Articles Heaven's Healing - 7. The Secrets of Rest
| Heaven's Healing - 7. The Secrets of Rest |
 |
 |
|
Page 8 of 11
7. THE SECRETS OF REST
You have a deadline to finish. You decide to stifle the yawn and push through the night. Sure it is already late‚ but you drink some coffee and keep going. Your body‚ of course‚ is fighting you every step of the way. Whether you realize it or not‚ your brain has already started to check out for the night. After about 18 hours without sleep‚ your reaction time begins to slow from ¼ of a second to ½ a second and then longer. When our body calls for fluid‚ we have a thirst‚ a natural craving for a drink; and when we are hungry we have an appetite‚ a natural craving for food. But when we become tired‚ we do not recognize this as a signal that we should rest. We carry on working and abuse our body to the point of exhaustion. This factor is one of the greatest hindrances to recovery.
Institute of Medicine issued a report that confirmed definite links between sleep deprivation and increased risks of hypertension‚ diabetes‚ obesity‚ depression‚ heart attack‚ and stroke. A groundbreaking 1999 study showed that after six days on only four hours of sleep‚ healthy volunteers would fall into a pre-diabetic state. Sleep also gives the heart a chance to slow down‚ and those who sleep less than six hours a night have as much as a 66% greater prevalence of hypertension. How well we sleep can seriously alter the balance of hormones in our body. This can then disrupt our sleep/wake cycle‚ also called the circadian rhythm. A disrupted circadian rhythm may influence cancer progression through shifts in hormones like melatonin‚ which the brain makes during sleep. How much sleep should I get? The largest study of sleep duration and mortality was followed over one million participants for six years. Those who slept about seven hours had the highest survival rate‚ and those who slept less than 4.5 hours had the worst. Nine hours of sleep or more each night was also associated with a higher mortality risk. In general‚ a good night's sleep seems to be as important to good health as a nutritious diet and regular exercise. Experts tend to agree that the majority of people require about eight hours of sleep each night. But do not tip the balance; excessive indulgence in eating‚ drinking‚ and sleeping‚ is sin. “Love not sleep‚ lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes‚ and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.” Proverbs 20:13 Since the work of building up the body takes place during the hours of rest‚ it is essential‚ especially in youth‚ that sleep should be regular and abundant. For students‚ remember that brain actually continues to learn when asleep. That is why no sleep means‚ no learning. A good night’s sleep can improve the memory by 30%. When sleeping‚ the brain deconstructs memory and connects it to related things‚ so performance is faster and more accurate after having a good night’s sleep. How can I sleep better?
Abstain from all stimulants (caffeine‚ alcohol‚ smoking‚ spicy foods). A relaxing soak in warm water will help you unwind enough after a stressful day. Have a cup or two of your preferred choice of a calming herbal tea. Avoid before-bed snacks‚ particularly grains and sugars. This will raise blood sugar and inhibit sleep. Later‚ when blood sugar drops too low (hypoglycemia)‚ you might wake up and not be able to fall back to sleep. Regular times for going to bed and rising are very helpful. Get to bed as early as possible. The best time to go to bed is between 8.00 PM and 9.00 PM. The deepest sleep is between 9.00 PM to 12.00 AM. Our systems‚ particularly the adrenals‚ do a majority of their recharging or recovering during the hours of 11.00 PM and 1.00 AM. Sleep in complete darkness or as close as possible. If there is even the tiniest bit of light in the room it can disrupt your circadian rhythm and your pineal gland's production of melatonin and serotonin. Rest Includes More Than a Good Night’s Sleep It is important to take time away from work. “Come ye yourselves apart… and rest a while.” Mark 6:31. Do not waste your time in amusement‚ spend it in recreation. All true recreation is re-creative; it refreshes and draws us closer to God. Recreation is needful to those who are engaged in physical labor and is still more essential for those whose labor is principally mental. You need to take periods of rest‚ periods of recreation‚ and periods for contemplation. The principles of temperance have a wider range than many think. Spending time outdoors in nature with some physical exercise is an excellent form of recreation‚ e.g. hiking‚ picnicking‚ swimming‚ etc. Recreation that benefits those around you is most beneficial. The Sabbath God also designated a day for us to rest and to consecrate it to Him. After God completed creation of the earth in six days‚ He rested to give us an example: “And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day‚ and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.” Genesis 2:2‚ 3 “Six days shalt thou labour‚ and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work‚ thou‚ nor thy son‚ nor thy daughter‚ thy manservant‚ nor thy maidservant‚ nor thy cattle‚ nor thy stranger that is within thy gates.” Exodus 20:9‚ 10. Jesus said: “Think not that I am come to destroy the law‚ or the prophets: I am not come to destroy‚ but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you‚ till heaven and earth pass‚ one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law‚ till all be fulfilled.” Matthew 5:17‚ 18. “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest‚ he also hath ceased from his own works‚ as God did from his.” Hebrews 4:9‚ 10. Our health is blessed when we rest on God’s Sabbath day: “My son‚ forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days‚ and long life‚ and peace‚ shall they add to thee.” Proverbs 3:1‚ 2. It is impossible to obtain perfect health if you are not keeping the Lord’s Sabbath. |
Rest is one of the most basic healers known to mankind. When we become sick‚ what is the thing we want most to do? To lie down. Nature will restore vigor and strength during sleep hours‚ if her laws are not violated.
“The sleep of a laboring man is sweet‚ whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.” Ecclesiastes 5:12. Rather than taking a harmful sleeping pill‚ make sure to do strenuous outdoor physical labor everyday.