Are We Too Sleepy?
Thursday night, my grandson, sitting beside me at his mama’s birthday celebration, leaned over and said “Nana, I am so sleepy I need a nap even though I took an hour nap today.” My son overheard the exchange and reported that he had read an article that says a shorter night’s sleep is better for you, if you DO get a nap in the day as it gives your mind an opportunity to recharge. I liked that analysis!
Those words made me feel better. I find time to take a nap daily. Most know I’m an early morning riser. My built-in, wake-up clock is set for 4 to 4:30 am. It serves me well as I post my daily blog soon after so that my followers can catch a positive word before their day gets into overdrive. My usual night’s sleep of only about five or six hours just isn’t enough to tide me over for the whole day. It is my normal when my eyelids get very heavy, that I’ll pause to my sweet spot, my recliner, for a rejuvenating nap. I wake up a while later and am alert and ready to go!
Like I get sleepy during the day in the natural, I believe that too many of us are living in a half asleep, groggy mindset. The enemy of our souls has drugged us with complacency. You know, the que sera sera, what-will-be-will-be mindset. We shut off our phones because we don’t want to respond to a call. We are so busy we don’t sense God’s nudge to offer up a prayer for a friend in need. We close our ears and eyes to the pain and suffering around us. We’ve let ourselves go into a slumber by tuning out kindness and consideration for those who can’t sleep.
I sensed today from Heaven Central that I was supposed to sound a “wake-up” call for us. Isaiah 60:1-2 says: “Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you.” How’s that for giving us a “high energy drink” that will arouse us from our slumber? It seems the enemy’s camp is determined to make the darkness darker. That’s why we MUST arise and let our lights shine brighter than ever before.
We read very little about Jesus taking naps. He tried, but there were always those who needed Him. Jesus’ call to follow Him is a summons in this “deep darkness around us” to power-up, wake-up and rise-up to be the His light in this world.
In case you’re sensing that you needed this wake-up call today, please join me in this prayer: “Thank You, Lord, for waking me up. Thank You for the strength and courage to be a light in the darkness – to be a refreshing drink of water to a thirsty soul – to be brothers and sisters to those who need love and kindness. Thank You for teaching us to love like You. May we stand strong and shine brightly against the forces of darkness that are screaming into the ears of our generation. Please give us a holy boldness to shine bright for You! In Jesus’ name. Amen!”