Falling Asleep at the Wheel

I have to state that I didn’t actually fall asleep at the wheel, but I definitely have been more tired than usual. When we get to that tired point, we not only start struggling to keep our eyes open, but it seems my brain begins to shut down too. I can sit at the computer and stare with my mind completely blank. I can try to write something, but the next day when I look at it, so much of it seems like gibberish. Everything that I do, I do out of habit because my brain has already shut down. Every now and then, I will do something foolish because I am not engaged in what task is before me. This might include putting the milk in the cupboard instead of the refrigerator. I’ve caught myself do that a few times. So why am I taking time to tell you about being tired? I believe that we sometimes live our faith in the same way. We go to church and have our devotion and prayer time, but then we fall asleep at the wheel. Maybe we are just reading and don’t remember a thing that we read. We go to worship, but our mind keeps wandering or even goes blank, not registering the words of the hymns, the Scripture readings, or the message. I think sometimes we are in more danger of falling asleep spiritually than we are physically. We worry about being physically tired when we are driving for obvious reasons, but I believe that we are in even more danger if we fall asleep in our walk with God. When we are walking through the motions in our faith, we get a feeling that we are still ok because we are “doing” church things. How would your relationship with your kids, spouse, or friends be if you didn’t’ pay attention or kept dozing off when they were trying to communicate with you? Do you think God might also be offended? I know there are some that have a long prayer list and sometimes fall asleep in the middle of it. Although one falls asleep, it is in the process of serving God and is the last thing on our minds. I think if we fall asleep talking to God, it is like sleeping in His arms. That being said, if we fall asleep interceding for others too often, it might be good to start earlier, before we get tired or find another time of day when we can stay engaged. Physically we need sleep. Spiritually we need to rest in the Lord as He renews our strength. Stay alert. Father, forgive us for the times we sluff off spiritually. Create in us a clean heart and put a new and right spirit within us. Amen