Prayer and Good Health

For the last decade or so medical researchers have increasingly considered whether prayer has an effect on people’s physical health.  The clear conclusion from a number of studies, conducted by universities, medical schools, government agencies and professional journals across the country, is yes. The regular practice of prayer can have positive benefits for our physical health. Here’s a sampling of the findings.

Hypertension

                According the Center for Disease Control hypertension is one of the United State's most serious public health issues. One third of US adults (approximately 70 million) have high blood pressure. And, another third are prehypertensive, that is they have elevated blood pressure.  It is estimated that hypertension costs $46 billion a year for medication, health care and days missed from work.

                A study funded by the National Institutes of Health showed that people who prayed daily were 40 percent less likely to have high blood pressure than those who did not.

Depression and Anxiety

                “Major depression is one of the most common mental disorders in the United States,” says a report from the National Institute of Mental Health. “In 2012, an estimated 16 million adults aged 18 or older in the U.S. had at least one major depressive episode.” That works out the 6.9 percent of American adults.

                Anxiety affects even more people. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America states that “anxiety disorders are the most common mental health illness in the US affecting 40 million adults in the United States age 18 and older (18% of the US population).”

                Dr. Herbert Benson of Harvard Medical School said that studies showed that during prayer “the body’s metabolism decreases, the heart rate slows, blood pressure goes down and our breath becomes calmer and more regular.” This, Benson said, “correlates with slower brain waves, and feelings of control, tranquil alertness and peace of mind.” That is, people who pray regularly tend to suffer less from depression and anxiety.

                And, the reverse is also true. People who pray are not just less depressed, they are happier. A study at the University of Pennsylvania showed that “prayer increased levels of dopamine, which is associated with states of well-being and joy.”

Quicker Recoveries

                Researchers at Dartmouth medical school found that people with “religious belief were three times more likely to recover from heart surgery.” Separate studies at Duke and Yale concluded that heart patients who did not pray regularly were 14 times more likely to die following surgery.

General Good Health and Longer Lives

                In 2011 a University of Cincinnati study of inner city youths with asthma showed that those with a regular practice of prayer “experienced fewer and less severe symptoms than those who did not.” And, a survey conducted by The Journal of Gerontology of 4,000 seniors in Durham, NC concluded that people who prayed regularly "coped better with illness in general and lived longer lives than those who did not."

            The results of these studies are not surprising. God created people as beings that are both physical and spiritual. Our wisest and best course is to care for our bodies and our spirits. Solomon had it right when he wrote:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
  in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.

  Do not be wise in your own eyes;
    fear the Lord and shun evil.
  This will bring health to your body
    and nourishment to your bones. (Proverbs 3:5-8)

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Top Ten Quotes from April 19 - 25

Every day, on my social media sites, I post quotes I hope will inspire, encourage or otherwise help those who read them.

Based on “likes” from my facebook page, these are the 10 Most Popular Quotes from last week.

Thanks for “voting” with your likes!

10. It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels. ---Augustine

9.  We could never learn to be brave and patient, if there were only joy in the world. ---Helen Keller

8. If you have time to watch TV, you have time to work your dreams and change your life. ---Bruce Van Horn

7. Your life doesn’t get better by chance. It gets better by change. ---Jim Rohn

6. Faith is deliberate confidence in the character of God whose ways you may not understand at the time. ---Oswald Chambers

5. Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.---A A Milne

4. Don’t try to won over the haters; you’re not the Jack-Ass Whisper. ---Scott Stratten

3. Setting an appointment with my wife for daily prayer has been one of the most positive things I've ever done. It has changed my life in many ways. Don’t pray when you feel like it. Have an appointment with the Lord and keep it. A man is powerful on his knees. ---Corrie Ten Boom

2. No one has become poor by giving. ---Anne Frank

1. The day you lose everything…is the day you’ll know who your true friends are. ---Irwin C.

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Are Big Churches Bad?

                I’ve recently read a number of articles and blogs by Christian writers reacting against megachurches. Too many large churches, the argument goes, are more concerned about putting on a show and attracting large crowds than they are with authentic discipleship. Authentic discipleship only takes place, they say, in the context of small, intimate relationships. And those kinds of relationships are not possible in large churches. There is certainly something to be said about these writers’ concern.

