The Enemy Never Sleeps

But one night as he slept, his enemy came and sowed thistles among the wheat.”

Matthew 13 :25

Medical science says that an average adult should sleep seven hours every night without interruption. In fact, one of the researchers says that for adults, getting less than seven hours of sleep a night on a regular basis has been linked with poor health, including weight gain, having a body mass index of 30 or higher, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and depression.

This is very good medical advice. However, one issue I’ve observed is that researchers who achieved such outcomes likely didn’t prioritise consistent seven-hour sleep throughout their careers. At least not during their medical training, and probably not as they became established professionals.

As much as our body needs rest, heavy sleep and great achievements have just never been friends in all of man’s history. No wonder in this parable of Jesus, when a man went to his field to sow, the enemy was hiding; he waited for the farmer to sleep and while he slept, he went in and sowed thistles-made a mess of the farmer’s hard work. 

It is important to note that sleep here is not a reference to night rest necessarily but a posture. A posture of negligence and carelessness. A posture that ignores the fact that one didn’t see the enemy coming until he had achieved his evil aim. From such sleep, Peter warns us as believers saying, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” (1 Peter 5:8).
How can we keep watch? It is by prayer! Unfortunately, one of the biggest enemies of prayer in a believer’s life is sleep. Then he returned to the three disciples and found them asleep. “Peter,” he called, “couldn’t you even stay awake with me one hour? Keep alert and pray. Otherwise temptation will overpower you. For the spirit indeed is willing, but how weak the body is!” ( Matthew 26:40-41). Even the disciples were not spared. So let me ask you now, how’s your prayer life? What is stopping you from improving it? Maybe it’s time to stop sleeping. Wake up! Don’t wait for the enemy to finish sowing his seed before acting.

PRAYER