To be more precise, it was a study about what I do when I sleep. I sometimes have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep or going back to sleep after waking up. I also have some symptoms of sleep apnea, which can interrupt breathing and restful sleep. That’s why I ended up becoming the subject of a Sleep Study.
My appointment was at 8:30 at night and the Sleep Center is on the other side of town. That is why I found myself dealing with city traffic at night, when I am normally getting ready for bed at home. The sparsely furnished sleeping room included a desk, nightstand, and a bed. The technician wired me up before I tried to sleep. With sensors attached to my nose, around my face and head, on my chest, back and legs, straps wrapped around my chest and stomach, I wondered how I would be able to sleep. I could reach the tissue box but couldn’t even blow my nose because of the sensors. I even needed someone to disconnect me so I could use the restroom. Fortunately, the tech was friendly, the bed comfortable, and I was tired.
All that trouble to monitor what was going on while I slept. They wanted to know how I was breathing, how much I snored, if my breathing was interrupted, if I ground my teeth, if I moved my legs and even if my eyes moved around. They monitored my brain waves, my heartbeats and body temperature. In the end, I hope all that monitoring does me some good.
There is someone else monitoring me while I sleep. In fact, JESUS is monitoring me all the time. He said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Heb 13:5 KJV). He doesn’t need to attach wires and sensors and I won’t have to go to a special place for Him to study me. In fact, the more time I spend in His presence and in His WORD, the more I will know my own self, because “the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword…and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Heb 4:12 KJV).
So why is it important for me to spend time with GOD in the WORD? He said “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up” (Jam 4:7-10 KJV). We must humble ourselves, be purified and mourn so GOD can lift us up. GOD doesn’t need to study us, but we need to see ourselves through GOD’s eyes. As we renew our minds, GOD can use us to show His love and power to others.
The first step is to believe, because “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16 KJV) and “without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Heb 11:6 KJV). So, once you believe, and accept JESUS as your Savior, you must “diligently seek him!”
Wayne Lance (2022) – That’s Good News to Share!