Anxiety zaps your energy, messes with your mind and body, and leads to fatigue.
Among the reasons for increasing anxiety today are tough economic times, terrorist threats, and cultural redefinition of the family. What are other energy drainers you see in the world? In your life?
God knows what you face and is with you. He gives you energy boosting guidelines in the Bible. Here are three.
1. Get the Best Rest
While many of us sleep less than six hours a night according to this study, there’s a better rest when stressed.
Jesus said,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28, ESV
Coming to Jesus is an invitation to trust Jesus personally, not merely believe historical facts about him. At Biblical Counseling Center, we counselors share this biblical truth: Faith is believing the Word of God and acting upon it, no matter how you feel, knowing God promises a good result.
Faith in Jesus leads to the best rest and more energy. Have you tried to pray at bedtime? How has prayer deepened your sleep?
2. Change Your Thoughts
By the power of the Holy Spirit, you can change the way you think so your thinking lines up with biblical truth. When you have God’s perspective on your troubles, you’ll sense joy and this joy gives way to energy.
When self-centered, you and I may ruminate over what should have been done yesterday or last week, or tomorrow and we feel jittery. Hurrying because everyone else is hurrying drains energy and may lead to negative thinking.
Do you know that when you think well, you feel well and you act well?
It’s true. What you think determines how you think and, in turn, how you feel emotionally and physically AND, in turn, how you act.
For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. Proverbs 23:7
From your heart (your inner person) flows behavior.
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23
3. Caring for Your Temple
God says our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own.” 1 Corinthians 6:19. The Holy Spirit energizes us to accomplish God’s purposes.
Here are 5 tips to boost energy by caring for your temple through sleep.
1. Get up and go to bed at the same time every day, even on weekends.
2. Keep your bedroom is quiet, dark, cool, and comfortable.
3. Use your bedroom for sleeping and sex, not for watching television or doing work.
4. Do not regularly take naps unless you are ill or a new mom short on sleep, or have another sound reason to nap.
5. Exercise daily, but avoid doing it within 4 hours of bedtime.
Says biblical counselor and author Wayne Mack, “Recognize the fact that an occasional night when you have difficulty sleeping or getting asleep or staying asleep is quite common and will not seriously harm you unless you let it. Don’t focus on or worry about not getting to sleep.
“Remember also that on rare occasions God may withhold sleep because he wants you to spend extra time in prayer or meditation.”
Jesus prayed all night on occasion.
In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. Luke 6:12, ESV
Question: What is a specific way you’ll fight fatigue this week?
photo credit: Sleeping via photopin (license)
