Feb 2, 2026 – Outlook
When our heat comes on during the night, it wakes me up. It’s not just the noise from the HVAC unit that was installed over the bedroom (rather than maybe over the closet or the bathroom or anywhere else that doesn’t matter as much about on and off sound), it’s the blowing noise from the vents. I don’t think it bothers me as much in the warm months because cold air blowing on me allows me to pull up more cozy covers. (It still wakes me up, but it doesn’t annoy me as much.)
It’s when the hot air blows (not even directly on me) that it almost suffocates me and I have to peel off the layers of covers as if I’m having hot flashes. And if I do happen to fall back asleep, while it blows almost endlessly for way too long, I eventually wake up, again, to pull the covers back on because it has finally gotten to the cooler temperature that I like when I’m sleeping. Yes, I’ve turned the thermostat down, more each night. Last night it was at 64 and I was good for a long while until the HVAC announced its intention of starting up with those creaks and knocks it makes like an old man (or me) getting out of bed in the morning.
I had been sleeping mostly through the night for a short season mid fall (when the HVAC wasn’t on) after I started using the CPAP machine for sleep apnea. I had heard what a difference it would make in my life (despite the annoyance of something covering my nose all night long), but I became a true advocate as I realized mid to late afternoons no longer had me aiming for a quick 20 minute nap. Ranger sometimes stands in the doorway of the bedroom and barks to remind me that it’s “time” and then dejectedly finds me wherever I am working on whatever project caught my more alert attention.
I think I recently wrote about heeding the clues our bodies give us, but it’s worth mentioning again – especially with regards to sleep issues because they can affect so much else in our bodies and lives. The biggest one to me (besides dragging during the day) is the strain it puts on the heart from startling awake many times while trying to sleep. We tend to put off addressing annoyances that creep up in our bodies as if they are the new status quo (thinking, usually wrongly, that they are mostly related to aging). My physical therapist told me the other day that, after many years of dealing with a pain somewhere in her body, a woman finally mentioned it to her friend who referred her to PT and now that pain has been addressed and she has her life back. I don’t suppose every pain can be completely erased, but I think it’s worth investigating to obtain some level of relief or at least understanding of the source.
JC – Interestingly, Jesus Calling seems to address this (and, again, I am amazed at how God hears my ponderings and meets me here with helpful thoughts and sometimes with thoughts to distract me from dwelling on something). Young interprets Scripture so that Jesus is speaking directly to us as she writes, “I am renewing your mind. When your thoughts flow freely, they tend to move toward problems…. Your energy is drained from other matters…. Worst of all, you lose sight of Me…. Seek My Face, speak to Me, and I will light up your mind.” To me, this encourages us to not settle for things just because we don’t have the energy (or courage) to seek other potential options. He wants to renew our thinking and our outlook.
Max – Romans 15:2 NLT – “We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord.”
Prevail #33 – In her study today of Deuteronomy 1:39, Larson focuses on not letting fear affect our decisions, specifically as we raise our children, but her encouragement relates to most everything in our lives, including decisions about our health. She seems to point out how we prefer to stay with what some people say is the “devil we know” as she writes, “The Israelites were deeply motivated by fear as well as by their love of comfort and convenience. Can you see how these motivations will sabotage the great things God wants to do in and through us? ….may He restore to you a childlike faith and inspire you to dare to dream again. Delayed obedience is disobedience…. Where He guides, He will provide.”
Utmost – In the first line of today’s devotion, “Beware of stopping your ears to the call of God,” Chambers is of course talking about discipleship, but couldn’t it also speak to us about daily calls as the Holy Spirit tries to direct our paths toward good things and away from bad? Chambers does indeed encourage us to be like Paul and be “separated unto the gospel” but, indeed, we are human and God cares about our human needs especially, I suppose, when they distract us from “proclaiming His Gospel.” Chambers warns, “And beware of competitors when God does grip you.”
Power – 2 Corinthians 5:20 – “So we are Christ’s ambassadors, God making His appeal as it were through us. We [as Christ’s personal representatives] beg you for His sake to lay hold of the divine favor [now offered you] and be reconciled to God.” Joyce seems, to me, to concur with where I’ve wandered in our theme today, “We all need a strong foundation of good, solid doctrine. But along with doctrine, we also need to know how to live our lives. If we are going to represent Jesus properly, we need to walk victoriously.” What I’ve learned so far in my walk, is that this means that God wants to help us with our concerns so that we will be better equipped and focused to help Him with His.
JA – “I AM YOUR EVER-PRESENT HELP. Many people stumble out of bed in the morning and head straight for the coffee pot…. something that will help unscramble their thoughts. I perform a similar function for you…. As you wait in My Presence, I not only unscramble your thoughts, I straighten your path through the day. I am sovereign over every aspect of your life…. Some people assume they don’t have time to begin their day with Me. They don’t realize how much I can facilitate their activities – removing obstacles and giving insights that save time.” See Psalm 46:1, Jeremiah 32:17, and Psalm 33:20.
Streams – Isaiah 49:2 – “In the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in his quiver.” Through the words of F. B. Meyer, Cowman shares, “’In the shadow’ – each of us must go there sometimes…. But fear not! It is the shadow of God’s hand. He is leading you, and there are lessons that can be learned only where He leads.”
