Oct
05
2011
In week two of our Faith and Health Ambassador Beta training course, Dr. Kara Davis was the guest instructor. Dr. Davis presented information and answered questions about the impact that stress has on our physical, spiritual, and mental health and how it can influence our unhealthy behaviors. She helped the students better understand ‘the connection’ that exists between our physical and behavioral reactions to stressful situations and how the memories (and associated toxic emotions) of past stressful events can impact our health.
Dr. Davis reminded us that when Adam and Eve chose to sin in the Garden of Eden that sin, spiritual death and illness began to be passed along to all of mankind. Adam and Eve covered themselves and hid from God because their felt guilty of their sin and shameful. This includes you and me. Man’s and woman’s bodies began to have medical disorders, their minds began to have psychiatric disorders and their spirits began to have spiritual disorders. This still occurs to us today.
”At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the manand his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.”” Genesis 3:7-10
This was followed by a discussion about what occurs to the body physiologically when toxic emotions and their related chemicals – associated with stressful events and memories – flood our body. Physical conditions such as colds and infections, hypertension and heart disease, chronic headaches and migraines, and muscular pains… the list goes on and on.
There was also a great discussion about the significance that our attitudes, belief systems and thinking patterns can influence how we react to potential stressors in our life. As an example, an attitude of cynicism and pessimism can wreck havoc on the body’s physical systems and organs. Conversely, an attitude of optimism, thankfulness and gratitude helps all our bodily systems line up with one another as God designed them to work.
One additional topic of discussion during last night’s session had to do with the negative environment that we all must contend with. First, Satan and his demonic forces are always at work in our lives. Second, we are bombarded with a worldly system that is very unlike God’s system and the way that He would want us to live. And thirdly, we have our flesh to contend with. Our selfish and old natures, that have yet to be transformed by the Spirit of God, are still at work in our lives.
Dr. Davis reminded us that only as we surrender and rely upon God and receive his truth and love in our mind and spirit can we truly be healthy. When we live by his Spirit, we can enjoy the fruit of his Spirit in our life, especially the fruit of peace and joy and love which are conducive to good health.
“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” Galatians 5:22-23
Questions to Reflect On:
How are you managing the stressors that are present in your life? Are the beliefs, attitudes and behaviors that influence your reaction to stressors based upon the Word of God and his principles?
Could some of the physical conditions and illnesses that may be present in your life be attributed to chronic stress and the toxic emotions and the related chemicals that have been released in your body?
Related Resources:
Visit the website of Dr. Kara Davis to read about her ministry.
Article – Manage Your Stress with God’s Help
Read how you can become a Faith and Health Ambassador for your community and church.
Sep
20
2011
Our reactions to the trials and stressors of our life are a key determinant of our emotional and physical health. It’s not the events or the relationship issues that have a detrimental impact on our health, it’s our interpretation and perception of them.
In most days of our lives, we find ourselves in situations that can impact us in either a negative or a positive way. First, the event or circumstance occurs. This is generally quickly followed by the emotions that we experience. Then, typically, we react with our behavior and what we say. Our reactions are most often automatic because we do this out of habit. Our reactions will have either a positive or a negative impact on our body based, based on the accompanying emotions we experience.
We have an opportunity to impact our emotions and corresponding reactions by the thoughts that we have right after the experience or the event. With practice, we can train ourselves to think positively as opposed to negatively. We can choose to ask the Holy Spirit to control our thoughts, emotions and our reactions. This is the type of wisdom that James speaks of in James 1:2-8.
“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.” James 1:2-8
Awareness of your thoughts and reactions is key to changing how you respond to stressors and trials. If you make a choice deep in your will to become more aware of how you respond to events in your life, you’ll be able to make changes with the help of the Holy Spirit. Changed responses will help you to become more like Christ and therefore your light will shine brighter. Learning to respond differently can also impact your health. Instead of your system releasing unhealthy chemicals into your body because of the toxic emotions you experience, the healthy chemicals that are released with your positive emotions will promote health.
It’s all about perspective. I urge you to look at your trials and potential life stressors as opportunities for spiritual growth. If you can have this mindset, it will change your life. And, God will be glorified as you credit His Spirit for helping you make this change.
