Your Operating Manual // God's Rhythms for Men Like YouНамуна

Real Men Get Sleep

Our physical frames matter. People see God in and through them. We have spiritual natures, yes, but our physical frames give our spiritual selves home. They also give home to God the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16-17). From an eternal perspective, they’re temporary. But our actions here and now affect our eternities—and we act, here and now, through our physical frames. Spiritual discipline matters more, but physical discipline and physical condition still matter (1 Timothy 4:7-8).

The prevailing culture of this world tells us men our jobs should be our utmost priority—physical care is good, but must be disregarded when and if it interferes with workplace ascent. “Get it done.” “Do whatever it takes.” “Man up.” To these codes, we sacrifice our physical selves, and especially our sleep. We stay late at the office; work late at home; live in hotels, on airplanes. But, this is not what our Father God intends:

“It is in vain that you rise up early

and go late to rest,

eating the bread of anxious toil;

for he gives to his beloved sleep.” (Psalm 127:2)

God blesses his sons with (and in) sleep. It’s a time to restore and heal; to relinquish worry and stress, and leave everything to him. We should appreciate it fully, be thankful for it, and accept it wholeheartedly. We’ve all felt the results when we don’t: racing hearts; pounding heads; clouded thoughts; a lack of productivity, creativity, and patience; and a compromised resistance to sin. We are never the husbands, fathers, friends, bosses, or employees we must be when we sacrifice sleep.

Okay, so what do we do?

Fight for sleep. The struggle is hard but worthy. Minimizing it is neither responsible nor manly. We’re designed for sleep. You know how much—but, how much are you actually getting?

Join 100,000+ Mighty Men: Get WiRE, a FREE email devotional for men who want to talk about what matters.