He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
Psalm 23:2 NIV
God Will Give You Rest
A study shows that Canadian adults aged 18 to 64 years have an average sleep duration of 7.9 hours, with 77% meeting sleep duration recommendations. Among adults aged 65 years and older, the average sleep duration was 8.1 hours, with 55% meeting sleep duration recommendations. Some people exceeded sleep duration recommendations, while others fell short. Overall, in adults aged 65 years and older, 29% were more likely to exceed sleep duration recommendations than adults aged 18 to 64 years at only 5%.
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There are some Bible texts that rise above the rest when it comes be being loved and memorized. Psalm 23 is such a chapter, and even some who don’t go to church and who don’t identify to being Christians recognize these verses and can even quote at least a bit of it. Those of us who are followers of Jesus pretty much have it memorized, but there is often something we miss in this beloved Psalm. Verse 2 says, “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters.” This is a precious verse. To a people who are often chronically tired, God promises His rest. But we can miss something here if we gloss over this too quickly. King David writes “He makes me lie down in green pastures.” In a world that is often far too busy, in a world that so easily tires us out, Jesus makes us rest. He doesn’t just command it – He forces us to get rest. I can almost hear Him say, as He leads us into the centre of His will for our lives, “now, tired one, rest!” If you don’t get the rest you need, He will make you. Don’t get to that point.
These have been words from the heart.
Bob Beasley