Questions to Reflect On
What is you level of awareness of your thoughts that immediately follow stressful occurrences? Are your negative emotions and the corresponding physical reactions in your body impacting negatively on your health?
Resources Related to Thoughts and Health
Wikipedia Article – The Biology of Stress and Health
Faith and Health Article – Are Your Thoughts Making You Unhealthy?
Faith and Health Article – Manage Your Stress With God’s Help
Aug
04
2011
An article in today’s Wall Street Journal – Antidepressant Use Rises – reports that the use of antidepressants is significantly on the rise. The article cites a study published in the journal of Health Affairs, authored by Mark Olfson, a professor of clinical psychiatry at Columbia University.
Antidepressants were the second most widely prescribed class of medicine in the United States in 2010, after cholesterol-lowering statins, according to IMS health. “Over 10 percent of people over the age of 6 were receiving anti-depression medication. That strikes me as significant,” says Dr. Olfson. It appears that physicians may be prescribing antidepressants for more mild forms of mood and anxiety disorders, or for isolated psychiatric symptoms like sleep disturbance, nervousness or nonspecific pain, Doctor Olfson said.
In a similar vein, an article on the Psychology Today website reports that antidepressants are oversubscribed. Christopher Lane, Ph.D, indicates that in a reported study more than 70% of patients in the survey who were prescribed antidepressants presented no medical need for antidepressant treatment.
It sure seems that the trend is for people to turn to pills instead of God to relieve the results of the stress that they are experiencing in their lives associated with life events. On the one hand it sure seems like a simple and quick fix to go to your doctor’s office or to your counselor and ask for and receive a prescription for an antidepressant drug. Just pop one in your mouth every day and you’ll feel better. This is not God’s way of handling stress.
There are several scriptures in the Bible that remind us of God’s principles for how to handle the stressors that life brings us. Here are a few:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5-6
Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! Fear the Lord, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need. Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing. Psalm 34:8–10
LORD Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you. Psalm 84:12
The scriptures remind us to place our trust in God and to turn our anxieties and fears over Him. This is the way he designed us to live. Trust in God is just one of many spiritual exercises I’ve identified that are important for living an abundant and healthier life. It is certainly a more effective way to cope with the ups and downs life brings us than taking antidepressant medications.
Questions to Reflect On:
How are you handling the stressors of your life? Are you turning to pills or to God?
Resources Related to Stress and Trust:
Scripture Listings for Stress, Faith and Health
Webpage – Spiritual Exercises for a Healthier Life
Jan
25
2011
This morning’s Charlotte Observer has an article titled “The Ability to Forgive May Help You Heal.” The subtitle for the article is ‘Holding onto a Grudge is Bad for the Immune System, Author Says’.
The writer of the article, Jane Glenn Haas, interviewed Reverend Michael Berry, Director of Pastoral Care at Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Philadelphia. Barry is the author of a book soon to be published titled “The Forgiveness Project: The Startling Discovery of How to Overcome Cancer, Find Health and Achieve Peace.”
I had the good fortune of meeting Rev. Berry two years ago at the annual meeting of the Society for Spirituality Theology and Health at Duke University. We had lunch together and shared about our common passion on the topic of faith and health.
The short article highlights the connection between chronic stress and health – especially from the standpoint of how an unforgiving attitude can impact have one’s health. In addition to reading this short article that appears in many newspapers throughout the country, I would urge you to go to Barry’s website www.releasenow.org as it has a lot of helpful information addressing the link between forgiveness, chronic stress, anxiety and health – especially cancer.
Forgiveness, Healing and Health – What the Research Shows
There is plenty of research available that demonstrates the health implications of not forgiving someone. This link to Berry’s website provides some examples of what the research says on this topic.
Forgiveness, Healing and Health – What the Bible Says
The Bible is chock full of information about the significance of forgiveness. Without a doubt, the Christian faith is based upon the forgiveness that God extends to us through his Son who died on the cross for us. God recognizes that due to the sin nature that we inherited from Adam and Eve, it is our nature to sin and live life in a way that is contrary to the principles that He lays out for us in the Bible. Because God loves us so much, His solution for this problem was to make forgiveness of sins available to us by the death of Jesus. The Bible also has several verses that instruct us to forgive others who have sinned against us.
