Sunday, December 21, 2008

Heaven's Gift of Life Giving Sleep

Sleep: What's the big deal? Life and death lie in "sleeping in Heavenly peace." The world famous ancient hymn: Silent Night has a wonderful refrain ..."sleep in heavenly peace." A decade ago I was depressed, overweight, lethargic and falling asleep whenever I sat down for very long. When driving on long trips I could easily get drowsy. One day I fell asleep waiting for a traffic light to turn. An aggravated motorist awakened me with his loud horn blowing. I pulled over and took a nap in my car at a gas station and drove home.

The next day I saw a sleep specialist and in a few days I was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea. I now sleep with a cpap machine forcing air down my throat to keep me from stopping breathing from the tissues blocking my airway as it did previously.

Within a week I felt better than I had felt in decades. My creative juices were flowing again and depression lifted off my spirit and my joy was back.
Sleep is critical to thriving in life. I know this from my untreated sleep apnea to my recovery. When worries want to intrude on my sleep life I diligently pray for help in the Lord or wherever I need to seek wise advise. I cancel whatever I need to in order to free my time to get my 8-9 hours sleep nightly.

When my husband was critically ill in his last month of life I equipped his hospital room guest recliner so well I even slept well between the times he needed me. I never tired from fatigue because of lack of sleep that entire month. He did not do well if I left, so I prayed for God to provide my needed sleep and He did. Rarely did I spend any nights away from him. God is so faithful!!!

This week I will write from a passionate heart on encouraging Christians to value sleep. In America insomnia is killing us. The fact that insomnia is a slow killer does not take away from the fact that it kills. These days before us are critical in the Kingdom of God. As financial pressures hit unbelievers they will finally want to know who Jesus Christ is. We must be in position to witness to them. Thriving in the best health God provides for us is critical in this spiritual war.

So...............this busy week of Christmas finds me focusing on "sleep in heavenly peace."

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I like your solution! Sleep. I can hardly wait to read your coming columns

God's girl said...

Girl that is a good post. Sleep is so important. I am glad you are better.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU!
Much love,
Angela

God's girl said...

Oh and thanks for commenting on my new look. My husband did that. He is so gifted. Did you see the other speaking site he did for me too? If not go to the blog and click on the tab on top that says speaking ministry. I love what he did.

MUch love,
ANgela
BTW-Know I am keeping you lifted in prayer especially this Christmas season.

© 2008 Kay Martin

Thrive In Christ

Who I Am In Christ by Neil Anderson

For several months we will center on this book to pursue Thriving in our Christian journey.

Neil challenges us with: "Do you know who you are in God's eyes? We are no longer products of our past. We are primarily products of Christ's work on the cross. Who we are determines what we do.

You are not who you are in Christ because of the things you have done, you are in Christ because of what He has done. He died and rose again so that you and I could live in the FREEDOM of His love."

That's just the introduction. More to follow.