Scriptural Naps

Those who know me, know that I LOVE, I mean LOVE taking naps. Especially like this past weekend, when it was dark, raining, and my room was cold. I love snuggling under the covers and just getting away into dream land.

Then I relearned that God values rest as well. Maybe not in the specific nap form, I can't find the actual word in the Bible. However, He STRONGLY believes in taking time off, and relaxing. Back in the OT, it starts in the BIG 10.....Remember the Sabbath Day and Keep it HOLY. Then the Sabbath and remembering it is listed more times in the Bible. He wasn't fooling around on the issue. In Leviticus there is the guidelines for taking 7 days off for the sole purpose of rest and relaxation (they just didn't use the word VACATION). God's design and plan for us was not to run ourselves weary. To be so dead dog tired that we can't even remember our name or families faces. The point was to relax, and reconnect with HIM and with ourselves and loved ones.

This issue has been a big one for me this year. I have seriously taken it to heart. Now, Sundays don't always work out for us to have a day off. On those weekends, we reserve another day during the week or weekend to have the rest that is needed. Unfortunately it doesn't always involve a nap, but it does involve taking it easy, being with family, not stressing about the endless laundry, bills needing to be paid, or housework that needs to be done. God wanted us to have a day that we could actually contemplate HIM and reconnect with HIM. If you do a little research you will find that :

1. God wasn't kidding around on taking the Sabbath Day seriously


2. There are tremendous blessings and rewards for those who obey
   
3. God is pretty amazing to MANDATE a weekly day off, and a yearly week off ~ That is a cool mandate if you ask me!
4. There are some pretty SEVERE consequences at the very end of Leviticus if the Israelites didn't follow the rules for taking the Sabbath and Sabbath years seriously.........Look at the nation's history.