By Tanya Jolliffe
Quality, restful sleep is critical for our health. It is the time during the day when our body physically and mentally heals, repairs, and restores itself. Unfortunately, some nights I find it hard to turn off my brain and fall into a restful sleep. It is at these times I turn to prayer to help me rest in sleep. Scripture supports this approach. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28 NIV). In those times I can also find his safety and comfort when things feel uncertain. “In peace, I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety” (Psalm 4:8 NIV). “When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet” (Proverbs 3:24 NIV).
Scripture also supplies assurances that God will not go to sleep on the job while I try to rest. “He will not let your foot slip – he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep” (Psalm 121: 3-4 NIV). Scripture even confirms what science promotes, “His disciples replied, ‘Lord if he sleeps, he will get better” (John 11:12 NIV).
Although these are things that can help me at the moment as I struggle to sleep, I also found that some of my poor sleep hygiene habits contribute to my diminished restorative sleep as well. What is sleep hygiene? Sleep hygiene refers to the behavioral and environmental practices we follow that influence our sleep. Poor sleep hygiene impedes quality and restorative sleep while proactive sleep hygiene practices encourage it. If you have difficulty falling asleep, wake often during your sleep, and fight awake time sleepiness you could improve these issues by developing an individual sleep hygiene program.
Since we are each an experiment of one, the sleep hygiene practices that will encourage restorative sleep and positively influence our physical, mental, and emotional well-being will be unique to each of us. That means we each have to develop our own individual sleep hygiene processes that brings about the quality, restful, and restorative sleep we need depending on the lifestyle influences we face. Here are some tips that can help you develop an individual sleep hygiene strategy.
Regardless of your sleep hygiene habits, remember that God wants us to have peace and trust in him and his ways so that we can rest in sleep. Reciting a few key scriptures before trying to rest can be a wonderful strategic step for restful sleep as well. Here are a few to help you tonight.
- “Peace, I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27 NIV).
- “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-disciple” (2 Timothy 1:7 NIV).
- “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you” (Psalm 56: 3 NIV).
- “In peace, I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety” (Psalm 4:8 NIV).
- “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7 NIV).
- “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things” (Philippians 4:8 NIV).
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