                “Go big or go home!” is something I’ve heard from staff of some large churches I’ve known. Many times it did seem that the main goal at these churches, maybe even the only goal, was attracting as many people as possible. It was not always as clear to me, however, what they wanted to attract people to. Were they attracting them to real relationship with the living God? Or were they satisfied with just seeing thousands come through the door? Sometimes it did seem as though the latter is what these churches were really after. Though it was never stated this way, the real goal seemed to be bigness for bigness sake.

It is this bigness for bigness sake that these writers are criticizing. Some of the reaction, though, goes too far the other way. Smallness for smallness sake is not what we should after either.

Is Big Bad?

                I read a blog post this morning titled “8 Lies Christians Believe.” The first lie on the list was “Bigger is Better.” About this “lie” the author wrote, “No, in fact small is good. Small is the only way to get into the kingdom of heaven.” She went on to say that Jesus wants us to be like children, small children in fact (Matt. 18:3). And she used that as an argument against bigness in all things. She ended her post by saying that she had spent her whole life trying to be an adult. Now she was trying to learn to be a child.

                That sounds really spiritual, sort of. But there are problems with that kind of thinking as well.

                The Bible nowhere says that there is spiritual value in remaining like children. It fact, it says just the opposite. A goal of the Christian life ought to be to grow up. Paul wrote, “Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature” (1 Cor. 14:20). The writer of Hebrews said that believers need to “go on to maturity” (Hebrews 6:1. See also 1 Cor. 2:6, Eph. 4:13, Phil 3:15, Col. 4:12, and Heb. 5:14). But that wasn't really the point of the post.

                The point was that the author ascribed a moral value to size and she believes that big is not only not better, it is wrong. Only small, at least in church matters, is good.

                Does the Bible ever say, or even hint, that big is bad? Think about it for a minute. Jesus ministered to people one-on-one and in small groups, that is true. But he also ministered to gatherings of several thousands (See Matthew 14:13-31, 15:32-39). I’m not sure how many people Peter preached to at Pentecost, but three thousand people received Christ that day. In the parable of the talents Jesus said that the person who proves faithful over a few things would be rewarded with responsibility over many things (Matt 25:21). And, at the end of all the ministry over all time there will be a “great multitude” with some from every tribe and nation in the world (Rev.7:9).

                God’s goal is to build something big, really big, a great multitude.

It’s Not About Size

                My point is simply this. I don’t think we can make a case that big is either good or bad or for that matter that small is either good or bad. I don’t think that there is a moral value assigned by the Bible to size. What matters is what we’re doing with the people we have, whether that’s a large gathering of many thousands or a small group of even two or three.

                Are we seeking to have real relationship with God? Are we seeking to grow deep in his knowledge and wisdom? Are we seeking to honor, worship and serve him? That’s what matters most.

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Top 10 Quotes from April 12 - 18

Every day, on my social media sites, I post quotes I hope will inspire, encourage or otherwise help those who read them.

Based on “likes” from my facebook page, these are the 10 Most Popular Quotes from last week.

Thanks for “voting” with your likes!

10. Courage is being scared to death... and saddling up anyway. ---John Wayne

9.  Bad things happen; how I respond defines my character. I can sit in sadness or rise and treasure the precious gift of life. ---Walter Anderson

8. The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary. ---Vince Lombardi

7. I am determined to be cheerful and happy in whatever situation I may find myself. For I have learned that the greater part of our misery or unhappiness is determined not by our circumstance but by our disposition. ---Martha Washington

6. We will never change the world by going to church. We will only change the world by being the church. ---ChurchLeaders.com

5. I may not be where I want to be … But I can look back and thank God that I am not where I used to be. ---GodFruits.com

4. The peace of God is byproduct of prayer. If you’re overwhelmed get alone with God. ---Frank Powell

3. Do not regret growing older. It is privilege denied to many. ---ChurchLeaders.com

2.   I have not failed. I have found 10,000 ways that will not work. ---Thomas Edison

1. Sometimes God calms the storm. Sometimes God calms the sailor. Sometimes he makes us swim. ---ChurchLeaders.com

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Loving Others - How It Works

                It’s pretty clear that God wants me to love him and others (Matthew 22:36-40). It’s also pretty clear that I’m not very good at it. I’ve written recently about what a challenge it is for me to love others. (I haven’t even touched on the subject of loving God yet, that’s just too overwhelming at the moment).

