Purpose: With so many people suffering during these tough economic times, I wanted to create a daily devotional which would promote faith in God as a solution to overcoming anger and fear.
Each devotional will provide a daily passage of Scripture for you to reflect on throughout the day. In addition, an “Action Item” will assign a daily, simple task to help you address your fears with faith and move forward with God's plans for you.
Thank you and God bless you for reading this devotional--please share it with others!
Steve Kendall
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DAY 13: SLEEP WHEN THE BABY SLEEPS
TODAY'S SCRIPTURE FOR REFLECTION:
He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, LORD," he said. "Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors." Then he lay down under the tree 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 a cake of 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." So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.
1 Kings 19:4a-8 (New International Version)
(Read the entire chapter, 1 Kings 19, for the context of the story)
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OPENING PRAYER: In your opening prayer, please thank God for the opportunities He provides for you to rest, renew and refresh yourself to face problems with His guidance.
Sleep When the Baby Sleeps
“Sleep when the baby sleeps.” That’s the best advice we received when expecting our first child over 19 years ago. I didn’t fully understand the importance of that statement until I found myself trying to write and do other work, when our baby son took a nap.
I soon learned that our son took only one 30 minute nap per day. No more, no less, always a 30 minute nap. The remaining hours of the day, he was awake and very active—if I had only taken a nap when he did—well, I eventually learned to do that.
That advice came to mind today as I found myself very tired and sleepy after driving to the doctor’s office. As I drove home, I thanked God for the energy and health to drive myself to the doctor. I once took trips like that for granted, but now I see it as a major blessing given that I’m unable to drive, or walk much.
Okay, back to my story—I get home and want to write this devotional and do some other work around the house, but the advice, “Sleep When the Baby Sleeps,” popped into my head. Simply put, I needed to rest. I napped for almost two hours and could have slept longer.
Getting proper rest and sleep is something a lot of us take for granted. Many doctors now promote the benefits of proper sleep for our overall health. Not only does the body regenerate itself while you sleep, your brain often tries to work out problems you encountered during the day.
God wants us at our best to serve Him. We can’t fully do that if we go through life sleep deprived and burnt out. Sometimes we can’t help but be sleep deprived. I once worked three jobs for about six months and I felt, and probably looked like a zombie from some horror film.
Dr. Charles Stanley, who heads the Intouch Ministry, intouch.org, offers an acronym for folks to use so that the devil won’t attack us when were weak:
H.A.L.T. (Dr. Stanley says we should not get too Hungry, too Angry, too Lonely or too Tired)
( Click Here to listen to Dr. Stanley’s message about HALT, from “Making Decisions God’s Way.”)
Our Scripture for Reflection above talks about how the prophet Elijah was on the run for his life and found himself exhausted and ready to just give up. God sent an angel to provide food for Elijah and also to make him get some sleep.
Like Elijah, at one time, or another, some of us may have been on the verge of giving up--on the verge of telling God you can’t go on, that your problems are too great to overcome. As my pastor, Dr. Lucius M. Dalton, recently told the congregation, “Nothing is too hard for God. God can do all things but fail.” I agree with that totally. ( Click Here to listen to Dr. Dalton’s message, “Nothing Is Too Hard for God”)
I’ve felt like Elijah in the past, but what’s different now is that my faith and trust, in Jesus and our Heavenly Father, is so much stronger, that when problems arise, that I call “God-sized,” (because only He can solve them), I have the confidence that in time, His will is going to prevail.
ACTION ITEM:
For our Action Item, take an inventory of your periods of rest. Ask yourself if you need more rest and sleep. If you’re extremely busy, write down when you can get a power nap (of 20 minutes), or perhaps a day off (except for Sunday worship), when you can sleep in a little longer.
In sum, don’t take napping or sleep for granted. God wants you refreshed to do His will.
I love you and thank you for reading this devotional. You are truly a blessing in my life.
Have a safe, peaceful, blessed day, everybody!
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CLOSING PRAYER: For the remainder of our devotions, please pray about whatever the Lord places in your heart and mind. I also ask that you pray for me as well. I pray daily for everyone who comes in contact with these devotions and need your prayers.
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STAY IN TOUCH:
You are cordially invited to share how things are going with you and our devotions thus far. I welcome comments and suggestions as well. You can reach me via Facebook or my personal email address: Steve@BibleStudyCafe.com
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FREE STUFF FOR YOU!
Stop by sometime soon to visit my ministry Web site, Bible Study Café, and download free stuff including a prayer journal.
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A TRUE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD:
If you would like a relationship with God, the only way to do it is through His son, Jesus Christ. This is supported in the Bible: Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. --John 14:6 (King James Version)
We begin this relationship by first accepting Jesus. Click Here for a link to more info.
