After a hard and gruelling week and a traffic mishap, my foot ached and soon I found myself limping because of the pain in the foot, but I received a wonderful breakthrough in prayer which brought me to the decision to sleep in on Saturday. What a restless battle throughout the night: Thanks to my Abba, Father, He spoke the Word of the book of Isaiah Chapter 58 verse (13) “ If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD , honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words.” This Word quickened within for as I lay upon my bed, I had picked up my cell phone and was looking at my notifications, when I heard Abba, Father say, Margaret, you need to power off your phone! Eventually, I yielded and obediently turned off my cell phone. Shortly thereafter I drifted to sleep; waking at various intervals. Communing with the LORD often. This particular sleep in was not easy and for the first time, I experienced a wonderful Sabbath rest like none other. The words the Psalmist wrote in Psalm forty-six really ministered to me.
Wherever you are turmoil may be on every side. Trouble within and without, fires on the job or you may have lost your income: Bombarded with the cares of this world and cannot find any time to give your eyelids rest. Perhaps this weekend you could consider a sleep in? Psalm forty-six really helped me. Let’s read it together from the verse (1) “ God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble,” verse (2) “ Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.” Verse (3) “ Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.” Verse (7) “ The LORD of Hosts is with us. The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.”
While it is not easy to break away from the monotony of busy schedules, household, and priestly duties. However, the time has come to know when to sleep in and get by yourself alone with Abba, Father, so He can replenish and rekindle His fire within you that you (me too) will experience Him as your rock and fortress especially when you are hard pressed by those who oppose you and sometimes wear you out so to speak. God will deliver you like He delivered David out of the hands of all of his enemies and from King Saul. Kindly read what David wrote concerning this from the book of 2 Samuel Chapter 22 verse (2) “ And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer,” Verse (3) “ The God of my rock; in him will I trust; he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my Saviour; thou savest me from violence.” Yes, as you consider a sleep in to rest God’s temple; feed on His word to encourage yourself as you sleep in! Psalm 61 verse(3) “ For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.”
After experiencing a very challenging week along with a traffic mishap. I kept being busy until my foot began to hurt severely so much so that it was almost unbearable to walk on it. This drove me to have a sleep in and did not get out of bed until the afternoon of this past Saturday. My body and foot were healed during the sleep in and Abba, Father showed up! Listen: Do not wait until your body is about to shut down before you sleep in and get alone from everyone and everything. Trust the timing of God and obey His leading. Psalm 91 verse (2) “ I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.” Abba, Father will take care of everything during your, sleep in. God Bless you as you sleep in!