A few years ago a food supplement called Melatonin took the world by storm. It was so popular that hundreds of brands surfaced in a matter of a few years. People took melatonin because it claimed to be a natural sleep aid.
Melatonin is a hormone secreted by the pineal gland in the brain. It plays a critical role in determining when we fall asleep and when we wake up.
When the sun goes down and darkness comes our bodies are designed to respond to it. Internally the pineal gland releases melatonin into our bloodstream. Melatonin is what makes us sleepy. Rather than taking it externally it is best generated internally.
The darker it gets the more melatonin is released making us sleepier. Unfortunately most people put their eyes in front of a computer or TV screen at night which stops the flow of melatonin and causes them to be awake even when their bodies are demanding sleep.
Sleep is vital to our health. It is during this time of rest that our bodies go to work to restore our cells and organs through a complex process of chemical reactions. And there is no way around it – it is a natural law.
Rather than take melatonin we need to learn to prepare ourselves for rest and then the melatonin will come. Here is where prayer is like melatonin.
Prayer is generated from inside of us. It happens best when we prepare ourselves to encounter God. When we get there God causes spiritual laws to work for us to restore our entire person both spiritually and naturally.
The key is to prepare ourselves for rest. This we do by eliminating distractions and focusing on the one who can really give us rest.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest”. Matthew 11:28
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