DAILY DEVOTIONALS for JULY
Saturday, July 26
- Scripture: Psalm 4:8 – “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.”
- Reflection: Sleep is a fundamental contributor to peace of mind and heart. This scripture relates trust in God as a source for healthy rest at night. It’s a way of giving up control of things we cannot change and letting God care for our wellbeing.
The assurance of the Biblical text is that God will sustain us, even when we’re vulnerable in the darkest times of life and when we have relinquished all awareness, risking exposure. Again, such statements aren’t a promise that we will never experience harm or loss or trouble, but that God will remain present through all things, and continue to offer whatever resources or relationships are possible within the situation.
As children, we felt comforted when someone else kept vigil as we slipped into dreams. Now the same relationship is offered. God always keeps watch. If we can relax into a sense of safety and calm, we can more readily allow ourselves to sleep.
Additionally, we can help partner in good habits that contribute to healthy patterns of sleep. This article from MD Andersen Center recommends the following 8 behaviors (full article: https://www.mdanderson.org/publications/focused-on-health/healthy-sleep-habits.h13-1589046.htm):- Set a consistent sleep schedule. Go to bed … and wake up at the same time.
- Create regular bedtime rituals. Do the same thing every night before bedtime… your pre-sleep activity should be relaxing so your body knows when it’s time to go to sleep.
- Get regular exercise. Make sure you exercise at least two hours … or it may be difficult to fall asleep.
- Keep a healthy diet. Meals … may make it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep. But, a small snack … tends to promote sleep.
- Limit caffeine and avoid nicotine. Caffeine and nicotine are stimulants that interfere with sleep …
- Avoid alcohol. Alcohol is a sedative … While it may induce sleep, it interferes with sleep … causing you to wake up frequently and have nightmares. It’s best to not drink alcohol four to six hours before bedtime.
- Keep naps short. During the day, you build up a “sleep debt” that helps you fall asleep at night. … If you need to nap, limit it to less than 30 minutes.
- Use your bedroom for sleep only. … Don’t use electronics … in bed. Make sure your bedroom is dark, quiet and cool. If you use it only for sleep, you’ll associate your bedroom with sleeping rather than activity or stress.
- Spiritual Practice Prompt: Say a bedtime prayer. Before closing your eyes tonight, name your worries and ask God to hold them for you. Then complete your prayer with at least one or more things for which you are grateful, and give thanks. Close your prayer and enter sleep with those grateful and positive thoughts framing your approach to sleep and dreams.
Song:
- River of Dreams by Billy Joel: https://youtu.be/hSq4B_zHqPM?si=t8CfSydTbBhk-mli
- Good Good Father by Chris Tomlin: https://youtu.be/CqybaIesbuA?si=IoBeRumZSYBxaUnF
- Counting Stars by OneRepublic: https://youtu.be/hT_nvWreIhg?si=kSk83I5cOjRuKPGe
“Sleep is the best meditation.” — Dalai Lama
July 26 Daily Devotionals