Sleep.
Rest.
It’s interesting how important it is to a good defence. As I’m currently in a state of extreme sleepiness I better understand how sleep deprevation can be used as torture.
Don’t worry: I’m no where near torture status.
But it’s interesting, n'est pas?
In Psalm 4:8 David says "In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety.“ Later in Psalm 23 he says, "He leads me by still waters...”
Beautiful.
There’s so many great things about God: kindness, faithfulness, justice, everlasting love, and as I’ve come to discover, His gentle ways of preparing me for battle.
Have you ever noticed how much more difficult it is to make wise decisions when you’re tired or exhausted?
No?
Just me, I guess.
When I’m tired it’s harder for me to keep my ever-wandering mind from going down “rabbit trails” or spinning off to things that don’t need to be entertained.
For example, before I got in the shower today I got a text from a friend. A very simple, clear, no hidden meanings text. I know all those things are true. But while shampooing I couldn’t stop my mind from trying to find the hidden meaning and subtext of that simple message…oddly enough about a nap.
I had to audibly tell myself to stop it.
And that’s just something simple.
Now take one of the lies floating around in my mind and it can be really dangerous territory.
Exhaustion, or weariness, is a passive weapon of the enemy.
I'm convinced.
A tired warrior is a weak warrior.
I believe David was very strategic about the order of his words in Psalm 23. Notice how he first mentions lying by green pastures and still waters before walking through the darkest valley and evil.
He knew.
David understood the importance of being rested.
We should emphasise more about why rest is important for us, beyond being still with God (which itself is an amazing reason). Rest is a defence mechanism God knows we’ll most likely ignore or try to “push through” when it can really serve us well.
Hello. Hence the Sabbath.
"The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath." Mark 2:27
So friends, as you go throughout this week and schedule meetings, coffee dates, workouts, etc, don't forget to block out time for rest. you need it. your friends need you to have it. and as far as the Bible is concerned, it's not up for discussion.
Shalom.
