Sleep: March 5, 2013

TODAY’S WORD FOR TUESDAY MARCH 5, 2013

SLEEP

DEFINITION:

The natural state of bodily rest; to cease to be awake

SCRIPTURE:

It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late; for so He gives to His beloved even in his sleep. Psalm 127:2

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

Sleep is essential for good health. Scientists do not know exactly why we need sleep but they do know what happens when we do not get enough sleep. Lack of sleep puts one at risk of premature aging, weight gain, and diseases ranging from colds, flu to cancer.

When we relax and drift off into our dreamland (sleep) it is amazing what God accomplishes in our bodies. While we do nothing, God replenishes our energy, rebuilds and restores our cells, and reorganizes information in our brain. It is also a time when one will make better decisions after a good sleep.

There are many reasons that one may give as to why they do not get enough sleep. Some are justified but most are not. In the verse above God makes it clear that sleep is a gift from God and we should receive it with gratitude. Solomon tells us in this verse that overwork should not be something that keeps us from sleep. God blesses us, provides for us, protects us and leads us in our sleep when we have put our trust in Him.

If you are not getting enough sleep you need to find out why. Are you stressed out with anxiety and worry? Are you staying up late and rising early to make money for things that you really do not need? Are you involved in ministry efforts that you think no one else is capable of doing? Or are you spending time socializing, going to functions, reading excess books or just working?

Have you ever felt that the work you do when you are awake is more important than the work God does while you sleep? Maybe you just have not thought of it that way. If not you need to think about the gift of sleep that God has for you. Sleep is a gift from God and refusing to sleep in order to work is like telling God that your work is more important than His.

Most of us have never read this verse in Psalms, above, or at least understood what the psalmist is saying. This psalm was written as one of the “pilgrim psalms’ for worshipers to sing as they moved uphill walking up the steps leading to the temple. God is reminding us through the psalmist that He wants us to take time to rest so that He can work through us.

God does not want anyone to be a slave to work to the extent of forgetting or ignoring Him. He wants us to enjoy sleep and rest to calm our hearts and minds so we will be renewed physically, mentally, and spiritually and be ready and able to serve Him. If we do not take the time to come apart from the business of life and rest a while we may just plain come apart.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in II Timothy 3:17.

That the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

PRAYER:

Help me and my family to rest our hearts and minds in the comfort of Your presence. Keep us calm as we sleep so that we will be refreshed by Your presence and Your love and awake each morning refreshed and renewed to serve You.