Sep
19
2008
USA Today reported on the physical consequences related to the stress people are under, especially over this last week. An article on September 19th – today as I write this – titled “Money Woes, Other Stresses Bring Unwanted Physical Response” says “As the market melts down, hurricanes wreak havoc, war grinds on and feelings of helplessness set in, stress goes up.” ComPsych, an employee assistance and wellness provider, has seen a 10% to 15% spike in calls since the weekend according to their vice president of health and wellness.
“The connection between mind/body is seamless,” says Linda Rosenberg, CEO of the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare. “There isn’t a separate brain and a separate body. What you’re thinking about has an effect on your physical well-being. General good health means good mental health.”
So what’s a Christian to do during times like this? We take care of ourselves in a variety of ways: Get plenty of sleep, eat well, engage in regular physical activity, review our investment portfolios, manage our time effectively and we care for our heart in a spiritual way. We do the very best we can to give our cares and worries to Jesus. We pray for ourself and our leaders. We put our trust in Him. (Proverbs 3:5-6, Isaiah 26: 3-4)) We spend more time with Him. We ask God for wisdom. (James 1:5-6) We remember that it’s in our trials that our faith has an opportunity to grow… we get opportunities to exercise our faith muscles at times like this.
And we invite Jesus to be our personal trainer.
See a listing of scriptures for faith in times of stress on my website.
Sep
15
2008
“Healthy people don’t need a doctor, sick people do.” (Matthew 9:12) The Great Physician, Jesus, told people that it was those who were sick and needed to be made well that needed the help of a doctor, not those who were already well. In that scenario the Pharisees had asked Him why He was eating with scum or sinners. Jesus was talking about those who were sinners and especially in need of becoming spiritually well. .
Today, research is clearly showing that there’s often, but not always, a relationship between certain physical conditions and diseases and one’s spiritual health. Consider some of these conditions and diseases: addictions, allergies, arthritis, asthma, bulimia, chronic back pain, cold sores, coronary artery disease, Crohn’s disease, depression, dermatitis, diarrhea, eating disorders, fibromyalgia, headaches, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, impotency, insomnia, irritable bowel syndrome, migraines, obesity, panic attacks, post traumatic stress syndrome, reflux, rosacea and ulcers.
If you suffer from one of these conditions or you know someone that does, it’s quite possible that an aspect of your or their spiritual health may not be well and that over time the spiritual condition has affected the body with one of these conditions. Specifically consider the degree to which your relationship with God, with other people and with yourself is well. Reflect on whether or not there is any inner conflict at all in regards to your relationship with yourself, others or God. Are you sick or do you need to be made well from one of these conditions I’ve listed or perhaps another condition that has as its root some inner conflict with yourself with God or with another person? Is there an existing open wound, hurt, unforgiveness, resentment, guilt, shame or any other strong negative emotion related to any of your relationships? If so, then you could benefit from a touch by the Great Physician.
God’s greatest commandment for us is that we should love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and that we should love other people as we love ourselves. (Matthew 22:37-39) Since this is the principle that He wants us to follow more than any other, it certainly makes sense that if we are not right with this commandment that we might have trouble in our lives. For many of us, a long-term conflict or issue with an aspect of our relationships may be manifesting itself with a physical condition. You see, our bodily health is often like a barometer of the health of our soul. If conditions deep down inside of us are not right, over time the mind, body and spirit can interact with one another and often cause physical health problems and conditions.
Are you sick and in need of a doctor? If so, turn to Jesus.
Sep
09
2008
Over the last four months more people have landed on my website and blog looking for Scriptures related to stress than for any other reason. In that light I thought it would be helpful to make another entry on this topic.
In January of this year I made an entry about Jesus on stress management. This Weekly Faith and Health scripture post was from Matthew 11:28 – 30. “Then Jesus said, come to me all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I gave you is light.”
It’s not surprising that so many people are searching for scriptures on stress. Lots of people are struggling with their home loans and many are experiencing foreclosure. The higher oil prices have raised the cost of gasoline. The economy is on shaky grounds. We are two months away from another presidential election and many people are concerned about making the right choice in November. These are just a few reasons why I am certain that many people are stressed.
As Jesus has told us in this scripture in Matthew, more than anything when we are stressed I believe that he wants us to turn to Him. Spending regular time with Him in prayer and through reading the Bible is one of the best ways I have found to “turn to Jesus.” The more I do this I am less stressed. I hope that you will take this scripture to heart and turn to Jesus during times of your stress.
See this page for more scriptures on stress and receiving strength from God.
View this 4 minute show on how God can help with your stress.
Have a great day!
Sign up for Faith and Health Connection Blog updates.
Sep
02
2008
September is annually recognized as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. Ten years ago I had no idea what the prostate was. But it’s second only to skin cancer in annual detections and 1 in every 6 men will develop cancer of the prostate.
As a prostate cancer survivor, I urge all men to make sure that you receive appropriate age & risk-related screenings. It was through a blood PSA test, and a follow-up tissue biopsy that I learned I had cancer. Do yourself and your family a big favor. Follow the guidelines and have a checkup if you’re due!
Sep
02
2008
Reuters Health released an article on September 1, 2008, “Lack of Joy in Life Ups Early Death Risk,” about a research study conducted in Japan. It found that people who don’t think life is worth living are more likely to die within the next few years. The increased death risk was mainly due to cardiovascular disease and external causes — most commonly, suicide. The research is the largest to date to investigate how “ikigai,” or “joy and a sense of well-being from being alive,” affects mortality risk, and only the second to examine death from specific causes, according to Dr. Toshimasa Sone and colleagues from the Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine in Sendai.
In this study, the investigators looked at 43,391 men and women between the ages of 40 and 79. Each person was asked the question, “Do you have “ikigai” in your life?” The researchers found that those who did not have a sense of a “ikigai” were in worse health, more mentally stressed, and in more bodily pain. They were also more likely to have limited physical function. Overall, people with no sense of “ikigai” were 50% more likely to die from any cause during the follow-up period compared to those who did have a sense of life worth living.
The Bible speaks to the topic of joy and a life worth living in Psalm 119. Let’s look at the following five scriptures:
Psalm 119:1 Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord.
Psalm 119:2 - Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts.
Psalm 119:74 – May all who fear you find in me a cause for joy, for I have put my hope in your word.
Psalm 119:92 - If your instructions hadn’t sustained me with joy, I would have died in my misery.
Psalm 119:143 – As pressure and stress bear down on me, I find joy in your commands.
Similar to the blog post on happiness that I made on Saturday, living a life that is in line with God’s principles that are written about in the Bible can not only bring a life of happiness but of joy and a sense that life is worth living. As the researchers in this Japanese study have discovered, those with a deep sense of joy and a sense that life is worth living do have better health outcomes than those who do not have that sense of deep joy in their hearts. That’s how God designed us. And that’s why God inspired the writers of the Bible to give us the truth that can be found there. As I urged readers of my blog on Saturday, I will urge you again to read through Psalm 119 so that you can understand the value of living according to God’s principles.
Do you have deep inner joy and a sense that life is worth living? I hope so. If not, I pray that by reading Psalm 119 and spending more time reading about the truths of God and through developing a personal relationship with Jesus you’ll be enable to find true and lasting joy and a sense of meaning of life.
Have a terrific day!