I can’t love others. Oh, I do often have affectionate feelings for people. And, I can do nice, even loving, things for others. But, really love? Love like the Bible says to love? Love the 1 Corinthians 13 way of loving? I can’t. Even thinking about it leaves me overwhelmed, frustrated and feeling hopeless.

(See http://heartmattersbms.blogspot.com/2015/03/let-love-be-genuine-romans-129.html)

                But the situation is not, in fact, hopeless. There is a solution. Embrace my inability to love, reach out to God, who can love others through me, and let him do so.

                (See  http://heartmattersbms.blogspot.com/2015/04/i-read-quote-recently-from.html)

It Sounds Simple. But…

                I can’t! He can! So, let him! It sounds so simple, so easy. But, what does that really mean, to let Him? Does it mean to just “Let go and let God?” And, what does that mean, really? Let go and Let God.

                Does that mean I somehow turn into a mindless robot who is manipulated and directed by God, like a kid pushing the buttons on a video game? Or, does it mean that we simply kick back and observe God do something, like sitting in a theater watching a play? How does that work?

                I don’t think letting God do through me the things I am unable to do myself means either of those things.

Moses’ Formula When Faced With Overcoming Obstacles

In Deuteronomy Moses addressed the first post-Exodus generation of Israel. These are the children of the adults who left Egypt. Their parents are all dead. These are the adults who will go into, capture and settle the Promised Land.

In preparing them for the task ahead Moses warns them that living in the land are “seven nations more numerous and mightier” that they are. These nations were not going to just hand over their land to Israel. This was a problem. God told them to go take the land. They couldn't do it. They weren't able. What could the Israelites do? How could they defeat these enemies that are bigger and stronger?

Moses says of these seven nations, these obstacles to Israel doing what God told them to them to do, “when the LORD your God gives them over to you, and you defeat them…” (Deut. 7:1-2).

Whoa! That’s huge. Did you see what Moses said there?

When it comes to defeating these nations it’s not either/or. It’s not either God or the Israelites. It’s both/and. God is going to give the nations over – God is going to do for the Israelites what they cannot do for themselves – give over to defeat seven nations each one bigger and stronger than they. It is God who will do it.

But, the Israelites also have to fight, “when you defeat them.” The Israelites are going to have to go into combat and fight these nations to the death. But, because God is giving over the nations, Israel will win.

Israel can’t. God can. So, they let him.

They will do what seems impossible. They will succeed when they go into the fight by trusting in God for the outcome. And, that’s exactly the same way, and the only way, that I can love people.

On my own it’s overwhelming, frustrating and hopeless. it's impossible. I can’t. Just trying harder doesn’t work. That will always fail. I can only love people by trusting God to do in me and through me what I cannot do myself. But God doesn’t do it while I just let go and watch. He does it while I am actively loving them.

The New Birth Empowers Love

   In his first epistle John wrote that loving others is a sign that we have passed from death to life (1 John 3:14). In other words, it is when we are born again that God joins with our hearts and wills to enable and equip us to love others.

John Piper wrote, “The birth of the new living, loving heart is the act of the Holy Spirit connecting our dead, selfish hearts with God’s so that his life becomes our life and his love becomes our love.”

That’s when I love others, when I connect to the realty of my new life in Christ and the Spirit dwelling within me begins to change my heart and my will to do what I could never do on my own.

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The Top Ten Quotes from April 5 - April 11

Every day, on my social media sites, I post quotes I hope will inspire, encourage or otherwise help those who read them.

Based on “likes” from my facebook page, these are the 10 Most Popular Quotes from last week.

10. You can’t change how people treat you or what they say about you. All you can do is how you react to it.   

9.  Humility will open more doors than arrogance ever will. ---Zig Ziglar

8. To make a difference in someone’s life you don’t have to be brilliant, rich, beautiful or perfect. You just have to care enough and be there.

7. Getting knocked down is a given. Getting up and moving forward is a choice. ---Zig Ziglar

6. Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength.

 ---Charles Spurgeon

5. Love means loving the unlovable. Forgive means pardoning the unpardonable. Hope means hoping when everything seems hopeless. ---G. K. Chesterton

4. The first to apologize is the bravest. The first to forgive is the strongest. The first to forget is the happiest.

3. The cross and resurrection are at the core of the Gospel and are the only hope for humanity.

---Ravi Zacharias

2.   A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out. ---Walter Winchell

1. He is risen! He is risen indeed!

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Last Week's Top Ten Quotes

Every day, on my social media sites, I post quotes I hope will inspire, encourage or otherwise help those who read them.

