Mandatory Sleep

Good morning, friends! I got 8 hours of sleep last night and I feel like I can face the week ahead.

You see, we have sort of developed this habit of having a MANDATORY EARLY BEDTIME at The Cook House. We don't do it every night, but we have typically set aside one night of the week where we get the kids in bed by 8:00 and we follow shortly there after. We don't always do it on Sunday night, but after the success of last night we very well might.

I'll be honest. It is harder now that the time has changed and we have more daylight hours. It's just easier to get up from dinner and head out to play. Then when we get in, we have to rush around to get everything done that needs to be done before bedtime.

Last summer when I went to Deeper Still in Atlanta, the speakers had a Q&A where they answered all manner of questions -- some serious and some silly, some about spiritual truths and some about their beauty secrets! I remember Kay Arthur saying that she absolutely believes that women are sleep-deprived and it is making us a generation of unhealthy (physically, spiritually and mentally) people. She challenged us to start getting at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night. (I believe she says she gets 9 -- that would be too much for me! I would have a headache every day.)

So my question to you is: Are you getting enough sleep? Or are you, like me, staying up way too late watching television, surfing the internet, reading blogs, etc.? Maybe it is worry or anxiety that is keeping you awake. Maybe you have to stay up late because you have simply overscheduled yourself and there aren't enough hours in the day to do what you have set yourself up to do. Do you wake up to face the day more tired than when you went to bed the night before?

Why not ask God to give you more rest? Ask Him to bless you with more sleep -- not too much, but just what you need to be a refreshed, well rested, effective reflection of His love to those around you each day!

I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. (Psalm 4:8)

In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat - for he grants sleep to those he loves. (Psalm 127:2)

When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. (Proverbs 3:24)

Blessings,
Dori

Still

"Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God ; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge." (Psalm 62:5-8)

A friend shared this scripture in Bible study yesterday with tears streaming down her face from the sheer love of this powerful Word and the comfort that it provides. I love that when God speaks, He speaks to the individual and then the Body is strengthened through their sharing.

Perhaps it is II Corinthians 1:3-4 in motion:

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

I know that some of you reading this don't feel very still right now. The winds, waves and high waters of life are overwhelming. I'm praying that you will find rest in God alone. I'm praying that God will give you supernatural wisdom and insight to know how to ride out this storm well and find waters on the other side that are still, cool and refreshing. I'm praying that you will be still and know that He truly is God.

Blessings,
Dori