2022-07-23
James 5:16 KJV
Paul writes, “Instead of worrying… shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down” (Philippians 4:6-7 MSG).
Here are three final thoughts on the power of prayer: (1) Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan found that when prayer and religious practices are important to people, their stress levels plummet and they experience much less anxiety.
(2) University of Texas researchers determined that people who regularly attend church take a more active role in maintaining their health. They’re more likely to get regular checkups and take vitamins, and less likely to abuse alcohol and tobacco. They also tend to exercise daily and get a good night’s sleep. Consequently, they live longer, healthier lives. The Bible says your body is the home of the Holy Spirit… it doesn’t belong to you (See 1 Corinthians 6:19), so you must respect and take care of it.
(3) Research on Aging published study results from three major universities showing that people who hold meaningful religious beliefs and live accordingly are less likely to suffer from heart disease. The key lies in the critical role of blood pressure and heart disease. People who described their perspective as, “My religious beliefs are what lie behind my approach to life,” had healthier blood pressure readings and weren’t negatively affected when they experienced stress.
It’s important to note that all these research reports were published by secular, nonreligious institutions. The truth is, daily prayer enriches and enhances every aspect of your life.
Soul food: Acts 12-13; Matt 27:27-32; Ps 14; Prov 16:6-7
2022-07-22
Jakobus 5:16 NLV
Nog sewe gedagtes om oor na te dink: 1) Wanneer dit by gebed en betrokkenheid by die kerk kom, het ‘n studie wat deur die Universiteit van Michigan gedoen is, bevind dat dit emosionele en finansiële stres verlaag.
2) ‘n Gerespekteerde gerontoloog het bevind dat private gebede jou algehele welstand na hartchirurgie kan verbeter en jou minder angstig kan laat voel.
3) ‘n Nasionale opname van kinders se gesondheid het bevestig dat kinders wat by die kerk betrokke is, hoër opvoedkundige verwagtinge het en beter in wiskunde en lees presteer. Kinders wat so min as een keer ‘n maand kerk bygewoon het, was minder geneig om ‘n graad op skool te moet herhaal.
4) Die joernaal van Psychiatric Services haal verskeie studies aan wat wys hoe positiewe godsdiensoortuigings ‘n belangrike rol in die herstel van alkohol- en/of dwelmmisbruik speel en ‘n groot rol speel dat mense nie weer in verslawing verval nie.
5) Toe navorsers by Yale se Skool vir Geneeskunde 2,000 mense oor die ouderdom van vyf-en-sestig bestudeer het, het hulle gevind dat diegene wat kerk bywoon, minder geneig was om hul verstandelike vermoë in die toekoms te verloor.
6) Woede oordryf jou stresreaksie en verhoog jou bloeddruk. Studies by die Universiteit van Ohio het bevestig dat wanneer jy vir die persoon vir wie jy kwaad is bid, dit jou woede kan kalmeer en positiewe emosies soos deernis kan bevorder, wat jou algemene gesondheid verbeter.
7) Sociological Quarterly rapporteer dat tieners wat betekenis in hul geloof vind en dit as belangrik ag, beter verhoudings met hul ouers het, wat tot ‘n meer bevredigende ervaring vir die hele familie lei.
Sielskos: Hand 10-11; Matt 27:11-26; Ps 146; Spr 16:4-5
James 5:16 NLT
Seven more thoughts to consider:
(1) When it comes to praying and getting involved in church, a University of Michigan study found that it reduced the emotional toll of financial stress.
(2) A respected gerontologist reported that following heart surgery, private prayer can improve your overall state of well-being and make you feel less anxious.
(3) A National Survey of Children’s Health confirms that kids who get involved in church have higher educational expectations and do better in math and reading. And kids who went to church as little as once a month are less likely to repeat a grade in school.
(4) Psychiatric Services journal cites several studies showing how positive religious beliefs play an important role in recovery from alcohol and/or drug abuse, and greatly reduce the rate of recidivism.
