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.
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