LIGHT FOR A HEALTHY LIFE (6)

“When you lie down, you will not be afraid, when you lie down, your SLEEP will be SWEET” – Proverbs 3:24

Added to Nutrition, Rest and Exercises, SWEET, SOUND SLEEP is a key product of LIGHT for a HEALTHY LIFE: “When you lie down, you will not be afraid; Yes, you will lie down and your SLEEP will be SWEET” (Pro.3:24). Sweet Sleep is God’s precious gift and part of the reward of giving Wisdom and Discretion primacy in our lives: “It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; for so HE GIVES His beloved SLEEP” (Psa.127:2). God can bless with sweet sleep or remove it at will! He took King Ahasuerus’ sleep away until he called for the book of records to honour Mordecai (Est.6: 1-3). Darius lost his sleep while Daniel was in the lion’s den (Dan.6:18-19).

Sleep is good, but skewed comprehension of scriptures can make one feel guilty about enjoying sound sleep. There is timing to sleep. Time to watch, pray, or meditate in God’s Word is not time to sleep: “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation” (Lk.22:46). Peter and company were “heavy with sleep” and almost missed the Transfiguration Glory (Lk.9:28-32). Romans 13:11b says “now it is high time to awake out of sleep.” 1 Thessalonians 5:6 warns: “Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.” These scriptures do not negate the need for physical sleep, but caution against spiritual slumber (Rom.13:12-13). Also, divine passion can drive one to deliberately deny oneself of sleep for a season, and for God’s Glory (Psa.132:4).

We need balanced insight into Sleep. There are wrong and right kinds. Samson’s immoral sleep on Delilah’s laps cost him the anointing (Jud.16:19-20). Scriptures warn against careless sleep: “How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest; so shall your poverty come like a prowler, and your need like an armed man” (Pro.6:9-11; 24:33-34). Sleep is good and legitimate, but we must engage in it wisely and not “love” it: “Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread” (Pro.20:13). The sluggard’s sleep brings poverty and hunger (Pro.19:15).

God neither sleeps nor slumbers (Psa.121:4). He gives His beloved sweet sleep. According to Medical Science, sound sleep is vastly beneficial to health. It keeps the heart healthy; reduces stress, inflammation, and risk of depression; improves memory, alertness, concentration, and productivity; and helps the body repair itself. Lack of sleep and acute inability to sleep – insomnia – are often due to anxiety, worry or an unsettled mind. Every diligent person is entitled to sweet sleep after labour: “The SLEEP of a laboring man is SWEET, whether he eats little or much; but the abundance of the rich will not permit him to sleep” (Ecc.5:12).