CRANKY OR CHRISTLIKE?

God wants his loved ones to get their proper rest.

Psalm 127:2

Recently, the Lord taught me a valuable lesson about the importance of getting the proper sleep. Myvson had come by for a visit onevevening, and we stayed up until thevwee hours, watching old movies andvchatting. I knew at the time that I was feeling morevexhausted by the minute, but I pushed myself because I wanted to make the most of our visit together.

Needless to say, the next morning I had trouble getting out of bed.Not only that, but throughout that entire day I felt irritable, negative, and extremely depressed.

When I turned to the Lord in prayer and asked Him what was wrong, He dealt with me about my staying up too late the night before. At first, I had a hard time believing that the awful symptoms I was experiencing were caused by a lack of sleep. But after continuing to think and pray about it, I became fully persuaded that this was, indeed, the case.

Several days later, the Lord led me to an article written by a Christian physician who was talking about this very subject. He said that studies show that sleep deprivation can lead to high levels of irritability, stress, and negativity.

He also mentioned that being robbed of sleep can hinder us from displaying the fruit of the spirit.

The day that I was dragging, the last thing I felt like doing was being Christlike. I was cranky and crabby, and I wanted everyone to leave me alone.

The world’s system will try to tell you that you have to work, work, work to succeed and to provide for your loved ones in this life.

But that is not God’s way. Scripture says,

“It is vain for you to rise up early, to take rest late,to eat the bread of [anxious] toil—for he gives [blessings]to his beloved in sleep”

Ps. 127:2 AMP

The foot note on this verse says, “While they sleep he provides for those he loves.” Here is God’s promise to His people to shower them with blessings and provisions even while they slumber.

“God wants his loved ones to get their proper rest”(Ps. 127:2 TLB).This is not only for our own sake, but forHis sake and the sake of others.We will never be able tofulfill the call of God on our lives, or to impact the lives ofothers to our maximum potential, if we are constantlyweary, stressed out, and unfocused.

Prayer

Lord, forgive me for taking my need for the proper rest and sleep so lightly.

Whenever I’m tempted to disobey You in this area, remind me of my responsibility to set a Christlike example at all times and to be prepared to minister to those around meat a moment’s notice.

Thank You that as I obey You in this area,my faith with be firm, my praying will be powerful, and my future will be secure in You!

#men #Bible