The Daily CHEW™
Chew on God’s Love. Live Transformed. Multiply Hope.
I’ve always joked that I was born part-old soul. Even on our honeymoon, my wife discovered I might actually be a 93-year-old in disguise: out by 8pm, lights out like clockwork. Deep down, there’s a kind of exhaustion that comes from a day lived fully—pouring out for my clients, my kids, salsa-jamming on the drive home, and squeezing the last drop of connection out of every moment with my family, even if it means I’m sound asleep midway through the evening news. For years, I thought “crashing hard” at night was just part of being a driven, ENFJ, purpose-fueled Dominican. But lately, I’ve discovered something better than sheer exhaustion for finding rest: ending my day with an Evening Return CHEW—a rhythm that invites me to bring my gifts, gaps, gratitude, and honest emotions under the covering of God’s deep love.
And what a difference it makes. Instead of worrying about unfinished work or stretching toward tomorrow’s ambitions, I finish each day by returning—not to my performance—but to the Father’s heart. In the quiet before sleep, I bring every conversation, every high and low, every gift I got to use, and every limit I bumped against, anchoring myself in the Reality that I am a dearly loved child of God. No matter when you fall asleep, what “unfinished” thoughts race through your head, or how much energy you have left at the end of the day, this simple return reframes your whole night. You end not as hero or failure, but as His beloved.
A CHEW for Gifts and Gaps—End Your Day Like This
Scripture reminds us:
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning.” (Lamentations 3:22–23)
The Evening Return CHEW isn’t merely about evaluating shortcomings. It’s about letting the Spirit walk you through the day, spotlighting gifts you expressed and areas where you drifted from—rather than lived out of—God’s love. Each night, you can re-anchor your whole self (your strengths, exhaustion, gratitude, and the hidden motivations underneath) in a Gospel truth that will be working in you even as you sleep.
And here’s why it matters. Research has shown that what you attend to before sleep lingers and is “processed” by your brain and heart as you rest. The last thing on your mind isn’t just the last thought—it becomes the theme your unconscious marinate in overnight, letting the Spirit shape your heart in ways that can bring real change by morning (Ritter et al., 2012; Bartolacci et al., 2023).
Evening Return CHEW Process and Single Question
Just take 3–5 minutes before bed—no matter how tired you feel. Here’s the template (copy & paste!):
Evening Return CHEW
- Confess (Return):
“Where today did I live from God’s love, and where did I not?” - Hear (Name a Gospel Attribute):
Recall a characteristic, image, or promise of God’s love that stands out to you:
(Choose one Gospel promise that speaks directly to what you just confessed, or browse these targeted categories to find the biblical truth your heart most needs right now.) - Exchange
CHEW Question:
“If I really believed God’s love for me tonight is [insert attribute/intensity/image], how would that change how I see the gifts I used and the gaps I felt today?” - Pray: Offer up the ways you’ve tried to live out of self (performance, worry, striving), and receive the peace of being His beloved.
- Walk (Gratitude & Next Step):
“Father, thank You for gifts and limits. I return to Your love—hold me as I sleep, and let me wake to new mercies.”
Reflection:
What strikes me most about this rhythm is that it welcomes all of me—my God-given strengths, not just my struggles—home to His love. As you grow in this practice, you’ll notice it roots your identity deeper in the Gospel, shapes your expectations for tomorrow, and lets you sleep in the security of being cherished, not just accomplished.
CHEW On This™
If you really believed God’s love for you tonight is as gentle and fierce as Christ’s own, how would that change what you bring to Him as you prepare for sleep?
Community Invitation
Get The Daily CHEW™
Get God’s love from your head to your heart—subscribe to The Daily CHEW™ and experience real change, peace, and hope every day.
Ready for more?
Learn how to make CHEWing a daily rhythm in CHEW Groups and beyond at https://1stprinciplegroup.com/chew-on-this/
Chew on God’s Love. Live Transformed. Multiply Hope.
—
References:
- Ritter, S. M., et al. (2012). The incubation effect: Hatching a solution? Current Directions in Psychological Science, 21(4), 270–275.
- Bartolacci, H., et al. (2023). The effects of pre-sleep problem exposure on sleep cognition and problem-solving. Journal of Sleep Research, 32(1), e13656.
Was this helpful?
