Sleep!
It's a basic necessity of life, and more of a necessity than we often realise.
I've been learning some things about sleep recently that have been a challenge to me that I thought I might share more widely....
While Scripture tells us we shouldn't love sleep too much, it also tells us that God "gives His beloved sleep"
I used to wonder at this verse, and puzzle over why, if God says He gives us sleep, that on some occasions I found it hard to sleep?
I have come to realise that more than specific occasions to question God (maybe he wanted me awake to pray??), it is a verse that reminds me that the daily factor of 'sleep' in our lives is, in and of itself a 'gift'. Our bodies can't function without it.
Then recently when our 'prodigal son' confessed faith in Christ, one of the things that he said had changed for him was that he said he was now sleeping, and sleeping peacefully and soundly, like he never had before. I was reminded that 'in Christ', if we are willing, we have the opportunity to trust our Heavenly Father, rest in Him and know His peace in our sleep, at a level that many in this world cannot even begin to enjoy.
In addition to these facts, (as we often seemed to be a broken record to our student sons about the need to sleep and not just be up reading and studying at all hours of the night), I began to learn more about this amazing daily period of shut-eye that is part of every human being's life.
I'll call them my sleep 'half-dozen'!!
I learnt that:
1. God created sleep and created us to need sleep, and a certain amount of sleep - so to try to defy that, is actually defying and dishonouring God's design for us.
2. Essentially God gives a kind of sleep to His beloved children, that one who is unsaved and/or carrying all their burdens of sin on their own shoulders, cannot fully know.
3. God tells us not to love sleep too much - we need to work if we are going to eat (Proverbs 20:13)
4. God also tells us that we have to keep the truth of point '3' in balance, and not become workaholics and deprive ourselves of sleep because we have become obsessive about 'getting money' to 'get more stuff'! (Psalm 127:1,2) It is in this context that God tells us that He gives His beloved sleep. We need to remember that God created sleep and has given it as a gift - a blessing - to our bodies. We should neither abuse or refuse that gift.
5. Rather than be quick to 'blame' God for the times I didn't sleep well, I have discovered that often times, there were basic elements of my life that I needed to change, because they were affecting my ability to sleep. Therefore like any health issue, I should seek out ways to better take care of this 'tent' (body) God has given me for the time He has put me on this earth.
6. Our modern lifestyle has much in it that threatens (and often succeeds) in 'stealing' our sleep. From diet to computers, and stress. The articles (with links below) that I have been reading give examples such as the light of our computer screens will be detrimental to our sleep if we are exposed to it within an hour of bed. I should be considering these factors if I want to honour God and the gift He has given of 'sleep', by taking care of my body as the dwelling place of His Holy Spirit and the vessel of His work/ministry, and making sure I let it get the sleep it needs.
To conclude, I have come to realise that if I am to have my mind fully available to God to use for His purposes, I have to be responsible to keep it in the best working order I am able to. I also have come to realise the significant truth that if I do not give my body sufficient sleep, so that its more difficult for me to engage my mind and have it 'fully available' to the Lord, my lack of bodily discipline is actually quenching the ability of the Holy Spirit to produce His fruit in and through me - such as self-control and loving others. If I am honest with myself...when I am tired its much harder to have self-control, to speak with grace, or to think of the needs of others, because all my 'brain energy' is taken with just keeping myself functioning!
Our modern world, from the electric light to the internet and smart phone, has made life so helpful in so many ways. But you know, I am also quite rebuked, corrected and instructed, as I study sleep in the light of God's word and my calling to walk worthy of the Lord - honouring and glorifying Him. It's hard to say 'no' to people's demands and technology's temptations! Technological 'helps' can be a massive 'hindrance' as well, and if I don't keep them well in their place as 'servants' rather than their tendency to want to 'master' me and 'take over' my life (1 Corinthians 6:12), I will dishonour the Lord instead of bringing glory to Him.
Oh Lord help me to honour You with my sleep!
In my 'research' about sleep I came across various bits of information that I found very helpful...so I thought I should share them with you....
Click here for a link with some interesting information on our need for sleep and what we should and should not do to maximise our sleep.
Click here for interesting results of a sleep study done a couple of years ago by the National Sleep Foundation in the USA and their tips for better sleep
Click here for some latest research about the importance of sleep for the health of our brains - and click here for a video clip about the same research
Click here for some more fascinating information about what happens to your body as you sleep
(*although.... for an interesting aside on this last link - it says under the heading of 'blood' that our heart-rate drops 10-30 beats per minute when we are asleep - with my Dysautonomia/POTS my heart-rate was not going down at all while I was asleep, instead it was going quite high! No wonder, my body and brain were struggling! It was like I was at the gym all day and all night!....I praise the Lord that my 'sleep' heart-rate has been coming down and now after 3.5 years it is at least mostly about equal if not just a little lower than my day-time resting heart rate...and while some of that improvement has come through some medication/supplements, some of it has also come from learning how to better prepare myself for good sleep, rather than hinder good sleep by what I do in the evening hours - in consideration of some of the information in those articles above).
(sleep deprivation poster photo from Kids in Australia )
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