My pastor often says that sometimes the most spiritual thing a person can do is take a nap. There is a truth behind his comment. We were created having body, soul, spirit and mind woven together. If one gets out of balance it can affect the others and it is so true in regards to our physical selves.
God knows this about us and has shown it. A classic example for me is the prophet Elijah in 1st Kings 19. Elijah had been through an ordeal, had been on a journey. Elijah was feeling down spiritually due to exhaustion and was hungry. I love reading this section of scripture in 1st Kings 19:
“Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.”
God sent an angel to care for Elijah. The angel gave Elijah food and water. Then Elijah went back to sleep. The angel came back a second time and again gave Elijah food and water. God knew Elijah needed physical care of rest, food, and water.
Self care is a buzz word at times. It can be overdone. But self care can be appropriate. We need to take care of ourselves, so we can bless others.
Living with chronic illness, I have come to appreciate a schedule that allows me to take naps in the afternoons. Sometimes they are short ones and sometimes they are power naps of over an hour.
A great example for me was last weekend. I was in the midst of a chronic illness flare. During blogger chat on Saturday my little sister in Jesus Vanessa of braveblessedandbeautiful.com prayed for me. After an Instagram interview that day, I took a 3 hour nap. That was followed by a 2 hour nap and a 10 hour night of sleep. On Sunday I slept a lot too. It helped so much. I was doing much better by the time Monday came around.
So if you take a nap, maybe it is God working in your life. 🙂
Thank you for reading. God Bless.
Jesusluvsall's Blog 
Great to hear brother. I love the fact that Jesus Himself napped! By the way, I might be able to start rejoining the blogger chats (time permitting!) – good to hear that they’re still going 🙂 God bless
Love this piece of scripture you noted to go along with your post. Naps are so refreshing, I’m glad you make a habit of squeezing them in especially with your illness.
Thank you little sister. How are you?
I’m good! How about you?
I am ok. Did you show Nathan the videos I emailed you about dads embarrassing daughters?
I love naps, especially on Sunday afternoons. The Bible story you chose was the perfect illustration.
Naps 🤗
I really like the scripture passage of the Angel ensuring that Elijah ate and rested. It does tell us to look after ourselves and it’s important to take that rest when needed.
Blessings to you 😊
Thank you little sister. How are you?
You’re welcome. I am doing well. School here is on a short 2 week term break. Just finished a week of it and hubby has also taken a few days off work and so am enjoying some family time with some much needed rest with slower days.
Are you a student or teacher?
Neither but my son is and we tend to work our break times with his school times.
Enjoy your break 🙂
Thank you 😊
It’s hard for me to take a nap unless I’m really exhausted. But it’s funny how I want to take a nap when I’m working.
Lol I understand
there was a time when I used to have a designated time to pray in the evenings and I would become distressed if I nodded off during that time. A priest told me to set my alarm as I knelt to pray, because the time was the Lord’s and if He chose to minister to me in my rest, so be it. That helped enormously!
Jesús can minister to us as we sleep
He can and does. He made us that way.
I love your emphasis on use taking care of ourselves so that we can bless others. We can only do more when we ourselves are fit. So yes, to naps and quality rest. 😁
Happy Sunday big bro. 🤗
Thank you little sister 🤗
You are welcome. 🤗
Amen!
🤗
#truth
Good post! 💕
Thank you 🙏
I am now in a napping routine. Reenergizing. 🙂
They are renergizing
I read an article once that some corporations are starting to get “nap rooms”.
Maybe your workplace can have one 🤗
Lol. Fingers crossed 🤞
🙂
Glad to hear that you got plenty of sleep. 😴
Thanks
Amen. He designed our bodies with the need for physical refreshing. Day to day, it really depends on what my responsibilities are, but I am striving to carve out more times for such rests.
I hope you can little sister. How are you?
Thanks. I am managing pretty well for the most part. Getting out for walks most days and enjoying the cooler weather. 🙂
We all need to be plugged into our own needs for self-care. The story of an exhausted Elijah is a powerful testament, and it is a thoughtful complement to your discussion. God’s peace Matt!
Thank you. Blessings
I agree! Rest is so important. I recently am in a season of rest and I wrote about a dream I had the other day where God literally told me to rest . I guess this post was just another reminder. 😃😅
Rest is important.
Rest is so important. I am glad you were able to rest over the weekend.
I love naps 🤗
Aah…..I always knew it……God made rest. He rested too. So we don’t feel guilty about this essential thing we call indulgence in this fast paced world…..I am going to sleep soooooo well tonight brother Matt 🤩🎀🌻🤩🌻🤩🐼
I am glad you will sleep well 🤗
😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😴😴😴😴😴😴
Naps help a lot even in general so I’m sure it’s super helpful when you have a chronic illness.
They are helpful. How are you?
I checked my spam filter today and saw your comment. I don’t know why WP put it in spam filter with as much as we interact.
WP likes to be annoying sometimes lol!
I’m good and hope you are as well.
I am ok. Miss your posts
Aww thanks I miss all of your posts too but hoping to be back soon.
Naps are essential sometimes. Our bodies speak to us. Great post!
I love naps