Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – June 8, 2015
Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” Matthew 8:24-25
Emotional and physical exhaustion may be the result of restless sleep. The storms of life can seduce us into an insecure state of mind. We toss and turn with a tortured soul and a preoccupied brain. Indeed, peaceful sleep can seem illusive for those overwhelmed by the responsibilities of life. Bills, budgets, broken promises, health issues and relational conflicts can disrupt and damage our nighttime bliss.
The results of sleepless nights are insolent: you can’t think straight, your countenance screams fatigue, you are impatient, and your learning retention is impeded. Brain cells fire erratically for lack of sleep, so your moral judgment may lapse and you can become reckless with your choices. Without rest you become emotionally fragile and physically vulnerable to infection, diabetes, heart disease and obesity. A body without rest leads to an unhealthy and unsettling life.
However, peaceful sleep comes to a person with a prayerful persona. Jesus literally slept during a raging storm; it was a testament to His trust in His heavenly Father. This does not mean you walk around in a spiritual trance, but there is a moment-by-moment connection with Christ. You have a plan to pursue prayer without ceasing (I Thessalonians 5:17 KJV). Prayers punctuated by a holy alliance with the Almighty brings victory over the enemy induced insomnia.
A person who sleeps well is void of worry, and able to entirely and constantly cast their cares on Christ (I Peter 5:7 KJV). You learn to leave your worries and longings with the Lord for His supervision and intervention, if necessary. Peaceful sleep pronounces its Savior is in control. Indeed, see sleep as your time with the Lord. It is during your state of unconsciousness that He is able to recalibrate your mind with His. Just as a computer’s defragmenter corrects inefficiencies, He washes out your wrong thinking and replaces it with right reasoning.
“I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me” (Psalm 16:7).
Ask the Lord to leverage your sleep for His purposes, and you will discover a much more productive life around things that really matter. Sleep is your Savior’s way to get your undivided attention. It is a time of rest and a time to reconnect with Christ. Learn how to use sleep to your spiritual advantage. Above all else, you can rest peacefully and securely in the presence and protection of God. Therefore, trust Jesus and take a nap!
“I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety” (Psalm 4:8).
Prayer: What issue is the Lord asking me to rest in and let Him resolve in my peaceful sleep?
Related Readings: Isaiah 54:11; John 11:4; Acts 2:21; 12:6
Post/Tweet this today: Sleep is a time of rest and a time to reconnect with Christ. #peace #wisdomhunters
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