrifying noises, and it was getting closer. Suddenly, the road dropped away under her feet, and she felt herself falling…falling…off a high cliff. She screamed as she fell. And then her own scream woke her up. She had been dreaming.
Delaney’s scream also woke her dad. He came into the room and sat on the edge of the bed. “What’s the matter, honey?” he asked. With a shaking voice, Delaney told him about the dreadful creature that had chased her. “It was only a dream,” Dad said. “I’ll stay here until you fall asleep again, okay?” Delaney nodded and snuggled down in her bed. Soon she was fast asleep.
“My dream last night seemed so real,” Delaney said the next morning. “Why do we have bad dreams anyway?”
“That’s hard to say,” Dad said. “Scientists think they sometimes help us process our fears and emotions. But what you think about just before you go to sleep can have an effect on your dreams too. That’s one reason why it’s a good idea to read a good book or some Bible verses before going to bed—perhaps verses about how Jesus loves you and promises to always watch over you.”
“That sounds good,” Delaney said, “but where can I find verses like that?”
“Tell you what,” said Dad. “I’ll make a list of some of those verses, and before you go to sleep tonight, we’ll look them up together.”
“Okay!” said Delaney. “That way I’ll go to sleep with happy thoughts in my head.” She paused. “Does God talk to us through dreams?”
“In Bible times He sometimes did,” said Dad, “but now we have His written Word to direct us.”
Delaney tilted her head and grinned. “Well, once I dreamed I had a pony. Do you think that might come true?”
“Only if you can fit him under your bed!” Dad said, and they both laughed.
“Okay,” said Delaney. “I’ll forget about the pony and just think about Jesus watching over me while I sleep.” Charles VanderMeer
How about you?
Do you sometimes have bad dreams? Make a habit of reading a few verses from the Bible and praying just before going to sleep. The book of Psalms is a great place to start. Putting good thoughts into your head before bedtime can help you rest more peacefully. Remember that Jesus is with you and watches over you, even while you sleep. Sweet dreams!
Thank you for reading this Keys for Kids devotional! Did you enjoy the story? Has Keys for Kids been an encouragement to you and your family? If so, would you please consider supporting Keys For Kids Ministries in our effort to continue to provide these daily devotionals to children around the world?