You Snooze, You Lose

Sleeping has to be one of my favorite things. There's just something about cuddling up in a big comforter that makes me feel relaxed and safe. Sadly, because I love sleeping so much, I've found that, as I've gotten older, I have begun to sleep later and later. What used to be a wake-up time of 6:00AM for school has turned into a 10:00AM rush to get ready for the day. This may come as a shock to you, but I've found out that the later you wake up, the less time you have until the day is over. Because of this, I've found that I have to stay up later to get things done that I could have gotten done earlier. This forces me into an endless cycle of going to bed later and consequently waking up later because of the lack of sleep.

This type of cycle can wreak havoc in our lives! We begin to get less done during the day and get used to sleeping more and more. In fact, I suppose it could get so bad that, if we are sleeping while others are working then others will be sleeping while we are working and it will cause us to have to work alone! Proverbs 20:13 says, "If you love sleep, you will end in poverty. Keep your eyes open, and there will be plenty to eat!" This verse reminds us that an unhealthy balance of sleep will cause us to lose what we would have received if we were awake and working for it.

Not only does having a healthy balance of sleep allow us to get more work done, it also is important for our walks with Christ! In Mark 13:34-37 , Jesus tells us that we need to be ready for His return at any moment. As Christians, we have been called to be fishers of men for Him (Matthew 4:19). Therefore, we need to work diligently for the Kingdom of God at all times! How can we do this though if we are stuck in bed?

Do you need to work on finding a more healthy balance of sleep? Are you making the most of your day by wisely using the time God has given you? The Bible makes it clear that when we find a good balance of sleep we will benefit from it and that we need to use the time God has given us to work diligently for Him. An unruly sleep cycle can cost us our health, jobs, friendships and even make us feel so rushed that we forget to spend time with the One who allowed us to live another day! When you wake up each morning, thank God for the opportunity He's given you to use that day for Him. Then, instead of turning over and going back to sleep, jump out of bed and begin your day. Because, when it comes down to it, if you snooze, you lose.