Eight Hours of Sleep (Ephesians 3:20)

Since high school, I have managed to get by on 6 ½ hours of sleep, with most evenings diminishing to 6 hours or less. But I have always wanted to get more sleep and on some Saturday mornings, I am sometimes able to get 8 hours. There have been many a morning when I awaken and think to myself, “Wouldn’t it be great if I could sleep 8 hours every night?”

 

Recently, my sleep schedule has been dramatically altered and I begin my day much later, due to changes in workflow in my office. Instead of arriving to work at 5 AM, I am now arriving at 8 AM or even later. I still go to sleep at 10 PM but instead of awakening at 420 AM every morning, with just under 6 ½ hours of sleep, I now awaken at 6 AM, getting a full 8 hours of sleep.

 

It has been exhilarating and I have never felt so well-rested. But there has been additional benefits, I get to spend quality time with my family in the morning. The first morning this happened, neither of my children knew I had changed my schedule. I heard my daughter say to my wife, “Do I hear Dad’s voice?” To her surprise and my joy, she came downstairs and gave me a big hug. Then my son, quietly crept down the stairs and peered into my office, equally surprised to see me. He, too, gave me a big hug. Now, my new routine is to see my daughter and son off to school. I also have time to speak to my wife who is now awake and preparing to leave for work.

 

These blessings came because of a change in workflow, a loss of an important client that needed their completed reports early in the morning. Without the client, there was no reason to continue to come in early. God has blessed this loss by re-charging me with additional sleep, allowing me to spend precious time with my family in the morning, and in a most unexpected turn, gave me additional business and new clients, more than making up for the lost revenue.

 

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us...

Ephesians 3:20 (NKJV)

 

What began on a somber note of a lost client has become another opportunity for God to bless me. And when God blesses, He does so exceedingly abundantly!

 

All praise to the Living God!

 

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.