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:31-32
“And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” Mark 11:25
“And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” Matthew 6:12-14
“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Colossians 3:13
“He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.” Ephesians 1:7
Forgiveness, Healing and Health – The Bottom Line
The bottom line is, God designed us in a way that we should not hold onto grudges and bitterness towards others. When we do this we pay a price – not only in our emotional and spiritual health but in our physical health.
What would God want you to do? Search your heart and let him reveal to you if there is any unforgiveness and bitterness tucked away deep inside. If there is, God wants you to confess this sin and extend forgiveness to the person associated with that pain and hurt. His Son paid a high price so you can be forgiven by God. You owe it to God to forgive others!
Related Resources
Blog Post – Guilt, Satan, Disease and Forgiveness
Article – Forgiveness: A Spiritual Exercise for a Healthier Heart
Apr
27
2010
An article published this week in the Archives of Internal Medicine reports that chocolate and depression go hand in hand. According to a study, people who feel depressed eat about 55 % more chocolate than their non-depressed peers. The more depressed they feel, the more chocolate they tend to eat.
Many people I know turn to sweets and other foods when they are emotionally depressed. When I get blue, I occasionally tend not to eat.
A better way to handle a depressed state of mind and other strong negative emotions is to turn to God. The writer of a popular Psalm recognized this years ago.
“You satisfy me more than the richest of foods.” Psalm 63:5
God wants us to ask him to meet all of our deep inner needs. If you have a habit of turning to chocolate or other foods when life is tough, try to begin turning to God in prayer and asking him to meet that deep emotional need. Take more time to sit quietly with him and share your deepest burdens with him. Cry out to him. He promises to satisfy those inner needs more than any food ever will.
Resources
Bible Scriptures for Faith in Times of Stress
Bible Scriptures Related to Health, Wellness & Wholeness
One Page Article – How to Manage Your Stress With God’s Help
Apr
12
2010
Why Are You Eating?
“Eating can be triggered by a multitude of factors other than hunger. If you were to analyze the intricate chemistry of the human body, it is apparent how stressful situations set off a cascade of hormones that can result in an unexpected calorie binge. Problems arise when we consistently give in to this hormonal calling and begin to depend on food as our escape from the tension of life.”
The above paragraph is taken from an excellent article written by Corey Little about emotional and stress eating that appears in Faith and Fitness Magazine.
If you’re challenged by eating unhealthy food and too much food when you’re stressed you may find this article has some good insight and tips. With that in mind, I’m passing it along.
“You (God) satisfy me more than the richest of foods.” Psalm 63:5
Bible Scriptures Related to Health and Wellness
Mar
05
2010
Spirituality and Health – A Working Model
This is a somewhat creative attempt to capture my ideas on many of the key aspects of the connection between one’s faith and their health. I used a mind mapping website to create this. It has limitations, but I’m pretty pleased with the connections it allows and the associated graphics.
Any feedback you’d like to provide would be appreciated.
What key components are missing?
Any links not made that should be?
Resources on the Spirituality and Health Link
Article – Understanding the Spirituality and Health Connection
Blog Posts – Spirituality and Health Tag
Feb
09
2010
Another article appearing in the Wall Street Journal this week is worth passing along. The author, Ron Winslow, writes that “Broken Heart Syndrome is typically triggered by acute emotion or physical trauma that releases a surge of adrenaline that overwhelms the heart. The effect is to freeze much of the left ventricle, the heart’s main pumping chamber, disrupting its ability to contract and effectively pump blood.”
“The phenomenon is a “concussion” of the heart, says Scott Sharkey, a cardiologist at Minneapolis Heart Institute. “It’s really a heart attack which is triggered by stress rather than by a blocked artery,” he says.
