Counsel #8 — Rest, Recharge, Renew

Picture: Counsel #8 — Rest, Recharge, RenewCWe 115.1

Rest is one of life’s most valuable yet often overlooked blessings. Though many of us struggle to follow a consistent sleep schedule, going to bed before midnight brings significant benefits. For those cramming for exams, juggling multiple jobs or caring for children, sleep often comes well after midnight. However, aligning our rest with our natural circadian rhythm—a 24-hour cycle of physical, mental, and behavioral changes—can improve energy levels, mood, and overall health.CWe 115.2

Going to bed earlier enhances non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, leaving us feeling refreshed and motivated in the morning. Late bedtimes disrupt this critical rest, leading to lower energy and increased irritability. Though life’s demands can keep us up late, understanding how delayed sleep impacts our body’s structure can inspire us to prioritize rest. God desires us to approach each day with gratitude, fully energized to serve Him with enthusiasm and resilience.^{[126]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoMEne9Ol88&t=12s}CWe 115.3

“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.” Psalms 4:8 NIVCWe 115.4

“The majority of pleasure lovers attend the fashionable night gatherings, and spend in exciting amusements the hours God has given them for quiet rest and sleep in order to invigorate the body… If the youth would form habits of regularity and order, they would improve in health, in spirits, in memory, and in disposition.” Ellen White in My Life Today, p. 143CWe 115.5

Reflect: Do you feel more or less rested when you go to sleep after midnight?CWe 115.6