The question was about using an audio Bible reading to help fall asleep… and maybe to also have it playing during sleep.
On the plus side, why not have Bible reading playing in the background to help fall asleep… just as you might have music (classical, Christian, or ’60s rock!), nature noises, or something? Loved ones have read assorted material, including the Bible, to seriously ill people to help them fall asleep. Hearing the Lord’s Word is always a good thing.
But as with so many ideas out there, the problem is when the consumer drifts into trying to contrive some sort of experience. In the case of listening to the Bible, are we looking for a magical absorption, a subliminal message? Some of the marketing for this idea seems to be playing to that.
- One product brand is even called SOAKStream. That word soaking is all over the place as relates to spiritual experience. Refer back to my post “Go Soaking? Just Joking.”
- The ad for the above product mentions that these are “anointed” Scriptures. A separate ad elaborated: “most peaceful and anointed Bible verses.” Did the producer “anoint” these verses to be more powerful than the Lord himself already made them? (That word anointed is a red flag as well. It’s commonly mentioned with objects sold/promoted by phony evangelists—as if the object has been infused somehow by an individual with special powers.)
- Another SOAKStream option says to “expect miracles” and that “God’s peace and presence is right there in the room with you.” (Not sure what to say about the producer’s near-guarantee of miracles. And… uh, isn’t God with us whether or not a recording is playing?)
- Some of the marketing refers to the chosen Bible verses as “healing Scriptures.”
- A different product says, “Play this as you sleep for faith and strength in Jesus.” Not sure if it means the audio helps you fall sleep or whether you’re infused with faith/strength during sleep. But the writeup mentions mindfulness meditation; and if it means the real thing (that is, the Buddhist/Hindu practice), I question the spiritual soundness of these producers.
Refer back to this post on “Visio Divina.” One of the promoters of that practice said we’re using “our vision and an image instead of scripture to listen to God.” Instead of. So I fear that we’re wanting to “absorb” the Lord without actually paying attention to his Word. Reminds me of something I saw in 2023: a tiny chip with the entire New Testament, which you wear as a necklace (a “tanaor”). Nothing wrong, per se. But the marketing I saw said this is made in the Holy Land, that it should be a comfort that the Lord is always with you. Can’t help wondering if wearers lean into considering it a kind of talisman.
So I can picture people chatting together about spiritual technologies, believing the sales pitches. And upon trying some of these ideas, declaring, “I’m sure I felt some kind of energy” or “I felt closer to God” or “An angel came … or something! I KNOW I had some kind of encounter!” And the more you hear people say things like that, the more you want to try it to have a similar experience and/or not feel spiritually inferior.
One user testimony of an audio Bible during sleep said, “Even sleeping, my spirit hears and I wake and feel I’ve been with the Lord in a special way.” To which I might ask a series of questions: “So if you had a letter from your grandma and, instead of reading it, played that while you were asleep, what would happen? Would you feel as if you’d been with her? Would your ‘spirit’ have heard and grasped her words? Why don’t you do that all the time—to be closer to your family?” My sense is that, sadly, such questions would force the admission that when the Bible is the thing being used, it’s doing something more on the magical side, something that a human letter couldn’t. Is there a Scripture to validate such an idea?
And I confess that my suspicious side wonders whether we’re partly looking for a lazy way to get a dose of God. Can’t be bothered to actually read and study the Word.
Lynn, you always hit the nail on the head so well. I appreciate your thoroughness, even with brief articles. You pack a lot in without a lot of filler fluff. 👍 Thank you.
Thank You Lynn. Always feast for thought.
Bob Sims
Another Perspective for respectful consideration: Sleep and renewing your mind
“I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me…” – Psalm 3:5 KJV
God invites us to enter His rest. He makes His beloved lie down in peace and gives sustaining sleep.
But night is not just for sleep. God also commands us to meditate at night on His Word in our hearts upon our own beds.
Years ago, a hoary headed salty saint advised adopting the practice of playing an audible version of Scripture in our children’s rooms 24/7. The purpose was to hear His voice and enjoy continuous contact with the living and active Word. So, for the first 12 years of their lives, an incessant KJV loop was their constant companion.
They rarely had trouble dozing off and their slumber was sweet. They fell asleep wooed by the Word of the Lord. They woke up hearing the Spirit’s still small voice. They napped to Messiah’s monologue. The Savior’s soliloquy accompanied their play.
They learned the metanarrative of God’s story just by listening. Their best friends became biblical characters. Their minds were exposed to honorable, right, pure, lovely, excellent and praiseworthy things that were of good repute. They had opportunity to store up the treasure of truth in their hearts.
I reasoned that what was good for the goslings had to be good for the gander and the goose too. It was. Although it took a short while to get used to, it quickly became an indispensable habit.
During seasons when I made my bed swim and dissolve with tears, the Holy Spirit used Scripture literally in my ear to renew and set my mind on things above. He has pressed me to rise at midnight and give thanks or sing hymns. He has prepared me to order my prayer in the morning and watch for Him to work. In short, faith has come by hearing the Word of Christ.
The harvest from those 6.3+ million minutes of seeds planted in my now adult children’s hearts is still TBD, but I know of the bountiful blessed return in my own life. Growth in grace. Increase in faith. Joy in the Lord. Rest. Peace. Sleep.
Now grizzled myself, I offer the idea for your consideration. Try it for 45 nights during. It may transform you too.
Bless God, Jane E.
Bless you for your respect for Scripture! Please know that I’m all about reading/hearing/obeying the Scripture. The warning is about the misuse of Scripture to contrive something while we aren’t even listening. (Click thru to the links within the post to see similar.) Here’s just one other post that emphasizes a wow view of Scripture: https://www.lynnlusbypratt.com/2024/08/01/a-month-o-psalmdays/ . It happens that my 50+ years of researching the occult has also equipped me to recognize occult practice—and how easily it can get mingled in with God’s truth. (Remember, ancient Israel made that mistake over and over in spite of clear teaching against such!) For example, some books in the Christian bookstore encourage “meditation” in the Buddhist way (without clearly explaining). But Buddhist “meditation” isn’t the same thing at all as what the Bible means. This post may help clarify that: https://www.lynnlusbypratt.com/2024/05/02/hindus-invented-meditation/ . And some of my posts under the TAG “occult” might be helpful. It’s increasingly important to double-check whether the latest trends match Scripture’s teaching. Thank you!
Over 30 years ago when my children (6 of them) moved from our room to their own room at age 2 we played the Bible for them as they went to sleep. We continued this practice until they were out of high school. There was nothing mysterious or mystical about it. I just thought that falling asleep listening to God’s Word was a good practice. The last thing they heard before drifting off to sleep was the Word of God. I don’t know how many times they listened to the Bible read to them in its entirety, but it was a lot. Did they always actually hear every word? Of course not. But they did hear His Word and they have thanked me for that. I’ll never be sorry we did that.
Thank you! Yes, you’re speaking of actual listening (“they heard”). Good! (Also see my reply to the above comment.)
There are times during the night when I wake and my soul is troubled. Listening to the audio Bible will help my thought pattern and get me back to sleep.