Sleep is one of God’s gracious provisions for the human body. It restores strength and reminds us of our physical limitations. But the Bible seems clear that sleep belongs to the body, not to the soul or spirit. This is very exciting for born again believers because it means our relationship with God is living, continuous, and uninterrupted.
The Bible teaches that before salvation, we are not spiritually neutral—we are spiritually dead:
“And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins.” Ephesians 2:1
We are all subject to the law of sin and death. Spiritual death does not mean nonexistence; it means separation from God. Before we are born again, we are unable to truly receive or discern communication or the wisdom of His Spirit. Paul explains that “the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God” because they must be spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14) A dead body can’t communicate with a live body. A dead spirit can’t communicate with the living God. However, a dead spirit can commune with other dead spirits. Scripture warns repeatedly against seeking spiritual insight apart from the Lord. For example, God explicitly forbade consulting mediums or calling up the dead. (Deuteronomy 18:10–12; Leviticus 19:31) King Saul’s tragic choice to seek guidance from a medium instead of inquiring of the Lord was just another milestone in his tragic demise. (1 Chronicles 10:13–14)
My friends, being born again changes everything!
Before we are made alive in Christ, our soul is disconnected from the living God and vulnerable to spiritual deception. We cannot commune with the Holy Spirit because we are alienated from God, the only source of eternal life. (Ephesians 4:18) But when we are born again, our soul and spirit are made alive—reawakened to relationship with God. Fellowship begins.
“And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” Romans 8:10
When we receive eternal life, our soul and spirit are brought into uninterrupted communion with God Himself. Eternal life is not merely a future promise; it is a present reality. Jesus said, “He who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me HAS everlasting life.” (John 5:24) Because eternal life begins when we are born again, our relationship with God begins now.
The Bible tells us that God does not sleep. “He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.” (Psalm 121:4) When we are united to Christ, we are brought into fellowship with the living God who never ceases His watchful presence. Because our life is now “hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3), our spiritual life reflects HIS nature—not our physical limitations. The God who never sleeps gives HIS life to our soul and we are awakened from eternal death to life everlasting!
To understand the full impact of this principle, we must understand the difference between spiritual life and spiritual death. Spiritual death is hell; or eternal separation from God. Spiritual life begins when we are born again. Jesus made it clear that our relationship with God is spiritual: “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24) It’s impossible unless our spirit has been made alive. Paul explains that this occurs at the new birth, writing, “Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, ‘Abba, Father!’” (Galatians 4:6)
Our relationship with God is not meant to be occasional—it should be active and relational.
This truth also helps us understand the proper place of physical sleep. God designed the body to grow tired and require rest, but nowhere in the Bible is it suggested that rest interrupts our relationship with Him. Even while the body sleeps, the soul of the believer remains fully aware in God’s presence. David could say, “I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustained me.” (Psalm 3:5) Even in physical rest, God’s sustaining care and relational nearness do not cease.
Life communicates with life. Fellowship requires awareness. Communion requires presence. Eternal life cannot be suspended without ceasing to be eternal. When the body rests—whether in nightly sleep or even in physical death—the believer’s relationship with God continues without interruption.
Why does this matter?
Because if our soul is now alive to God, how we live makes an eternal difference. Every act of obedience (or disobedience) matters. How we handle suffering matters. If you are reading this devotional and are a born again believer, then—your life really does matter. You have a living soul that never sleeps and reflects the nature and character of our Savior.
Because our soul never sleeps, we have so many opportunities to make each moment here on earth matter for eternity.
Daily Challenge:
Today, live intentionally as someone who is spiritually awake. Pause, pray, and thank God for restoring you to living fellowship with Him—and let that awareness shape how you think, speak, serve, and trust Him throughout the day.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for making me alive in Christ. Thank You that my soul and spirit have been awakened to fellowship with You and that my relationship with You never pauses. Guard my heart from deception, keep me anchored in truth, and help me live fully awake to Your presence and purpose. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
