Rest is a very important part of a healthy life. It is during a full and natural sleep that your body does a great deal of the work that needs to be done to maintain your life. As a Christian, I believe that good sleep begins with good sleep habits (okay, you WILL meet people who can fall asleep anywhere, any time, but you know that the usual situation is that many of us have occasional difficulty sleeping or we find it difficult to sleep when our regular pre-sleep habits are disrupted or we are away from our familiar sleep environment). You know, too, that God made us as beings who sleep when it is dark outside and work/play when it is light out. When we corrupt that particular innate set-up with graveyard shifts, partying until all hours, cramming for exams, watching TV, playing on Facebook, sleeping during the sunlight hours, eating too much too late at night, eating heavy, greasy foods, not drinking enough water, taking drugs (pharmaceutical, tobacco, alcohol, and the usual ones that come to mind) and all the multiplicity of other ways that we turn the God-given system on its head, is it any wonder that we don't sleep well?
The really wonderful news is that once we conscientiously make Jesus the Master of our lives and ask for forgiveness of our sins, we have the opportunity to experience a peacefulness that transcends all human understanding (
Philippines 4:7). This blessed peacefulness will grow in our lives as we mature as Christians, delighting in an ongoing relationship with Jesus and recognizing the "fruits of the Spirit" (
peace being one of them) that signify our following-- and growing up in-- Jesus Christ. If you are interested in having more of these Spiritual Fruits in your life, you might be interested in joining in on an online Bible study -- here are a few excellent ones that I know about:
And, finally, here are the Bible verses that will help you to sleep in peace (I also suggest you
read, if possible, the chapter-- or more-- around the particular verse so that you have other important understandings of what God wants for you.
Write or print these verses out and keep next to your bedside (or give to a friend or your child, etc.)
Set aside time each day to spend with Jesus-- write it into your daytimer, if necessary-- it's an appointment with a Friend that you will not want to miss!
Choose a particular room-- or even a chair-- that is set aside for your time of worship. Sitting in this room (or chair, etc.) will help you to focus on the purpose of your being there-- to talk to Jesus, and to listen to what He has to say to you! Here, then, are the scriptural references to sleep to help you attain that:
May you sleep well with the blessings of Jesus Christ!
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