Matthew 26:40, 43

“Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, ‘What! Could you not watch with Me one hour?’…And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy”

Sleep is great but sleep is also a great thief. The wickedness of sleep is that it can sometimes catch you unaware. While you may have determined in your heart to pursue a particular line of action, sleep may suddenly intercept your program and lead you into the land of nothingness. Again I repeat, sleep is good and needed, but it can also be a great thief of valuable time.

Jesus was genuinely surprised that the disciples could not stay awake with Him for just an hour. Although He had specifically asked them to watch with Him, yet within an hour they were all fast asleep. I really don’t think they had meant to be disrespectful or that they were unwilling to watch with Him. I don’t think they were irresponsible or careless people. Even Peter the team leader and Jesus’ closest friend, was slain by sleep. And after exhorting them to stay awake the second time, Jesus went away and by the time He returned, they had slept again, “for their eyes were heavy.” – Verse 43. But that wasn’t all; it happened again the third time! Imagine!! So while sleep is needful, it can also be a wicked companion. We should enjoy sleep at the appropriate time but make vigorous war against it at other times. The wickedness of sleep lies in its deceitfulness and seduction, particularly when alertness and watchfulness is required.

“O Jesus, I want to stay awake and alert, and I don’t want to be slain by sleep anymore. O Jesus, help me by Your Spirit to resist and oppose this usurper called sleep, particularly when I should stand on my watch. I reject unnecessary ‘heaviness of eyes,’ in Jesus’ name. Amen.”