Fast Asleep! Photo – Pixabay.com
I’ve recently experienced a revelation! It wasn’t one of those which almost knock you off your feet or anything to do with burning bushes, but it was a revelation to me nevertheless!
After suffering with insomnia since the late 1980s, I recently came across an article in the UCB (United Christian Broadcasters) Word For Today devotional publication which was truly remarkable. We all know how important sleep is to our bodies – physically, emotionally and mentally – but sadly it’s something which often evades me. I’ve tried all the usual remedies and potions known to man, and woman, but nothing much works. However, what I have noticed throughout my life, is how sleepy I’ve always got at round about 2pm each day. Even as a child, I’d come home from school and take a nap which really gave me a boost although I could never understand why a youngster should need a day-time kip!
I’m going to reproduce the UCB article here which may help other people who have long-term sleeping difficulties to understand how their physiology works.
‘When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet’ – Proverbs 3:24 NIV
God built specific triggers into our bodies to let us know when it’s time to escape consciousness. And wise people listen to these clues. History’s most notable power nappers include Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison and Winston Churchill.
There is a reason why your eyelids start to droop around 2.00pm. The levator muscles, which constantly contract to keep your eyelids open, give out and beg for a break. And a chemical called adenosine, which collects in your brain when you’re awake, piles up and makes you feel drowsy. Consequently, your body yearns for sleep to allow the adenosine to disperse resulting in instant relief. A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine confirms that people who nap for at least thirty minutes daily, three times weekly, are one-third less likely to die from heart disease.
Additional research suggests that taking a nap can improve creativity and memory. Cognitive neuroscientist William Fishbein says that, often during a brief nap, our brains actually keep working to resolve problems and form new ideas. That helps explain why Mozart professed to have composed music in his dreams!
Studies also show that a little extra sleep can assist with weight control – which means you can lose as you snooze! Ghrelin, a hormone produced in our intestines, tells us we’re hungry and triggers cravings for sweets, salty foods and starches – all the bad stuff! However, when we sleep more, our colon stores less ghrelin and our craving for junk food diminishes.
In Scripture, Jesus not only took frequent rest breaks himself – He encouraged His disciples to follow suit! So, try a power nap.
With thanks to the United Christian Broadcasters (UCB) Word For Today publication as the main source of this article – Westport Road, Stoke-on-Trent, ST6 4JF, England. Free issues of the daily devotional are available for the UK and Republic of Ireland. The UCB Word For Today is written by Bob and Debby Gass.
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