“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 maintain peace and contentment in Christ, depends on how we invest our thoughts. It’s what scripture has always taught, and is now supported by scientific research.
Investing our thoughts is similar to investing money. If we invest our thoughts in negative, stressfull thinking, we will reap anxiety and stress which is damaging to both body and soul. If we invest our thoughts in gratitude, as the heroes and heroines of the bible did, we will reap a spiritual profit in return.
A mind filled with gratitude can help us sleep better in the storm, pray calmly in a lions’ den, sing praises in a fiery furnace and slay our giants with a single stone. There is a truth found by uniting science and scripture to rewire our brain for the good.
God created our human bodies with chemical messengers that 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 has found that if we intentionally dwell on a good God, good times, good people and positive experiences, we increase our production of Serotonin, which has a significant impact on our mood.
Cortisol is known as the “stress hormone.” When thoughts are focused on negative or stressful experiences, it increases the production of Cortisol throughout our bodies. Prolonged exposure to elevated cortisol disrupts sleep patterns, suppresses the immune system, raises blood glucose levels and increases depressive symptoms.
God is the one who wired our bodies this way, and science now confirms what scripture tells us. When we read scripture, it is “living and active” and works within soul and spirit, and reveals the deepest thoughts and intentions of the heart.
(Hebrews 4:12)
If the word of God has such an organic living effect on our soul and spirit, it can surely help us overcome negativity and depression. Memorizing scripture has helped people stay positive in difficult times. It’s one way to invest our thoughts wisely.
Our attitude is so easily affected by how we talk to ourselves. Science tells us that self-talk activates the brain’s reward system, and leads to improved mood and cognitive performance. By allowing the Holy Spirit to police our thoughts, we can speak to ourselves and inspire our faith with an attitude of gratitude.
I have a church friend who is in remission from cancer, who doesn’t read scripture but follows the advice of scripture. She speaks to her blood cells daily, telling the neutrophils to do their job, which are the cells that are first responders to fight off cancer. It has worked for her for years now.
Whether we invest our thoughts in memorizing scripture, positive self talk, reading inspiring books and music, we can change our brain chemistry by finding good things to dwell on.
In God’s mysterious ways, we are wired so that the joy of the Lord is our strength. (Nehemiah 8:10)
Long before science understood how our bodies respond to positive thoughts, Paul told us to find “anything” worthy of praise to be thankful for. The brain chemistry of talking to ourselves and investing our thoughts in gratitude is as old as the bible itself. God wants us to think about whatever is ‘right, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent or worthy of praise.’ (Philippians 4:8)
Serotonin flows through us from positivity which leads to gratitude, and gratitude builds up our confidence in a good God who is our steady anchor in an unsteady world.
We must live, think and speak as true citizens of Heaven, which is an invisible kingdom that cannot be shaken. It’s a kingdom that dwells within us, giving us the resilience to do all things through Christ, who is our source of strength.
We are unshakable people because Jesus is unshakable and He lives within us.
Lord, thank you for the science that proves what your word has always declared. Help us invest our thoughts in gratitude, so that we remain in your peace. Amen
