“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
Philippians 4:8 (NASB)
Our capacity to find peace and contentment, depends on how we invest our thoughts. It’s what scripture has always taught, and can now be supported by scientific research. I like to summarize it by saying that investing our thoughts is like investing our money. If we invest our thoughts in negative, stressfull thinking, we will reap anxiety which is damaging to our body and soul.
We need to pursue the state of mind that the heroes of the Bible had. If we invest our thoughts in gratitude, as they did, we will reap a spiritual profit in return. Who wouldn’t want to sleep peacefully during the storm, pray calmly in a lions’ den, sing praises in the fiery furnace and slay giants with a single stone?
We can do it when we choose to invest in good thoughts. There is a way of uniting science and scripture to rewire our brain for the good.
God created our human bodies with chemical messengers to regulate our nervous system.
Serotonin is the neurotransmitter known as the “happy hormone.”It’s the brain chemical that brings us a sense of well being. Research found that when we intentionally think and reflect on good times, good people, and the positive experiences, past and present, we increase the production of serotonin, which has a significant impact on our overall sense of well being.
Cortisol is known as the “stress hormone.” Thoughts that are focused on negative, stressful experiences, increase the production of Cortisol throughout our bodies. Prolonged exposure to elevated cortisol disrupts our sleep patterns, suppresses the immune system, increases blood glucose and increases depressive symptoms.
Instead of taking a pill to block the Cortisol, we can choose to invest our thoughts on the good and the positive by producing Serotonin. How we invest our thought life determines how we maintain a sense of well being.
God is the one who wired our bodies this way, and science happened to learn about it later. The bible tells us that scripture is “living and active” and pierces through the division of soul and spirit, and judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)
If scripture has such an organic living effect on our soul and spirit, then it can also help our minds to overcome negativity and depressive moods. People have found that memorizing a scripture has helped them through difficult times. So, one way to invest our thoughts is in God’s living word.
One of my favorite verses to dwell on in troublesome times is,
“I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.”
(Philippians 4:13)
Our attitude is so easily affected by what we think or say to ourselves, but the Holy Spirit can police our thoughts and lead us to a disposition of gratitude. He does it whether we invest our thoughts in scripture, or reading inspiring books, listening to Christian music, and hearing true stories of faith by Christian TV or radio. We can change our brain chemistry by finding the smallest positive things that happen during our day, and dwelling on those things.
One day, after speaking to my son on the phone, I realized how dragged down he was while going through a divorce. I felt a knot in my own stomach from everything going through my mind. I tried to pray about it and leave it in God’s hands, which is easier said than done.
Later that day, I received a phone call from a friend who used to be my dog walker a few years back. She moved to California and I have not heard from her in four years. Her phone call was a surprise yet very therapeutic. We talked about her life, our pets, neighbors, current events and holding on to faith in God.
Without sharing any of my problems, we shared an unusual bond that was different from the bonds I have with others. That phone call was like a healing balm from Heaven. Afterwards, I kept thanking God for her call.
After that, I was overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude, which I cannot explain or put into words. I had a sense of peace and well being, in spite of everything that previously caused me stress. That knot in my stomach was gone as gratitude was overriding all the negativity. Somehow, that phone call triggered a sense gratitude which produced Serotonin throughout my body system.
God knows that we are wired this way, which is why He inspired Nehemiah to say, “The joy of the Lord is our strength.”
Paul knew it when he told us to find anything worthy of praise or excellence to be thankful for. Brain chemistry works just as scripture declares, long before anyone knew what brain chemistry was.
Serotonin flows from happiness, and happiness flows from our gratitude. Gratitude doesn’t depend on perfect relationships, perfect health, perfect families or total financial security. It depends on how we invest our thoughts. Gratitude leads to confidence in a perfect God who is our steady anchor in an unsteady world.
When things seem hopeless, we remind ourselves that God came through for us before, and we can trust Him to do it again. We focus our thoughts on anything good that happened in the past, even if it was a phone call in the past hour from a friend that day.
Our true citizenship is of an invisible kingdom that cannot be shaken. It’s a Heavenly kingdom that dwells within all of us, giving us the resilience to do all things through Christ, who is our source of strength. We are unshakable, because Jesus is unshakable and He lives in us.
Lord, we thank you that science verifies what you have declared centuries ago. Help us to maintain an attitude of gratitude and to live in your peace today and always. Amen
