It’s confession time. I love to sleep. Don’t we all? The inability to sleep late at least once a week was a huge adjustment for me when I became a mother. I’m a night-owl, therefore I like to make up for any lack of sleep by sleeping in. After my first son was born, the idea of making up for lost sleep went out the window. Once my second son was born, I had moved into acceptance mode and we all benefited! It actually takes discipline for me to go to bed at a reasonable time. I have a hard time turning off that brain of mine. So, what does all of this have to do with Proverbs 31? If I stay up too late, I don’t want to get up in the morning. I’m grumpy and it takes a cup or two of coffee to bring me into the land of the living. I have two precious little boys who deserve my very best, so sometimes taking care of yourself means going to bed earlier so you can wake up earlier. A well-rested mommy is better equipped, more effective and a lot more fun!
I’ve gotten into the habit of letting my kids be my alarm clock. Is there anything wrong with that? No! Nothing! But, the Lord convicted my heart. So, for me I need to do something different. I have felt this tug for a LONG time and I have just plain ignored it. Thank you, Lord for the patience! My thought was that I need every little bit of sleep I can get, so I’m going to sleep until they wake up. Now that I’m trying to be healthier, take better care of myself and exercise, sleep becomes part of that equation. Initially, I thought I would start setting my alarm to get up and get my workout done for the day. In the meantime, my quiet time was suffering. I was saving it for last, right before I went to sleep at night (sometimes at a very late hour). This works for some, but not for me. At this time of night, I am too tired and too sleepy to spend adequate time praying and reading my Bible. I found myself speed reading just so I could check it off my list. Not good! As I read verse 15, I realized that my spiritual fitness should be taking priority over my physical fitness. Spending time being still with the Lord each morning is more important than my workout. I find it hard to be still, but I know that growing my relationship with Jesus Christ depends on it.
Although I do think it is good to make your family breakfast, I don’t think this verse is implying that we all get up early every morning just to do the bacon, egg and pancake showdown. A simple, healthy breakfast is just as well, maybe better. I think this verse is more about preparing yourself and your family for the day, whatever that means in your situation. Now I am setting my alarm to wake up at least 30 minutes earlier than my kids. This gives me time to get dressed, spend some quiet time with the Lord and consider what needs to be done for the day. When my kids wake up, I am alert and happy, ready to give them my undivided attention. In order to do this, I also have to make every effort to go to bed 30 minutes earlier. As I’m writing this, I’m thinking about how well the Lord knows me. He knows what makes me tick better than I know myself! It’s hard sometimes to trust that what He has for us is far better than what we try to plan for ourselves. Waking up 30 minutes earlier may seem like such a tiny little detail, but He loves us so much that he cares about every detail. “Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows” Luke 12:7.
Other Stuff
31 Day Prayer Challenge – 31 Days of Praying for Your Husband
http://www.reviveourhearts.com/pdf/uploads/31DaysofPrayingforYourHusband.pdf
I encourage you to print this off and stick it in your Bible or your planner, somewhere that you go on a daily basis. I got a little off track with these prayers because I was relying on myself to go to the site everyday. If I don’t have it right in front of me, it doesn’t happen. So, I’m a little behind, but like I said when I started this blog, I promise to finish what I started! As I get older, I’m learning more and more that we’re not perfect and that’s okay. Whether it’s working out, eating well, our relationship with the Lord, our job, or something else, we all fall off track. What’s most important is that we forgive ourselves just as we have been forgiven and get back on track, even if that means falling off and getting back on every single day.
Love,
Amber