(5) When researchers at Yale School of Medicine studied 2,000 people over sixty-five, they found that the ones who attended church were less likely to lose their mental faculties in future years.
(6) Anger puts your stress reaction into overdrive, and raises your blood pressure. Ohio State University studies confirm that praying for the person you’re angry with can calm your anger and foster positive emotions like compassion, which improves your overall health.
(7) And Sociological Quarterly reports that teens who find meaning and importance in their faith have better relationships with their parents, which leads to a more satisfying experience for the whole family.
Soul food: Acts 10-11; Matt 27:11-26; Ps 146; Prov 16:4-5
2022-07-21
Philippians 4:6 CEV
God’s Word clearly tells us to “pray about everything.” Today, science is beginning to recognise the value and the power of prayer. Researchers investigating the role of faith in health are discovering evidence that’s hard to refute. For example, a 2014 study conducted by The Mind Health Report confirmed that people who engage in private prayer, intercessory prayer, and church activities are healthier and live longer.
Here are some additional benefits: (1) Florida State University researchers found that praying for somebody increases your readiness to forgive them. When a group of men and women prayed for the well-being of a close friend every day for four weeks, they were more willing to forgive not only the friend but people in general. Forgiveness is associated with better overall health and satisfaction with life.
(2) University of Miami researchers discovered that prayer and religious practices improve your ability to pursue and achieve long-term goals. Prayer affects regions in your brain that improve self-control, and people who view their goals as sacred are more determined to attain them.
(3) A research study conducted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison concluded that victims of abusive relationships recovered a positive self-image and reduced their emotional pain when their lives included prayer.
(4) Columbia University researchers found that people who value religion and regularly attend church are 90 percent less likely to suffer from depression than their nonreligious peers. That’s pretty strong evidence in favour of prayer, wouldn’t you say?
Soul food: Acts 8-9; Matt 27:1-10; Ps 140; Prov 16:3
Filippense 4:6 NLV
God se Woord sê duidelik vir ons dat ons oor alles moet bid. Deesdae begin die wetenskap die waarde en krag van gebed erken. Navorsers wat die rol wat geloof in gesondheid speel ondersoek, ontdek bewyse wat moeilik is om te weerlê. ‘n Studie wat byvoorbeeld in 2014 deur The Mind Health Report van stapel gestuur is, het bevestig dat mense wat by private gebed, voorbidding en kerkaktiwiteite betrokke is, gesonder is en langer lewe. Hier is nog ‘n paar addisionele voordele:
1) Wetenskaplikes aan die Universiteit van Florida het gevind dat om vir iemand te bid, jou bereidheid om hulle te vergewe, verhoog. Toe ‘n groep mans en vrouens elke dag vir vier weke lank vir die welstand van ‘n nabye vriend gebid het, was hulle gewilliger om nie net die vriend nie, maar ook mense in die algemeen, te vergewe. Vergifnis word met beter algehele gesondheid en tevredenheid met die lewe geassosieer.
2) Navorsers aan die Universiteit van Miami het bevind dat gebed en godsdienstige aktiwiteite jou vermoë om langtermyn doelwitte na te streef en te bereik, verbeter. Gebed affekteer areas van jou brein wat selfbeheersing verbeter en mense wat hulle doelwitte as heilig sien, is meer vasbeslote om dit te bereik.
3) ‘n Studie wat deur die Universiteit van Wisconsin-Madison geloods is, het bevind dat slagoffers van afbrekende verhoudings weer ‘n positiewe selfbeeld kan opbou en hulle emosionele pyn verminder, wanneer hulle lewens gebed insluit.
4) Navorsers aan die Universiteit van Columbia het bevind dat mense wat godsdiens aanhang en gereeld kerk toe gaan, 90 persent minder geneig is om aan depressie te ly as hulle nie-godsdienstige eweknieë. Dis nogals sterk bewyse ten gunste van gebed, nie waar nie?
Sielskos: Hand 8-9; Matt 27:1-10; Ps 140; Spr 16:3
