A day of rest

How many of you are working non-stop? When I say work, I’m talking far beyond the 9-5 job. I’m saying work all day then, running the kids around to their practices, rehearsals, and other extracurricular activities, taking care of home duties, making it out to the business meeting for another project, running to a ministry meeting or rehearsal, calling back all the people who have called you over the week, being present for whoever you need to be present for, how could I forget leaving time for fun…the list goes on.

I could say, “woah there buddy you’re doing too much”. But truth is, this is the life that many of us lead—constant movement with no room for rest. Every time I mention wanting to sleep there is someone there to say, “nah sleep when you’re dead”. See me??? [insert crazy look here]

---

I don’t believe in that lol. Not one bit. When I die I’ma be praising, and trying to get a tetherball game in with Jesus and busy doing whatever else it is we’ll be doing in heaven. I won’t need to sleep then! I need to sleep now! I need rest now! 

According to Dr. Michael Breus, there are several consequences of sleep deprivation. I came across his article on WebMD that stated the short and long term effects:

Short term: 
-       Decreased performance and alertness
-       Memory and cognitive impairment
-       Stress relationships
-       Poor quality of life
-       Occupational injury
-       Automobile Injury

Long Term: 
-       High blood pressure
-       Heart attack
-       Stroke
-       Obesity
-       Psychiatric problems, including depression and other mood disorders
-       Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
-       Mental impairment
-       Fetal and childhood growth retardation
-       Injury from accidents
-       Disruption of bed partner’s sleep quality
-       Poor quality of life

Now, I’m not about to rewrite his article, you can go read it Sleep Habits: More Important Than You Think if you want to know more.

I share all this so you see my basis of the crazy look I give people when they come at me with that sleep when you’re dead mess. I guess I’m also writing this today because I am exhausted you guys. I’m doing so much that my mind has no time to rest and I’m allowing situations that occur during the day to take away from my precious sleep! The consequences are not fair to me, the people I work with, or the tasks I’m attempting to complete. I know that I’m not the only one who is dealing with this issue because the people I partner with are doing the same thing! And I can bet a majority of you who are reading this are doing the same thing as well. 

It is super important that we rest guys. Now I know we don’t like to get into the tradition of things all the time but I think God had something good going in Genesis 2:2 “And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done”

You can take a day to rest from the schedules of everyday life. It’s a good thing! Your mind, body, and spirit need it! Make time! Get some rest! Go to sleep! Lol

I hope you have a great week, one that includes some rest ;) Don't forget to check the daily devotions that will be posted throughout the week!