Spiritual Sleepiness

In my wedding vows I declared how much I love my husband by saying, ‘I love you more than sleep!’

Matthew 26.31-46

Reference: v.41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.  The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” (NIV Bible)

Explore:  In my wedding vows I declared how much I love my husband by saying, ‘I love you more than sleep!’  That may not sound very romantic to many people but those who know me well know that I love my sleep.  I’ve always been a good sleeper.  My family tell the story of when I was about 7 years old and we were attending a cousin’s engagement party.  There were lots of people and the music was really loud, but I had become so tired that I found myself an available bench seat and fell asleep.  What amazed my family more was that this bench seat was located right in front of the loud billowing speakers!  And yet that loud thumping music had not inhibited my ability to sleep.  Needless to say this ease of falling asleep has continued into adulthood, it’s lessened to a certain degree, but still present.
However, my speed at falling asleep has impacted my prayer life.  As a child my parents taught me to always pray before going to sleep.  It was fine while they were there praying with me but as I grew up and started praying on my own I found that I was falling asleep well before I said ‘Amen’.  So I have had to try numerous ways of speaking to God so that I don’t fall asleep during the process.  One way of respecting my prayer time was moving it to the morning.  And I now find the best times I spend with God in prayer is when I am outside going for a walk.

Application:  Our spiritual time with God is very important.  God has given so much to us and yet often we struggle to fit in 15 minutes for prayer and Bible reading.  And the crazy thing about that is that prayer and Bible reading helps us more than God.  He already knows the Bible pretty well and He already knows our celebrations and trials.  It is for our connection with God that we bring all of these in a time of prayer and reflection.  While fitting these spiritual disciplines into our busy lives is challenging, if it helps to bring us closer to God then surely there is no better time spent.

Prayer:   Lord, we dedicate this time to you.  May we know you more and more each day.  Amen.

What techniques have helped your spiritual walk?

Matthew