Based on “likes” from my facebook page, these are the 10 Most Popular Quotes from last week.

10. It takes a lot of unspectacular preparation to have spectacular results. ---Roger Staubach  

9.  Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not.

---Dr. Seuss

8.  If you fell down yesterday, stand up today. ---H G Wells

7. Become the kind of leader that people would follow voluntarily; even you had no title or position. 

---Brian Tracy

6. Reading to children, even before that can understand the words, teaches them to associate books with love and affection. ---Grammarly

5. When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it. ---Henry Ford

4. Inhale grace, exhale gratitude. ---Tammy Calhoun

3. Be miserable. Or motivate yourself. Whatever has to be done, it's always your choice.

---Wayne Dyer

2. Some people with the worst pasts end up creating the best futures. ---Zig Ziglar  

1.    That moment when you finish a book, look around, and realize that everyone is just carrying on with their lives… as though you didn’t just experience emotional trauma at the hands of a paperback. ---Figment

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I Can't! He Can! So, Let Him!

                I read a quote recently from Tullian Tchividjian, “Believing that simply telling sinners to ‘stop it’ … carries the power to exact lasting change is silly and unrealistic.” He’s right, of course. It’s true, people can’t just stop doing wrong things.

            And, it is also true that it is silly and unrealistic to tell sinners to “just do it” when it comes to the good things God requires. I can no more, in any long-term sense, do what is right on my own than I can not do things that are wrong.

Moral Inability

            I think about this a lot, about moral inability. I really resonate with what Paul wrote in Romans 7:15, 18 I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate…For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.

            I’ve been particularly thinking about moral inability in regards to things I wrote a couple of weeks ago about love. Jesus said, “Love God and love others.” It’s the sum of all God’s Law. In fact, Jesus said, the One Thing, that will show others that you belong to him is the way you love one another. Elsewhere, in Romans, Paul wrote that the One Thing, the only thing, we ought to owe others is love (Romans 13:8 – 10).

            I read what Jesus and Paul said ought to be the One Thing, the most important thing, that I do with my life and I think “But, I can’t!” And, I’m right. I can’t. That’s why I need the gospel.

The Gospel

            The gospel is not just that Jesus died for my sins and has given me salvation. The gospel says that apart from the power of Jesus dwelling in me I can’t live a moral life. I no more have the power to do what is right, or not do what is wrong, than I have the power to save myself from my sins.

           

            In another place Tchividjian related Eugene Peterson’s observation about Augustine, Pelagius and Christian practice.

“Eugene Peterson draws a contrast between Augustine and Pelagius, two fourth-century theological opponents. Pelagius was urbane, courteous, convincing, and liked by everyone. Augustine squandered away his youth in immorality, had a strange relationship with his mother, and made many enemies. Yet Augustine started from God’s grace and got it right, whereas Pelagius started from human effort and got it wrong. Augustine passionately pursued God; Pelagius methodically worked to please God. Peterson goes on to say that Christians tend to be Augustinian in theory but Pelagian in practice. They work obsessively to please other people and even God.”

http://www.pastortullian.com/2015/03/25/march-madness-and-the-mathematics-of-grace-2/

            I add that Christians tend to be Augustinian when we think about salvation – which we know is by grace alone through faith alone. But, we tend to be Pelagian about the Christian life. We think we get better by trying harder. We try harder to stop doing wrong things. We try harder to do right things. We live as though the way to love God and love others is to just work at. Buckle down. Give it more effort.

I Can’t! But He Can!

            But I’ve tried. I really have. For years. And, I finally came to the conclusion, I can’t.

            A number of years ago I a heard a pastor say that the whole teaching of the Bible can be summarized by “I can’t. God can. So let him.” So simple. So profound. It reminds me of another favorite passage:

            “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly in weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me… For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:9-10).

            It is only when I admit that I am weak, it is only when I admit that I can’t, I can’t love God and I can’t love others, at least not like I ought, and embrace Jesus in the midst of that weakness, that his grace then makes me able to love.

If I depend on my own ability to love I fail every time. When I admit I can’t and flee to Jesus, and trust in him, trust in his grace, then and only then, do I begin to authentically love.

I can’t. He can. So, let him. That’s the gospel, and that’s what I need.   

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