Living in Increase (Part 9) - Increase in HealthSample

Rest Your Body

Sleep is a gift from God. Psalm 127:2 says that God “gives” His beloved sleep. In today’s world, working hard and never resting is often a sign of strength; however, God knows that we are human, and there’s only so much “strength” we have. Without rest, we will never be able to reach our full potential.

I added this section on sleep because rest is essential to increasing physical health. Sometimes, sleep is a test of trust, believing God is still working even if you’re resting.

In addition to sleep, another way to rest your body is by taking a Sabbath every week, meaning you cease to produce for one day. I want to remind you that honoring the Sabbath was important enough to make God’s top 10. That’s right. Honoring the Sabbath is on the same list as “Thou shall have no other gods before me” and “Thou shall not murder” (Exodus 20:1-17). Sabbathing is clearly important to God, and therefore, it should be important to us. The Sabbath is more than just physical rest; however, for the sake of this conversation, we will see it as a way to achieve rest for our bodies.

That said, rest is important. Sleeping, Sabbathing, and rejuvenating are essential to a healthy life!

Emily N. Green

Action Step: Studies show that most adults need at least 7 hours of sleep every night (CDC, 2016). Move your schedule around to accommodate at least 7 hours of sleep tonight.