SWEET DREAMS
By Robert J. Morgan

We've been working with a high school student named Eric whose newfound Christianity is...well under construction. The other day, for example, he told me of sharing Christ to friends at school."How did it go?" I asked."Not so well," replied Eric. "When my friend didn't listen to me, we got into an argument, and I slapped him across the face.""Eric," I moaned, "We've got to work on your witnessing techniques."We've have also had to work on his dreams.

Shortly after his conversion, Eric complained of vivid, recurring nightmares. "I'm clinging to a cliff," he told us, "about to drop. A friend is gripping me by the arm, and I'm screaming for her to pull me up. But a dark figure whispers in her ear. She lets go of me, and I plunge into the chasm and wake up in terror."

"When I finally go back to sleep, I dream I'm in a boat. Another friend smiles at me, but then pushes me into the water. When I scream for help, she runs over me with the boat. I start sinking, going down and down and down until I descend into a ring of fire. Then a black figure approaches me, saying, ' This is where you belong and this is where you will stay.' Fire explodes all around me, and I wake up drenched in sweat.""How can I get rid of these dreams?" Eric asked.We offered a simple suggestion: "Try memorizing Psalm 4:9 [I lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me feel safe and secure], and fall sleep quoting it.

Ask the Lord to use it to drive away the nightmares."Eric took our advice. He memorized the verse before bedtime one evening, and now he falls asleep meditating on it.It has proved effective."I have never had the nightmares since," said Eric, grinning. "I lie down now, and I sleep in peace because the Lord alone makes me dwell in safety."