Did you know that persons who get 7-9 hours of sleep each day live an average of six years longer than those who get less than seven or more than nine hours of sleep? Sleep is the time when the body rebuilds and rejuvenates. Studies show that “a lack of adequate sleep can affect judgment, mood, ability to learn and retain information, and may increase the risk of serious accidents and injury.

In the long term, chronic sleep deprivation may lead to a host of health problems including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and even early mortality.” (http://healthysleep.med.harvard.edu) How does sleep affect weight gain? Research has shown that sleeping less alters the metabolic pathways that regulate appetite; we end up feeling hungrier as a result.

And as the above negative effects of sleep have been documented, the converse must also apply; that adequate sleep would reduce the risk of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and improved judgment, mood and ability to learn. That’s why God says in Psalms 127:2, “It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.” So why not plan to get at least 7 hours of sleep each night and “WATCH GOD WORK!”