Proverbs 17:22 A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

We are living in unprecedent times. Now more than ever, we need to learn how to navigate these times in order to live healthy and happy lives. I do believe, even with all the uncertainty of today, we can prosper and be in good health. Our emotional health is closely linked to our physical health with diet and exercise playing key roles. We need Wisdom from above if we are going to thrive in the days ahead. A healthy immune system is key to staying well and living a long life. Our immune system takes care of invaders often without our knowledge. Unfortunately, stress, diet, and unhealthy emotions (thoughts) can damage our immune system and our brain neurons, affecting our general health. One can google “health” and immediately be bombarded with health information. There are all kinds of diets, supplements, and exercise programs, but I believe true health begins in the secret place of the Most High.

As you are aware, a new COVID-19 variant, Omicron, has surfaced in the world. With all our advances in medicine, we have not been able to stop this virus. On top of this, many diseases such as cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s and heart disease, are increasing. All of these diseases have a common link-diet and stress. I have been in prayer asking the Lord how to help people navigate the times we are in. Recently, the Holy Spirit spoke these words to me:

Gratitude and praise (worship) is the key to navigating these times.

Studies have shown that gratitude has a positive effect on the brain and the body. Gratitude release dopamine and serotonin, neurotransmitters that produce feelings of well being and pleasure. Studies have revealed that writing down the things that we are grateful for on a regular basis has a positive effect on our mental and physical health. A blog post by the Aspen Brain Institute reports one study that said this:

“Studies have indicated that people who feel more grateful to Him, are healthier and stress resilient in life (Krause, 2006). An experiment conducted on three groups of individuals, each team representing a particular age-group, revealed that older men and women felt more grateful to God for their lives, and scored a high stress-tolerance index than others.” https://aspenbraininstitute.org/blog-posts/gratitudeandthebrain

God has truly, fearfully and wonderfully made us. More and more scientist are discovering the power of our thoughts and their effect on our health. Choosing to focusing our mind on things that we are grateful for rewires the brain and helps lower anxiety and depression. Meditation and prayer (praise and worship) are keys to transforming our mind and healing our soul. Dr. Andrew Newburg found this to be true in his study of prayer and meditation and the effect on the brain. He states in his book, How God Changes Your Brain, that meditation and prayer strengthen neural pathways and have a calming effect on the body. His work also revealed that meditation and prayer improved cognitive function, reduced the signs of aging, and improved the immune system. In other words, it is the transformed mind that will bring change in our lives. I am speaking of health, happiness, and peace that surpasses our surrounding circumstances. It is the attitude of gratefulness and the willingness to praise Him even in the storm that will guide us through the coming times. Let these words penetrate deep in you soul:

Psalm 34:5 Gaze upon Him, join your life to His and joy will come. Your faces will glisten with glory. You’ll never wear that shame-face again.

It’s time to change our minds for the better. It’s times to examine our hearts and minds with the help of the Holy Spirit. It’s time to examine what we believe and to align ourselves with the truth of God’s Word and who we are in Christ. As born again believers, we are carriers of the good news of the resurrected life in Christ. It’s time to gather up our oil for this season. What “gather up our oil” means to me, is that it is time to go to the “secret place”, gazing upon Him our King, and allow Him to heal our heart and renew our minds. It’s a time to allow Him to mend our broken hearts. Many people have experienced discouragement, financial loss, loss of loved ones, rejection, and hopelessness. We need to be refreshed and filled up again with the precious oil of His Presence. It is inner peace and rest that will bring health and healing to our lives. This peace is found in Him, the Prince of Peace. Gratitude and praise is key to being healthy in mind, body and spirit.