Principle 9: Seek Proper Rest and Sleep

Steve Douglass

The 10 Principles of Healthy Living

  1. Introduction
  2. Principle 1: Believe That God Wants You to Be Healthy
  3. Principle 2: Enjoy Your New Life in Christ
  4. Principle 3: Confess Your Sins and Turn from Them
  5. Principle 4: Obey the Commands of Scripture
  6. Principle 5: Watch for Danger Signals
  7. Principle 6: Control the Quality of Your Food Intake
  8. Principle 7: Control the Quantity of Your Food Intake
  9. Principle 8: Exercise Regularly
  10. Principle 9: Seek Proper Rest and Sleep
  11. Principle 10: Take Care of Your Appearance
  12. Conclusion

Now that you’ve learned the value of exercise and have been applying it, we’ll look at what goes hand in hand with it: rest and sleep.

In Psalm 127:2 (New International Version), we are told, “In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat — for he grants sleep to those he loves.” In Mark 6:30-32, Jesus advises His disciples to take some special time just to rest.

What about you? Are you “eating the bread of painful labors” (Psalm 127:2, New American Standard Bible)? Do you need to take time out to rest?

People seem to vary as to the amount of sleep they need at night. But whatever the right amount is for you, your health demands that you get it. Generally speaking, it is better to go to bed at the same time each evening and wake up at the same time every morning. Your body will become accustomed to the schedule and will be ready to rest fully at the given time.

Hebrews 4 discusses the importance of rest and says that God’s desire us to enter His rest. In addition to a good night’s sleep, you may need to have a time during the day when you can take a break from whatever you’ve been working on, put your feet up and just relax for a while.

 

 

This article was originally published in “Managing Yourself” by Steve Douglass.

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