Understanding Who the Real ‘Bogeyman’ Is - Your Nightly Prayer
Understanding Who the Real ‘Bogeyman’ Is
Your Nightly Prayer for Feb. 11, 2025
by Chris Eyte
TONIGHT'S SCRIPTURE
“After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.” - Matthew 17: 1-2
SOMETHING TO PONDER
My mother tells the story about when she was staying in a friend’s house by herself during her college days. It was late at night, and she was watching television when she heard a commotion outside. Drawing back the curtain, she found a strange man standing in the darkness on the other side of the window. He stared at her. She drew back the curtain quickly and called the police, who found no one when they arrived.
Stories like this can send shivers down the spine. The darkness of night can play to our imaginations and conjure specters. Most of the time, they aren’t real, and events such as those suffered by my mother are very rare indeed. Even so, we can feel a sense of vulnerability when it comes to locking up and settling down to sleep. Perhaps it is because we know that for an average of eight hours, we will be in a state of unconsciousness, relying on locks, doors, and closed windows to keep us safe.
I don’t fear bogeymen, and I will tell you why. Many years ago, I was looking out at the darkness from a window and a thought suddenly occurred to me. The common narrative should be that I fear anything lurking in the shadows. However, what if a bogeyman looking in my direction was, in fact, scared of me? What if I was a bogeyman, so to speak, feared by bogeymen?
I know this sounds like gibberish, total nonsense. But if you are a Christian it means you are empowered to dominate the darkness. You are a son or daughter of the living God. John 1:5 says, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” That means you are under his protection,n and the darkness fears you, as a child of Jesus. You are free to lock up, settle down, and sleep in peace!
YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER
Father God,
Thank you for entering this world as Jesus Christ during the time of the Roman Empire, 2,000 years ago, to die for me. You are resurrected,d and I am secure in you as your child. Darkness has no hold on me because, by your grace, I live in your light and through your light. God is light, and you are my God. I will sleep now in your arms.
Amen.
THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON
1. Is your mind disturbed by ‘bogeymen,’ either real or imagined?
2. Think of Bible verses speaking to you of the graceful power of God living in you
3. Can you declare truths this evening about your identity as a Christian?
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/demaerre
Christopher Eyte lives with his wife Céline and three children in Swansea, Wales, UK. He has worked as a journalist for many years and writes his own blog (hislovefrees.life) encouraging others in their walk with Jesus. He became a Christian in February 2002, after a friend explained God's amazing grace!
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