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| Article Time Stamp: 07 September 2008, 13:46:52 GMT+7 | |
Early To Bed, Early To Rise
Most of us are familiar with the old saying: “Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.” And there are numerous references in the Bible to the joys and benefits of rising early.
The psalmist said, My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise. Awake, my glory! Awake, lute and harp! I will awaken the dawn. (Psalms 57:7-8 NKJV)
The clear implication is that the psalmist had a habit of getting up before dawn and “singing in” the morning. But what does this have to do with our sunset hours?
Very practically speaking, in order to be able to rise early in the morning, we have to get to bed early. There is no substitute for sleep. According to modern sleep research, most people need seven to ten hours of sleep a day, and lost hours can never be made up.
Sufficient sleep is the foremost factor in a person’s ability to sustain a high performance level, cope with stress, and feel a sense of satisfaction in life. Getting enough sleep directly impacts our moods and emotions, our ability to think creatively and respond quickly, and our ability to sustain exertion. It is as vital to our health as what we eat and drink.
More good news about sleep and our health is that every hour of sleep we get before midnight is twice as beneficial as the hours after midnight. A good night’s sleep is one of God’s blessings to you. Sufficient sleep was a part of His design for your body and His plan for your life. When you make a habit of retiring early, you put yourself in a position to receive this blessing.
You’ll find it easier to rise early and seek the Lord for His wisdom and strength for the day ahead.
Night is the Sabbath of mankind to rest the body and the mind. (Samuel Butler)