And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding... Philippians 4:7

Let me begin by asking you about the worst week of sleep you ever had in your life. Can you remember a time in your life, maybe you were on a vacation, maybe it was a camping trip, or maybe it was just a bad week at work, when you just didnt sleep at all? You may have tossed and turned or maybe you just gave up and sat up all night long, counting the minutes and seconds for the day to start. Maybe it was fun. It could have been a time you were so excited, like a three or four day camp, where you just couldn’t sleep because you were up with friends talking and playing games all night. We recently returned home from the AACC World Conference in Nashville, TN-a week of hard work, spiritual renewal, and of course, little sleep. Each one of us working at EWomen and the AACC needed extra sleep this past week as we arrived home physically exhausted. It reminded me of our God-given need for sleep and recovery time. Again, go back to the memory of the worst week of sleep you ever had. How did you feel each day? Grouchy? Irritable? Angry? Happy? Does a lack of sleep typically affect your mood? (If you are unsure and honestly want to know, ask those closest to you their honest opinion, but beware of the answers you may receive.) The fact is we need sleep. Pauls message in 2 Corinthians 4:16 reminds us that our bodies are outwardly wasting away, but inwardly being renewed day-by-day. Sleep is the most important component of renewing our bodies on a daily basis. It has become an issue in modern day America because of our fast paced society. We overexert ourselves trying to take care of our children, husbands, homes, and work, and the result is that we tend to neglect our own bodies, becoming more anxious and stressed. Unfortunately, a lack of sleep takes away the recovery time we need to bring our stress levels down. God designed our bodies in such a way that we need recovery time. Sleep experts tell us to incorporate at least eight to nine hours of sleep each night into our daily lives to reduce stress and anxiety. Find a way this week to reduce your anxiety, increase your recovery time, and gain more sleep on a regular basis. In Christ's love, Julie

Prayer

Sleep is the golden chain that ties health and our bodies together. Thomas Dekker

• Bible Readings for the Week Ahead:
• Monday: Mark 1:35
• Tuesday: Matthew 6:33-34
• Wednesday: Philippians 4:6-7
• Thursday: 2 Corinthians 4:16
• Friday: 1 Peter 4:12a, 13
• Saturday: Ephesians 4:16
• Sunday: Matthew 11:28-29