Triggers for broken-heart syndrome seem as varied as the number of people affected. While death of a spouse or other close family member or friend is a common cause, breakups such as a divorce or separation have also sparked the event, according to a study of 136 patients by Dr. Sharkey and his colleagues published Jan. 26 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
For others, being overwhelmed by new software at work, seeing a poultry barn burn down, or losing money at a casino all have brought the condition on, doctors say.”
Read the entire article.
“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” Proverbs 4:23
Nov
23
2009
I’ve started reading a new book, Prescribing Faith – Medicine, Media, and Religion in American Culture by Claire Hoertz Badaracco. Today I read the chapter titled Belief and Wellness: Medical Pluralism and Healing.
This chapter is one of the most concise writings I have read that explains the mind-body connection from a medical or scientific perspective. Among other topics, Badaracco discusses the following in the context of health and healing:
- The stress and relaxation responses
- Prayer, meditation and contemplation
- Mindfulness
- Habits of thinking
- Negative emotions – the anxiety pandemic
- Allostatic load
- Memories and remembered wellness
- Suffering
- Neurogenesis
- The role of physicians and practitioners
- Personal transformation
- Media’s impact
As I read this chapter, I was not surprised to read that most all of the principles she mentioned about the findings of many researchers in this field of religion/spirituality and health are also principles that the writers of the Bible captured thousands of years ago. These principles or spiritual truths were provided to us by our Creator, God, and science is beginning to get a handle on them – to understand them from a medical perspective. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
Our role as believers in Christ or as seekers of the truth, is to believe and understand the truth that is recorded in the Bible… and then to apply it to our life… in the way we behave and the way we think.
More and more it is clear to me that our purpose in life is to be in a right relationship with God – to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength – and to love and serve others with the special gifts He has given us. (Mark 12:30-31) When we do this, God is glorified. This is our purpose for being on this earth.
As we practice the principles found in the Bible – as we obey God out of love (John 14:15,23), one of the outcomes, in general, is a high quality of life including good health. (John 10:10) This is how God designed things to work. Good health and well being should not be the motivator for practicing the Christian faith, but it’s often an outcome of putting into practice God’s principles that He’s provided us with in the Bible.
I’m looking forward to reading more of Badaracco’s book and to understand the impact that media, and in fact my writings, might have on people’s understanding and impression about the religion/spirituality-health link.
More Resources on the Spirituality/Religion-Health Link
Article - Spirituality and Your Health – Understanding the Connection
Article – Think Spiritual Thoughts/Renew Your Mind
Article – His Instruction Manual … Our Guidebook for Healthy Living
Poster Presentation – The Spirituality-Health Connection: Why It Exists A Christian perspective on this link supported by 194 scripture passages and 41 key principles.
Web Page – How God Designed Us
Web Page – Stress, Your Health and Faith
Aug
17
2009
“Honestly, what’s happened here is our Army is under stress,” says Lt. General Rick Lynch, Commander of Fort Hood. “So anything you can do to reduce stress is going to help prevent suicides. That is my fundamental theme.”
These were recent comments made by the general as he talked about initiatives undertaken at the Army installation in Texas. You can read the article – Army General Wages War Against Stress in the San Antonio Express News. The article will give you a good sensing of the types of initiatives that one post is taking to combat the suicide problem our Army is having.
The skyrocketing number of suicides over the past few years has sparked a search for answers on how to reduce these rates. For this reason, the Army has also established a suicide task force and launched a joint five-year study with the National Institute of Mental Health.
2 Minute Slide Presentation
Life and stress – they go hand in hand. We will experience lots and lots of stress in our life. There is no getting around it. I believe that the degree to which we effectively manage and cope with the stress in our lives will determine the degree to which we are healthy. If we turn to unhealthy behaviors to cope with the stress, our physical and emotional health will suffer. Suicide is perhaps the ultimate “unhealthy” action a person can take to cope with chronic and significant stress, such as repeated tours of duty in a combat zone in the case of a soldier.
Resources and Information on Stress, Health and Faith
The stress and health link and how a strong faith can help on my web site.
Bible Verses for Faith in Times of Stress
Article – Stress Management and The Christian Faith by Dr. Ken Matto
Blog Post – Jesus on Stress Management
“Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
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