If the body–The Temple, is sacred, then it needs a sanctuary ~Etta Hornsteiner.
Christians have now become so familiar with the analogy of the body being compared to the temple that this allusion seems to have lost its impact. But if the body truly is the “temple” in which the Holy Spirit of God lives, it serves to reckon, then, that the body is sacred, requiring a place of reverence for rest, restoration, and rejuvenation from the daily stresses and battles of life.
Turn off the television. Better still remove the television from the bedroom.
Now-a-days, it seems almost unnatural not to have a television in the bedroom. However, the television can be an energy sucker, disconnecting us from our true essence, robbing us from our sleep time and even time with the Holy Spirit. I know my mother loves to watch TBN (Trinity Broadcasting Network) and falls asleep constantly with the television on this network. But recently, she has been complaining of feeling tired throughout the day. Though certain programs can be beneficial, we need to be aware of the time and place in which we choose to watch them. Designate a room for your television watching where you will be entertained, informed, and/ or educated.
Get off that sofa and sleep only in the bedroom
Do you want to feel tired in the morning? Do you want to feel like a truck rolled over you, then backed up and rolled over you again? Then fall asleep habitually on the sofa. If you have become a “sofa sleeper” by choice, your body has been conditioned to accept mediocre rest. No matter how warm and huggable that sofa feels, your body needs a place prepared for rest without interruptions. Most “sofa sleepers” spend the first part of the night on the sofa, then they sleep walk to their bedroom to finish off the remainder of their sleep. This break in continuity leaves the body feeling exhausted. Get at least 6-9 hours of uninterrupted sleep.
Develop a bedtime ritual.
Our minds are like wheels, churning constantly. We have to slow them down in preparation for the rest and sleep we need. I grew up with Uncle Ben’s Bedtime Stories being read to me almost every night. Perhaps, you have had a similar experience. Remember how relaxing it was? Try these simple ideas to help you unwind before bed:
- Find that book that you have been wanting to read for a while and keep it by your bedside. Try reading a little each night. I have heard people complain that every time they try to read they fall asleep.
- Meditate on a scripture before going to bed. This particular ritual can be developed by adding quiet, soothing music as well.
- Try a warm and relaxing shower/bath just before bedtime, enjoying aromatherapy as well. Add essential oils, such as lavender, to your bath or shower. Light a candle. Just don’t fall asleep with it burning.
Any type of light interferes with the body’s production of melatonin–the hormone that induces sleep. When I was in college, I never used an alarm to get up. I simply left a lamp on, especially when I wanted to wake up early to study. It worked every time because I never fully entered that deep sleep (I know not a good thing, but I was college student, then). Even digital alarm clocks, a computer, or television left on can emit a type of light called blue light. Some people use a sleep mask to help block out all lights. The important conclusion here is to make sure your bedroom is completely dark.
Clean up the mess.
Believe it or not, I have broken every sleep rule including this one: keep a clutter free room. I have gotten up in the middle of the night and began cleaning my room, folding laundry, filing bills, clearing away papers, and throwing out magazines in order to create some kind of space in my brain. A cluttered room affects our sleep. Work should not be done in the bedroom. One night I crawled in bed with my laptop. My husband looked at me and said, “Work is never to be brought into the bedroom.” Feeling like a child reprimanded, I had to admit he was right. I knew better. The bedroom should be respected as a place of physical and spiritual renewal and intimacy.
It’s the little foxes that spoil the vine.
These details may be small, but they are important in turning your bedroom into a sanctuary. Close the closet doors as well as any adjoining bathroom door before going to sleep. Shut out stress. The room is your safe haven. Position the bed as far away from the bedroom door as possible, but where you can still see the bedroom door. This positioning will allow you to maintain a sense of safety while you rest. Make sure also that the bed is accessible on both sides. Create a calm ambiance in the bedroom using earth and skin tones such as green, light blue, coral, cream, peach, tan, and cocoa for your walls, pillows, bedding and accessories. Remove mirrors in direct view of the bed, for they can be distracting.
Rest the body or the body will rest you. Our spirit is limited by our earthly bodies. When this body cannot carry out its biological functions anymore, the spirit leaves it. Respect, therefore, the body by giving it the required rest it needs. There is a time for everything underneath the sun. Respect and honor the time and place for our bodies to be restored both physically and spiritually.
