“In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” Isaiah 30:15
So this morning, as I was driving back home from dropping the kids off at school I was thinking about what to write today. And I thought about what I wrote yesterday, taking a break. Then it occurred to me that the last time I wrote about taking a break, God was actually talking to me too! Duh…
So this morning I gave myself permission to skip the coffee (I had decaf instead at least) and take a nap. THREE HOURS LATER my husband walked in ready for lunch and I was still in bed!!! When I got up I was so groggy I was actually stumbling around a bit. I slept so hard and had the weirdest dream which included the cast of the Big Bang Theory and flying snakes chasing me while I was flying (never caught me either I was way too fast). Woo! Needless to say I slept REALLY well! And I feel a million times better now too.
In returning to God and rest you shall be saved, in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.
May your strength be renewed like the eagles my friend, you need it too. We all do.
Fun fact about the eagle, did you know that when an eagle is sick or getting older it will go to the top of a very high cliff or mountain and lay itself out in the sun to allow the sun to rejuvenate it? The eagle’s way of renewing its strength is rest. God’s mercies are new morning by morning, after a good night’s sleep I’m sure. It’s incredible the role that sleep plays in our lives. Things really do seem a lot better after a good night’s (or day’s) sleep don’t they? Perhaps it is because in sleep our brain spends the time defragging; or sorting things out into manageable organized groups so that it can process them easier. During sleep your body turns its energy, normally used to keep you upright and moving, toward healing your body. While you sleep, your body is literally mending itself, purging itself from waste products, etc. Sleep is a VERY powerful thing and we take it all too lightly.
Lord, right now I pray for deep restful sleep for anyone and everyone who ever reads this. I pray that they will lie down and sleep in peace because You alone O Lord make us dwell in safety. I pray that during that time of rest they will hide in the shadow of Your wings and find refuge from the fray of their current battle against the Enemy. Father I thank You that You never sleep so that we can, resting assured that You’ve got the night watch. Your word says that “unless the LORD guards a city the watchmen stay awake in vain.” Psalm 127:1 I thank You for Your Word Lord, it is comfort in times of stress and trouble and frustration. Your word gives us busy, crazy, frenzied moms permission to fail, to be frail and weak and imperfect and to rest when we really need it. Thank You for loving us enough to encourage us to take care of ourselves so that we can continue to take excellent care of those placed into our circles of influence. God you are so good to us, help us to be better to ourselves. Help us to better love ourselves so that we can love others fully. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
Tamar Knochel 