The Nap

There is a chair in my husband’s office that calls to me.
It is leather and comfy…it reclines…and it is the best place to take a nap.

Everyone has their favorite place…their napping place.
Maybe there is a favorite blanket or quilt that envelops you in just the right way.

Naps are wonderful….especially the Sunday afternoon nap.
Come home from church, eat lunch together, read a book…fall asleep.
Often, the time between naps is far too long.
Maybe that is what makes them so special.

I loved when my children were infants and they would cuddle up after being fed.
There is nothing more peaceful than having a sleeping baby in your arms.

Our fast paced lives don’t afford us many naps.
Work demands, outside activities, sport travel teams have many parents sleep deprived.
Many of us go to bed later than we should.

The high tech life that was supposed to make things easier, makes us constantly accessible.
I remember the days of the dial phone.
Then, the push button phone which hung on the wall in the kitchen.
There were no answering machines…no caller ID.
The phone was off the hook during dinner.

Fast paced lives leave us no time to think…to ponder…to be still.
Accessibility leaves no down time…no time to be alone…no time for a nap.

I love what God’s Word says on the matter:
In vain you rise up early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat-for He grants sleep to those He loves. (Psalm 127:2)

But there are times when sleep is not good :
How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest-and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man. (Proverbs 6:9-11)

Just like anything else, we need balance.
Rest to renew…not rest to avoid work.

Sadly, God’s people are sleeping.
Things are happening right under our noses and we sleep away.

When we come to a saving knowledge of Jesus, we are changed.
We are being renewed and sanctified every day.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
(2 Corinthians 5:17)

Each day, as we grow, we should know our Lord Jesus better than the day before.
As we know Him, though His Word, we love Him…more than the day before.
We come to love what He loves and hate what He hates.
What He hates is sin.

Somehow, things are backwards.
The culture makes sin palatable…even desirable.
The voices of those who have no time for God are loud and consistent.
While the voices of believers, who love God, are barely audible.

Why are God’s people so afraid?
Why are God’s people sleeping?
The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is at our disposal.
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. (2 Peter 1:3)

We are allowing mere men to silence us.
We are forgetting that Jesus’ disciples were simple fishermen.
After Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came, these simple fishermen spoke boldly about the Lord Jesus, astonishing the crowd who were listening.
When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13)

When was the last time people said that about us?
When was the last time people saw a difference in us and attributed it to being with Jesus?

We really have nothing to fear.
When I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God whose word I praise, in God I trust, I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me? (Psalm 56:3,4)

The enemy has been casting doubt since the Garden.
Did God really say…? (Genesis 3:1)

We, who know God’s word, KNOW what He says.
We can believe it…because He said it…It is true!
We must stand on that very word and trust in the power of His Holy Spirit who is far greater than any power here on earth.

Jesus reminded Pilate of this when He told Pilate where his power came from.
Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.” (John 19:11)

When we think we are standing alone…we are really standing with HIM.
That makes us a formidable foe.

We need to wake up from our sleep.
We have work to do.
We are not to be cowering in the corner.

He is with us…we are never alone.
Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever…and HE is in control.
We have no reason to be afraid.

Jesus is coming back.
If He comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping.
What I say to you, I say to everyone. Watch! (Mark 13:36)